Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative

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More Photos:

photo: (l to r) Kathleen Sebelius, (Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), Karen Donato (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute), Laurie M. Tisch (CMOM Honorary Board Chair), John Rhea (Chairman, New York City Housing Authority), halley k harrisburg (CMOM Board Chair), Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Andy Ackerman (CMOM Executive Director), Elizabeth Nabel, M.D. (Director of the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the US National Institutes of Health)

The Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) has launched a national obesity prevention program resulting from interagency collaborations on both the local and national levels. As childhood obesity rates continue to challenge our country, local and national leaders are seeking innovative ways to foster good eating habits and exercise at an early age and to change behaviors that are at the root of obesity. Because CMOM is a trusted leader in translating academic research into engaging educational programs for families, local and national experts—including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOH)—have turned to the Museum to help deliver new messages and programs that promote healthy behavior, good nutrition, physical fitness and healthy communities.

CMOM’s initiative is funded in part by a National Leadership grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund and the Kellogg Foundation, as well as local government support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and connection to the innovative Green Carts program in NYC. Collaborating partners include the National Institutes of Health, Association of Children’s Museums, New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and New York City Housing Authority.

A socially innovative element of the project is the alignment of local and national partners that is essential to tackling deep community issues such as childhood obesity. As the health community struggles to reach families early enough, CMOM will take an important step forward in addressing current gaps in services, and in linking the disparate obesity prevention efforts of food policy initiatives, museums, libraries, hospitals, CBOs, public housing facilities, social services and the public health communities.

CMOM’s Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative is designed to achieve the following goals:
• Help families develop positive behaviors, through a permanent interactive exhibition and innovative programs;

• Provide consistent health messages across multiple and diverse venues;

• Influence public policy with the rigorous evaluation of a new early childhood health curriculum carried out in consultation with the NIH;

• Reach high-risk populations through intensive community outreach and partnerships with public and private partners that will connect this initiative to local efforts to improve the health, well-being and academic success of New York City’s children;

• Have exponential impact with a professional development program for educators, health professionals, child care providers and parents;

• Provide national dissemination and replication of exhibition plans, curriculum, educational programs and research findings.

List of Partners and Advisors

CMOM has put together an advisory board of leading professionals.
Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative Partners and Advisors.