Spotlight: Jefferson Parish Public Schools

# of Schools 39

# of Kids Served 18000

Project Start 2016

Funders:

Humana Foundation, Baptist Community Ministries

Project Summary

The New Orleans CATCH project aims to increase physical activity and healthy eating, reduce obesity, and create health-promoting environments for approximately 18,000 students in 39 elementary schools in the Jefferson Parish Public School System (JPPSS). Jefferson Parish borders the city of New Orleans to the west and south and is the largest school system in Louisiana, educating nearly 50,000 students in pre-K to 12th grade. JPPSS serves a high percentage of low-income and minority youth – 78% eligible for free or reduced lunch, 41% African American, 24% Hispanic – factors associated with higher rates of overweight and obesity.

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Miller Wall Elementary

Paul Bodenhamer
Food Service Manager

Outcomes

Results from Phase 1 showed a 56% increase in time spent being physically active during P.E. class as well as a 23% boost in the number of days per week kids reported being moderately to vigorously physically active. The CATCH Program successfully moved the needle in students’ understanding of the connection between their diet and overall health, which is underscored by a 13% increase in self-reported water consumption.

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Funders

Humana Foundation

The Humana Foundation’s Bold Goal is a population health strategy to help the communities they serve be 20 percent healthier by 2020. They are focused on improving key social determinants of health and chronic conditions through pilot programs and interventions with community and physician partners.

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Baptist Community Ministries

Baptist Community Ministries is committed to the development of a healthy community offering a wholesome quality of life to its residents and to improving the physical, mental and spiritual health of the individuals we serve.