- By becoming a Certified Healthy recipient, you will receive recognition as an early childhood program that goes “above and beyond” to create a healthy, nurturing environment.
- Your staff will benefit. Healthier employees are proven to be more productive employees, and they have a direct impact on a program’s success.
- Certified Healthy Early Childhood Programs have the opportunity to provide an environment that encourages healthier children, families, and staff.
- Certified Healthy Early Childhood Program award recipients are invited to professional development opportunities to grow in their wellness efforts.
- Investing in wellness will enhance your program’s image in the community and add credibility to your early childhood program.
- Certified Healthy Early Childhood Programs are able to utilize their wellness achievements and certification as a recruitment and retention strategy for current and future clients.
Certified Healthy Early Childhood 2021 Map
Early childhood programs of all types and sizes are encouraged to apply to become a Certified Healthy Early Childhood Program. We encourage diversity of applicants, and we hope you will apply, regardless of your program structure or composition. Early Childhood Programs will be certified in the following categories based on type of program:
Child Care Center
Part-Day Program
Out-of-School-Time Program
Summer Day Camp
Head Start (Tribal or Other)
Early Head Start (Tribal or Other)
Family Child Care Home: Small (1-7 children) or Large (8-12 children)
Drop-in Child Care Program
Smokefree/Tobacco-free
- Programs must be at least Smoke-Free (prohibiting the use of smoking indoors and outdoors) in order to apply. A program must be Tobacco-Free (prohibiting the use of all tobacco and vapor products) and submit a copy of their tobacco-free policy in order to receive Excellence. These restrictions against smoking and tobacco include marijuana and cannabis derived products. Tobacco -Free policy must include covering All Products (Your smoke-free policy should prohibit use of any products including commercial tobacco products as well as vapes and e-cigarettes. Your policy may also prohibit smoking marijuana if you wish.), All People (Your smoke-free policy should be applicable to anyone who may be on the property including employees, students, volunteers, guests, residents, and others as needed.), All Property (Your smoke-free policy should prohibit use on any of your property, indoor and outdoor, whether owned or leased and should include organization owned or leased vehicles.), and All Times (Your smoke-free policy should prohibit use 24/7 so there is no exception allowing smoking or other tobacco use at specific times.). For assistance with developing or edit a tobacco policy please visit Breathe Easy or e-mail OnlyAir@health.ok.gov.
- Note: The OSDH acknowledges the traditional and sacred use of tobacco among American Indian people living in Oklahoma. Whenever the word tobacco is referenced it refers to the use of commercial tobacco.
Oklahoma Department of Human Services Licensure
The program must be licensed by OKDHS to be eligible to apply for Certified Healthy OR be exempt from licensure.
EXEMPTIONS: Care provided in a child’s own home or by relatives, informal arrangements for the occasional care of children, programs in which children attend on a drop-in basis and parents are on the premises and readily accessible, single activity programs, and programs operating for 15 hours or less per week (OKDHS)
Applicants select activities and policies that are currently offered by their early childhood program in each of seven criteria categories: (1) Nutrition; (2) Physical Activity; (3) Health Promotion; (4) Safe and Healthy Environment; (5) Community and Family Involvement; (6) Professional Development; (7) Staff Health. There are 62 total criteria, including some multiple option criteria (i.e., check all that apply), and a total of seven criteria with a possible N/A response, dependent upon program situation.
Early childhood programs are scored according to type of program, and each criterion selected is worth one point. Certification status is assigned according to the percentage of criteria selected by the applicant in EACH category. As a reminder, a Smoke-Free (prohibiting the use of smoking indoors and outdoors) policy is required for Basic/Merit, and a Tobacco-Free (prohibiting the use of all tobacco and vapor products) policy submitted with the application is required for Excellence. Tobacco -Free policy must include covering All Products (Your smoke-free policy should prohibit use of any products including commercial tobacco products as well as vapes and e-cigarettes. Your policy may also prohibit smoking marijuana if you wish.), All People (Your smoke-free policy should be applicable to anyone who may be on the property including employees, students, volunteers, guests, residents, and others as needed.), All Property (Your smoke-free policy should prohibit use on any of your property, indoor and outdoor, whether owned or leased and should include organization owned or leased vehicles.), and All Times (Your smoke-free policy should prohibit use 24/7 so there is no exception allowing smoking or other tobacco use at specific times.). For assistance with developing or edit a tobacco policy please visit Breathe Easy or e-mail OnlyAir@health.ok.gov.
Program Classification
- Part-Day Program
- Basic: 35%
- Merit: 50%
- Excellence: 65%
- Out-of-School-Time Program
- Basic: 35%
- Merit: 50%
- Excellence: 65%
- Summer Day Camp
- Basic: 35%
- Merit: 50%
- Excellence: 65%
- Drop-in Childcare Programs
- Basic: 35%
- Merit: 50%
- Excellence: 65%
- Family Child Care Home
- Basic: 40%
- Merit: 55%
- Excellence: 70%
- Head Start (Tribal or Other)
- Basic: 50%
- Merit: 65%
- Excellence: 80%
- Early Head Start (Tribal or Other)
- Basic: 50%
- Merit: 65%
- Excellence: 80%
- Child Care Center
- Basic: 50%
- Merit: 65%
- Excellence: 80%
The Oklahoma State Department of Health Certified Healthy Oklahoma Team provides assistance and consultation regarding wellness to any Oklahoma business, health department, state or community agency, organization, association, or coalition. We can provide the following services:
Sample policies related to physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco
Resources on how to begin or enhance a wellness program, including the adoption of policies related to physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco
Content expertise and information regarding best practices.
Information and technical assistance – trends, data, and best practices
Training, materials, and toolkits
Data related to physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco
Best practices being implemented and/or suggested by the State of Oklahoma
Information or technical assistance regarding the Certified Healthy process
Helpful Documents
What is Certified Healthy Early Childhood Program?
Certified Healthy Early Childhood Program was created in 2014 to accompany six additional Certified Healthy Oklahoma programs: Business, Campus, Community, Congregation, Restaurant, and School. The program is administered by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Certified Healthy Oklahoma Team. Certified Healthy Early Childhood Program recognizes early childhood programs that are working to improve the health of children, families, and staff by providing wellness opportunities and implementing policies that lead to healthier lifestyles.
Why Does Certified Healthy Matter?
Becoming a Certified Healthy Early Childhood Program means you are providing a healthy environment for children and families, as well as your staff, along with supporting an overall healthier Oklahoma. By meeting most or all of the criteria to become Certified Healthy, Early Childhood programs provide an established environment to foster behavior modification among children, their families, and program staff, in addition to policy adoption and implementation. It is important to teach children about healthy habits and behaviors in infancy and early childhood1. By providing an early childhood environment rooted in evidence-based health and wellness principles, you are contributing to future generations of thriving, productive adults. Additionally, staff and adult members of children’s families benefit from effective wellness policies via both direct exposure and information dissemination.
Childhood Overweight and Obesity
Childhood obesity is no laughing matter.
- The national obesity rate among 2- to 5-year-olds is 13.9%2.
- As in adults, youth obesity has been generally increasing over time, but the 2015-2016 youth prevalence was not significantly higher than the 2013-2014 prevalence2.
- Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic youth suffer higher rates of obesity than other race and Hispanic-origin youth groups2.
- Childhood obesity is more prevalent in households with lower levels of education3.
- In 2014, obesity prevalence among 2-4 years old children enrolled in WIC in the U.S. was 14.5%4.
- We know that obese children are more likely to be obese as adults5, which places them at increased risk for coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, mental illness (e.g., depression, anxiety) and osteoarthritis6.
It is estimated that obesity costs the U.S. at least $147 billion per year7. As a reminder, overweight and obese children are more likely to become overweight and obese adults. The change starts with YOU!
Early childhood programs that are Certified Healthy see a return on their investment via healthier children, families, and staff. By contributing to the wellness of those in your establishment, you are helping to create a better, brighter Oklahoma. Early childhood programs that advocate for health are recognized as leaders in the community!
References
- American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, and National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. Caring for our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs. 4th Edition. Itasca, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2019. Available at https://nrckids.org/CFOC
- National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Data Brief No. 288 October 2017. Prevalence of Obesity among Adults and Youth: United States, 2015-2016. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db288.pdf
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Prevalence of Obesity among Youths by Household Income and Education Level of Head of Household-United States 2011-2014. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6706a3.htm
- CDC. Childhood Obesity Facts. 2024. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/php/data-research/childhood-obesity-facts.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html
- World Health Organization (WHO). Childhood Overweight and Obesity. Available at https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/childhood/en/
- CDC. Adult Obesity Causes and Consequences. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/php/about/risk-factors.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/basics/causes.html
- The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America. The Healthcare Costs of Obesity. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Available at https://www.stateofobesity.org/healthcare-costs-obesity/