This document outlines an intervention called Healthy Start designed to improve physical activity and healthy eating in 3-5 year olds. It discusses key challenges in bridging research, policy, and practice. It provides three examples of innovative opportunities to overcome challenges: 1) collaboration with health regions on nutrition guidelines, 2) revising implementation manuals with public health nutritionists, and 3) implementing Healthy Start at a daycare by appointing staff, creating active spaces, and improving menus. The knowledge mobilization approach emphasizes reuse of existing knowledge, networks, multiple levels of engagement from frontline to policy, and continual revision based on feedback.

2. Overview
1) Setting the stage
• Our world/environment
2) Key challenges to
bridging the gap
between research ,
policy , and practice
3) Three examples of
innovative
opportunities to
overcome the
challenges

3. Who we are
HEALTHY, ACTIVE CHILDREN!

4. STEPS to Healthy Start
A 10 month
long
intervention
designed to
improve
physical activity
and healthy
eating in 3-5
year olds in
childcare
centres

5. Where we are…so far
Saskatchewan New Brunswick
Saskatoon

6. Where we come from
1. Our brief history
2. Our funder
3. Our lead

7. Partnerships
Our extensive partnership of committed individuals and
organizations :

8. FOUR KEY OBJECTIVES
1. IMPLEMENT
2. REPLICATE
3. EVALUATE
4. DISSEMINATE

9. Intersectoral
Partnerships
Implementation
Guide
Training,
Modeling &
Monitoring
COMMUNICATION
AND KT PLAN
APPROACH
Additional
Resources as
needed
MULTI-LEVEL,
INTERSECTORAL
INTERVENTION

10. Healthy Start / Départ Santé
PHAC HEALTHY
WEIGHTS
GROUPS
(Innovation
Strategy
Project)
STEERING COMMITTEE
SK AND NB PARTNERS
IMPLEMENTATION
COMMITTEE
RSFS Staff and
Trainers
Local
implementation
advisory group
EVALUATION
COMMITTEE
Research Team
(Data Collection)
Nutrition Working
group
KNOWLEDGE
DEVELOPMENT &
EXCHANGE
COMMITTEE
Communications /
Internet
development &
tools (Site, Social
Media)
Advisory Groups
(ENG / FR /
Cultural / First
Nations)

11. Intersectoral
Partnerships
Implementation
Guide
Training,
Modeling &
Monitoring
COMMUNICATION
AND KT PLAN
APPROACH
Additional
Resources as
needed
MULTI-LEVEL,
INTERSECTORAL
INTERVENTION
KDE

12. But…
“Promoting the health of an entire
generation is no simple
task…especially when it comes to
young children!”

13. A complex playing field

14. Key Challenges
• Staff turn-over
• Geographical area
• Cultural and local
adaptation
• Evaluation challenges, e.g.
drop-out, sufficient sample
size, etc
• Unlicensed childcare

15. Key Challenges
REGULATED CHILD CARE SPACE (2010)
Saskatchewan 7%
Québec 37%
Ontario 15%
New Brunswick 20%
Manitoba 17%
Newfoundland 10%
NWT 22%
So where do the
other children go?
Source: http://findingqualitychildcare.ca/

16. Three compelling examples
Acting on
opportunity!
1. Health Region
and policy:
Eat Well, Play Well

17. Engaging government partners!
2. SK Public Health
Nutritionists
Revamping the
healthy Start
implementation
manual - nutrition
guidelines

18. Healthy STARS in action!
3. Healthy Start in action at the
Tisdale Tiny Tornadoes
Daycare:
• Staff member appointed to
plan and lead daily activities
to keep kids moving
• An indoor active space
created
• Menus revamped to more
closely reflect Canada’s Food
Guide
• Children prepare food and
try a variety of new foods
• Educators sit and eat with
children
• Teaming up on a
collaborative activity
increasing physical activity

19. Key Elements of our KM
approach summarized
• If the wheel works, why
reinvent it?
• (Re-)using ‘old’
knowledge (Ecological
model)
• Existing networks: EY
stakeholder distribution
lists, partnership
expansion
• Recognize the need to act at
multiple levels and multiple
entry points
• Frontline to policy-makers
Remember our fun model…?

20. Key Elements of our KM
approach summarized
• Create calculated
chance
• Jump on opportunities
when they arise
• Never a linear approach
• Engage whoever is
ready to be engaged
• Continually revising our
content based on
feedback
• Be honest…We do not
have all the answers!
• We are not always the
content experts, but
someone probably is

21. Questions? Comments?
Thank You!
www.healthystartkids.ca