Age range

Website: Not available

Mission/Goals: Through health education and structured active play, KOTM aims to reduce cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity and decreased opportunities for physical activity in high-risk children in Atlanta, Georgia.

Notes: Kids on the Move (KOTM) is an after school activity and healthy lifestyles program developed and piloted by the Community Health Development and Advocacy (CHDA) staff at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHA) in response to an identified increase in cardiovascular disease risk factors, especially among children in high-risk populations. KOTM is delivered in a session that consists of eight weeks, meeting three days per week. The program includes a one-hour session, three days each week. Each session includes a “warm-up,” “cool-down,” and 25 minutes of structured active play. During the warm-up and cool-down, youth are instructed in health messages related to decreasing risk factors for heart disease. Healthy food choices, avoidance of tobacco use, and the importance of daily physical activity are among the topics. The Know Your Body curriculum was used as a resource in developing the health topics.

Source(s): www.gse.harvard.edu

/hfrp/projects/afterschool/mott/

kotm.html; www.comminit.com/str

ategicthinking/steval/sld-2163.html

Type of Evaluation: Outcomes Monitoring

Objective: To determine changes in participants' flexibility and changes in participants' health-related behaviors. In addition, a formative process evaluation sought to ensure that the program could be effectively implemented in a variety of settings.

Impact/Outcomes: Participants' flexibility improved for both right leg (+2.79 points) and left leg (+2.76 points), p<.001. The test is measured in inches with readings starting at 12 inches. Nearly half (49.3%) of the parents stated that their child was drinking more water since beginning the program. Over half (51.7%) of the parents stated that they noticed an increase in their child's activity level since beginning the program.