(image: wecan!, HHS and NIH logos)

A national education program targeting youth, ages 8–13, and their parents and caregivers in home and community settings to meet the overall goal of preventing overweight and obesity.

• Turn key! Science-based program for the entire community
• Flexible! Variety of settings
• Fosters collaboration!

(image: photo of happy family)

• How We Developed We Can!
• Program Elements
• Progress to Date

• NHLBI Healthy Weight Strategy Workshop (Feb. 2004)
• Review of science-based literature
• Environmental scan
• Assessment of Hearts N' Parks Magnet Centers
• IOM Report on Prevention of Childhood Obesity

(image: two report cover pages)

Home
"A child's health and well-being is fostered by a home environment with engaged and skillful parenting that models, values, and encourages sensible eating habits and a physically active lifestyle."
— IOM 2004

Community
"Local governments, public health agencies, schools, and community organizations should collaboratively develop and promote programs that encourage healthful eating behaviors and regular physical activity, particularly for populations at high risk of childhood obesity."
— IOM 2004

(image: cover of Preventing Childhood Obesity)

Resources

• Youth & Parent Programs
• Promotional Materials
• Parent Handbook
• Web Site

• Evidence–based Curricula
• Local Partnerships
• Local Media
• Outreach Events

• Federal
• Clinical
• Outreach
• Media
• Corporate

• Web
• Print
• Television

(image: large arrow pointing to a copy of the we can! poster)

1-866-35-WECAN
http//wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov

(image: examples of different we can! resources including the brochure, poster, wristband, and Web site home page)

• 6 lessons focusing on energy balance
• Strategies and tools to use with family
• Empower parents as role models
• "Support group"

(image: two-color logo and the cover of Families Finding the Balance curriculum)

• Kids Club - Afterschool, summer day care setting for children (K-5) contains three elements—curriculum, physical activity, and snack components.
• SMART - Student Media Awareness to Reduce Television –- 3rd or 4th grade classroom curriculum designed to reduce TV and video game usage.
• Eat, Think, and Be Active! – 10 lessons helping children (11-13) understand the connections between media and their health

(image: CATCH Kids Club, SMART, and Media-Smart Youth logos)

• 109 Communities
• 33 States
• 14 Intensive Sites
• 95 General Sites
• Multiple Settings
• Diverse Audiences
• Making Local Change Through:
  • Curricula
  • Media
  • Events
  • Partnerships

(image: map of US with number of sites per state indicated)

(image: pie graph titled "Community Site Breakdown: Implementation in Over 12 Different Settings")

• Over 20 National Partners & Supporting Organizations have Joined We Can!
  • Federal Partners
  • Clinical Partners
  • Outreach Partners
  • Media Partners
  • Corporate Partners
• Ongoing Discussions with Additional Partners

(image: logos of partners)

• Reach
  • 1,195 Media Hits
  • Over 206 million
• Diverse Placement
  • National and local print
  • National and local TV
  • Radio
  • Online

(image: covers of Better Homes and Gardens and Healthy family magazines)

• Since the program launched June 1, 2005, we have grown to 109 community sites (from 35)
• Among 14 Intensive Community Sites:
  • Local partnerships with approximately 100 organizations, agencies and businesses
  • 60 community events reaching over 125,000 attendees
  • 59 implementations of curricula

Pre- and Post-Test results (N=174):

• Increased knowledge of energy balance and principles of physical activity for children and adults
• Improved portion sizes (smaller portions of higher fat foods) and monitoring of family's portion sizes
• Improved consumption of healthy foods and attitudes toward eating well (avoid added sugar, choose low-fat foods, eat fruits and vegetables)
• Increased amount of physical activity
• Reduced amount of screen time/set screen time limits.
• Increased perception that they play a role in encouraging physical activity by their family.

Pre- and Post-Test results (N= 516):

• Increased knowledge of healthy food choices (avoid added sugar)
• Increased intention to make healthy food choices (choose lower-fat foods, drink skim milk instead of whole milk)
• Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables
• Increased reading of food labels
• Increased knowledge and attitudes toward physical activity
• Reduced screen time

• Enhance
• Expand
• Assess

(image: we can! logo)

• Input from Community Sites, Partners
  • Results from assessments
  • First We Can! Rally
  • Continued Communication
• New Resources
• Integrate New Evidence

(image: photo of we can! booth)

• Community Sites
• Partnerships
• Media Outreach

(image: two articles from the Health section of the newspaper, photo of children playing football, and logos of partners)

Resources

• Youth & Parent Programs
• Promotional Materials
• Parent Handbook
• National Web Site

• Federal
• Clinical
• Outreach
• Media
• Corporate

• Evidence–based Curricula
• Local Partnerships
• Local Media
• Outreach Events

• Web
• Print
• Television

(image: cover of "Who Can Make IT Happen?")

• Choose two activities:
  • Implement one (of three) We Can! suggested youth programs
  • Implement one We Can! parent program
  • Implement one We Can! community-outreach event
• Submit a We Can! General Community Site Activity Form
  
  • (As a site you will receive We Can! Resources and Listserv e-mail on We Can! updates, electronic newsletters, and conference calls)
• Submit summary report of activities within one year

• Partners
  • Participate on a variety of fronts with a significant commitment of resources and activity
• Supporting Organizations
  • Groups that are interested but unable to make as significant commitment
• Corporate Outreach
  • Corporations who are reaching within to employees or to consumers/customers.

we can!
Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition

Succeed!

• Web Site: http://wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov
• Toll free number: 1-866-35-WE CAN (866-359-3226)
• NHLBI Information Center
  P.O. Box 30105
  Bethesda, MD
  Ph: 301-592-8573

(image: screenshot of we can! Web site)