CDC Funded ECE Projects

CDC provides funding, training, and technical assistance to a variety of organizations in Early Care and Education (ECE) settings.

CDC’s current funded programs that include obesity prevention efforts in ECE settings include:

  • The State Physical Activity and Nutrition Program funds 16 statewide initiatives to implement evidence-based strategies to improve nutrition and physical activity. All grantees are required to implement and integrate nutrition and physical activity standards into statewide early care and education (ECE) systems.
  • Teacher explaining fruits to students in classroom

    The Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Technical Assistance Program (TAPS), a partnership with the Nemours Foundation, funds states to improve and expand nutrition and physical activity through existing states ECE systems based on the CDC’s ECE Spectrum of Opportunities. Where appropriate, the work is at the ECE facility.

  • The 2019 Obesity Mini-Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network (Mini CoIIN), a partnership with the Association of State and Public Health Nutritionists, funds 5 states to improve ECE nutrition environments, policies and /or practices statewide utilizing a comprehensive farm-to-ECE approach. Read more about all 5 states [PDF-1.38MB]
  • The Physical Activity Learning Session (PALS) partnership with the Nemours Foundation is building the capacity of 3 states to better integrate physical activity into statewide ECE technical assistance and training networks. The trainers can then equip ECE providers with the knowledge, skills, and resources to engage and lead infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in physical activity.
  • The High Obesity Program (HOP) funds land grant universities to work with community extension services in states with counties where more than 40% of adults have obesity. HOP grantees can choose to fund activities in the ECE setting.
  • Children running

    Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) is a national program to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. Recipients plan and carry out local, culturally appropriate programs to address a wide range of health issues among persons who are Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, American Indian Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Alaska Native persons. REACH grantees can choose to fund activities in the ECE setting.

  • Through a partnership with the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, CDC awarded $90,900 each to 10 states and the District of Columbia to strengthen their state farm-to-ECE initiatives for one year, with work beginning in late 2020. Equity across all farm to ECE activities was a common theme among the selected proposals.

CDC’s work is largely based on our Spectrum of Opportunities [PDF-665KB] framework that outlines how states can embed recommended standards and statewide actions to support obesity prevention. The Quick Start Action Guide (April 2018) [PDF-549KB] leads users through the Spectrum and provides action steps to plan or strengthen state-level efforts in obesity prevention.

In addition, CDC tracks states’ obesity prevention efforts targeting the ECE setting. See ECE State Licensing Scorecards, released in 2020 with 2019 data.

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