Assess, Identify, Make it Happen for Preschools (AIM-P) : A Strategic Planning Process to Make Environment, Policy and Practice Changes to Increase Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in a Preschool Setting

Assess, Identify, Make it Happen for Preschools (AIM-P) is a strategic planning process that can be used to implement evidence-based environment and policy changes that increase healthy eating and physical activity. Early childhood is a critical time to focus on these behaviors because children who are overweight or obese in preschool are at greater risk for obesity and other chronic conditions in adolescence and adulthood. AIM was adapted for preschools as part of a larger obesity prevention project called the Culture of Wellness in Preschools. This 8-meeting process is conducted with a 5-12 person multi-disciplinary Health Promotion Committee (HPC). The HPC participates in a strengths and needs assessment, prioritizes healthy eating and physical activity changes, and develops an action plan and timeline to implement the changes.  The process was assessed using a mixed methods approach which included baseline, 6-month and 12-month policy and environment changes surveys and focus groups with HPC members.  Outcome measures included number and type of effective environment and policy changes implemented.  Focus group questions pertained to barriers to, facilitators to and lessons learned about the process.  A total of 68 changes were selected across all sites (35 child-focused and 33 staff- or parent-focused); 53 were evidence-based or promising strategies.  Sites averaged 4 changes each. AIM has proven to be an effective strategy for implementing best practices in elementary schools (Belansky et al., 2010) and now in preschools.  The successes, benefits, challenges encountered, and lessons learned to the preschool community will be discussed.