Collaborating for Impact: The Partnership Model of A Multi-level Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative

Nearly 15% of low-income preschool age children are obese. Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures (HKHF) is a multilevel, early childhood, obesity prevention initiative in Boston, Massachusetts supported by a partnership among Children's Hospital Boston, The Boston Red Sox, Northeastern University, Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. Head Start, and Boston Centers for Youth & Families. As one of the only early childhood obesity prevention initiatives in Boston, HKHF uses a viable partnership model that brings together major institutions' missions and resources to address childhood obesity. Beginning in 2009, the HKHF partners established a partnership model to support the initiative's programmatic activities. Key elements of the model include a Memorandum of Understanding among partners, a designated operating framework, and two inter-institutional working teams. In the first two years, HKHF engaged over 500 caregivers and young children and 72 early childcare staff in programming, training and education related to childhood obesity prevention. Evidence of initial impact includes: improved capacity of early childhood providers to develop strategies to prevent childhood obesity among preschool age children and their families; increased opportunities for caregivers of young children to build skills that support informed and healthful food choices, increased physical activity, and reduced recreational screen time; and increased opportunities for young children to be physically active with their families in safe, accessible and age-appropriate settings. HKHF has demonstrated concrete, positive results that can be replicated as well as key lessons learned related to coordination, communication, leadership, and accountability in developing strong institutional partnerships for community health.