LAUSR

Objective The New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health (IFNH) and Child Health Institute of New Jersey (CHINJ), joined resources for New Jersey Healthy Kids Initiative (NJHKI). The initiative ensures children enter kindergarten at a healthy weight and maintain it throughout childhood, while also lowering New Jersey's percentage of childhood overweight and obesity (32%), preventing weight related morbidities later in life. Providing leadership and organizational infrastructure, NJHKI will support an integrated set of activities with the goal of improving the health of children through lifestyle optimization at the intersection of healthy weight and metabolism, nutrition and culinary education, physical fitness. Its innovative paradigm of individualized evaluations and interventions for each school's unique context and demographic will foster a culturally-responsive, customized approach. Use of Theory or Research The NJHKI approach draws upon socio-ecological and behavior change theories. Interventions are informed by relevant research. Target Audience The initiative aims to be a voice for children everywhere, especially those in communities disproportionately burdened by childhood obesity. Program Description The NJHKI team consists of a: medical director, PhD-RDN behavioral nutritionist, RDN-social media expert, program director, developer, coordinator, and co-principal investigators. First year deliverables are the development of community, scientific, and fundraising boards; building relationships with stakeholders; and building a social media presence. Second and third year deliverables include development, testing, and engagement of schools across NJ in a “culture of health model.” Evaluation Methods Mixed methods data will be collected to evaluate program effectiveness and implementation. Children's anthropometric and biometric data will be collected to measure health outcomes. School program, policies, and practices, as well as knowledge, behavior, and skills will be evaluated using document reviews, interviews, and observation. Results NJHKI has hosted the first of five symposia focused on child health and initiated partnerships with beta-site schools. Conclusions This initiative will unfold in collaboration with the public and private-sectors of New Jersey and positions the state to be a leader in child health and a voice for children everywhere. Funding Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.