October 18, 2005
O'Connell Announces Block Grant Funds to be Allocated
to Improve Nutrition in Child-Care Programs
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced today that the California Department of Education (CDE) is investing $500,000 from its federal Child Care and Development Block Grant to improve nutrition services in its child-care programs.
"We in California have placed much-needed attention on improving school nutrition as a key component of our obesity prevention strategy. However, our children's eating habits are formed before they enter school," O'Connell said.
"Changing an older child's eating preferences is a challenge, and schools grapple with how to serve children healthy food they will eat. Now we have an opportunity to turn our attention to our younger children and provide them the tools and incentives they need to develop healthy food choices."
CDE plans to use about half of the funds in immediate nutrition education, training, and support efforts. The remaining half will be used to contract for a strategic assessment that will examine existing systems and policies, and provide recommendations for action.
These are federal carryover funds available through the Child Care and Development Block Grant for quality infrastructure and training and technical assistance activities in California's subsidized early care and education system. Guiding principles for use of the funds include: addressing unmet needs and emerging issues, supporting statewide access, and maximizing and leveraging additional public and private resources to enhance the overall professional development of the field.
In the past, emphasis has been placed on funding successful existing programs, including resource and referral agencies, the Child Development Training Consortium, the Program for Infant/Toddler Caregivers, and the California Early Childhood Mentor Program.
Three additional focus areas have demonstrated importance in succeeding years. These include: attention to issues of health and safety resource development and training, facilitation and linkage with local communities, and response to legislative mandates.
"We've known about the challenges facing schools and have a strong track record in addressing them," said O'Connell. "We now need an objective assessment of the obesity prevention actions if we are to support our children in forming, at a young age, the healthy eating habits they need for a lifetime."
