Dutchess County Children's Services Council - The CSC is a public-private partnership made up of 100 people from youth service agencies and all walks of life who work together to improve the quality of life for Dutchess County's children, youth, and families. This website was designed by writer and web designer Chris Orcutt of www.orcutt.net. The CSC is a place where ideas are shared, research-supported projects promoted and supported, and where parents, youth, educators, service providers, government, business leaders, the faith community, and youth work together to search for innovative solutions to issues important to the quality of life of our children, youth, and families.

Children's Health Initiative

- Overview

- Youth Tobacco

Use Prevention

- Childhood

Obesity

Prevention

Profiles of

2008 Programs

Integrated County Planning

Youth/Adult Conference

Youth Assets

HOME

Children's Health Initiative

Childhood Obesity Prevention
In 2005, the County Executive allocated funds to CHI to look into the increasing problem of childhood obesity. CHI funded a prevalence study in the summer of 2005, and the results of the study are striking.

Local research shows that 16% of Dutchess County children age birth through 6 are overweight / obese, compared to 10% nationally. Unfortunately, this trend continues in our County for ages 6-11 (20.3% versus 15.3% nationally) and for ages 12-19 (20% versus 15.5% nationally.)

To help address this issue, County Executive William Steinhaus allocated money in his 2006 budget to

implement a Childhood Obesity Prevention and Intervention Initiative. The CHI, following its successful process over the past years for the Youth Tobacco Use Prevention program, manages the childhood obesity funds.

Funded Programs
The following programs were funded for the Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative for 2008:

Beacon Community Center, Beacon We Can! (Ways to enhance
Children’s Activity and Nutrition)

CAPE, The Marathon Program: Empowering Youth Through
Running

Children’s Media Project, Active Youth, Healthy Media

Girl Scouts of Dutchess County, Inc., Jumping into Healthy

North East Community Center, A Lifetime of Fitness

Nubian Directions II, Smart Minds, Smart Bodies

For more information on these programs, see the Childhood Obesity Prevention Program Profiles. And for more on related organizations, visit our Resources page.

RFP - Childhood Obesity Prevention
The Dutchess County Children’s Services Council will announce the 2009 funding of programs that combat childhood obesity for youth in November. Please check back at that time.

Downloadable Materials
For more information about Childhood Obesity in Dutchess County, you can download this 2005 study, which details the problem. (Note: This document requires Adobe Acrobat Reader and may take time to download.)

2005 Childhood Obesity Study