URBANA, Ill. — Every year, Head Start programs collect children’s body mass index data and communicate results to families to address childhood obesity in enrolled children. In a recently published research article, Head Start staff across the country shared that there is a lack of guidance on anthropometric measurement protocols, measurement reporting, and how programs should communicate the information to families. To address these concerns, a toolkit was developed by a multi-state collaborative group of health experts, which was piloted and tested for its feasibility in practice by the Head Start staff.

Illinois Extension is presenting an online webinar on August 9 from Noon to 1 p.m. designed specifically for Head Start staff that will discuss best practices for collecting child body mass index measurements and how to communicate that information effectively to families, along with suggestions for healthy eating and physical activity. The webinar will cover the toolkit prepared for Head Start. 

Presenters for the session are Saima Hasnin, assistant professor and Extension specialist, food science and human nutrition, College of ACES; Krystal Hodge, assistant professor and Extension specialist, food science and human nutrition, College of ACES; and Rachel Mannen, nutrition and wellness educator, Illinois Extension. 

Registration is required at go.illinois.edu/HeadStartBMI. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, contact Samantha McLain at (217) 300-2525 or slangley@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs. 

SOURCE: Saima Hasnin, assistant professor and Extension specialist, food science and human nutrition, University of Illinois College of ACES

WRITER: Dolan Klein, Sr. Manager for Marketing and Communications, Illinois Extension