The goal of Steps to a Healthier Yuma County is to prevent obesity and diabetes in young children by implementing nutrition and physical activity programs in childcare settings in Yuma County, Arizona.

A coordinator from the Yuma County Public Health Services District led a seven-series Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) workshop at participating childcare centers in Yuma County. The first workshop was used to raise awareness about childhood obesity and recruit participants, the second was used to complete a self-assessment addressing 56 best practices in nutrition and physical activity, and the third was used to give each center their score on the self-assessment. Based on these scores, NAP SACC coordinators worked with center staff to create action plans to address priority areas. The final four workshops were customized to assist childcare providers take steps to address their priority areas.

Steps to Healthier Yuma County is part of the Steps to a Healthier Arizona Initiative, a statewide initiative funded by the Centers for Disease Control.

The goal of Steps to a Healthier Yuma County is to prevent obesity and diabetes in young children.

Steps to a Healthier Yuma County reached 1,876 children attending 30 child care centers in 6 communities. The program succeeded in significantly increasing the median number of best practices being implemented at the centers from 36 to 44 (p=0.0003).