CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) is an evidence-based, coordinated school health program designed to promote physical activity and healthy food choices, Social Emotional Learning, prevent tobacco use in children for preschool through 8th grades and After-school programs in the lower sixteen counties of Illinois. The Foundation links underserved schools and communities to the resources necessary to create and sustain healthy change for future generations. The goal of the CATCH Program is to create and sustain healthy change for our future generations. For more information, please visit catchinfo.org.
CATCH is a program that was selected by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as part of the “Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child” model. CATCH has been proven effective in increasing physical activity, knowledge of nutrition, and social emotional development.
CATCH has also expanded the program by adding a Social Emotional Learning Curriculum. This curriculum provides age-differentiated lessons aligned to the CASEL Framework for Systemic Social and Emotional Learning. This K-12 program uses movement and cultural learning to teach and reinforce SEL concepts.
CATCH’s Social Emotional Learning Curriculum is focused on improving a child’s mental and emotional wellbeing. Social Emotional Learning not only helps the classroom, but the school, family/caregivers, and the entire community. This curriculum helps an individual student develop self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, relationship skills, and social awareness.
CATCH Evaluation Results:
- Based on SOFIT results, students at all participating CATCH schools are spending at least 65% of physical education class time involved in moderate–intensive to vigorous–intensive physical activities.
- Over 5,000 parents/students attended family events.
- Over fifty school food service staff attended training and have worked to implement positive changes in their cafeterias, i.e, serving low-fat milk, adding whole grain products to the menus, and much more.
- CATCH Early Childhood curriculum implemented in several Pre-Kindergarten classes in schools across the region.
- Social Emotional Learning has proven to improve academic performance among students.
- Social Emotional Learning in the classroom has created a more positive learning environment for students.
- By using the Social Emotional Learning curriculum in the classroom, students have shown to be less aggressive and cause fewer disruptive behaviors.
- After implementing a Social Emotional curriculum, students have fewer occurrences of depression, anxiety, and stress.
- CATCH and Social Emotional Learning lessons continue to be practiced and taught.
With CATCH, you have a one-stop solution to support kids’ physical and mental health.
We look forward to working with each school’s staff as they implement the CATCH program in their school. We are expecting terrific results from both staff and students!
Our ultimate goal is to recruit all our area schools into the CATCH program, so if anyone wants to learn more about this exciting program, we encourage them to contact EHD or the national website.
Contact number: 618-297-9380
National Website: https://catch.org/
Community Partners
- American Cancer Society
- Egyptian Public & Mental Health Department
- Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department
- Jackson County Health Department
- SIUC Center for Rural Health & Social Services Development-School of Medicine
- Perry County Health Department
- Southern Seven Health Department
- Southern Illinois Healthcare
- U of I Extension
Funding Provided by:
American Cancer Society, Illinois Delta Network, Illinois Department of Human Services, Kohl’s Cares for Kids, Southern Illinois Healthcare