PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Let’s Go! Aroostook, a program of Aroostook County Action Program, announced that they now have 17 schools, six out-of-school programs, 41 child care programs and five health care practices throughout Aroostook County that are being recognized for creating environments limiting unhealthy food choices, sugary drinks and screen time, while encouraging physical activity.
A total of 69 sites are prioritizing healthy habits, by making the healthy choice the easy choice.
“The program has really grown in the County. More sites are registering with Let’s Go! and we’re seeing an increase in healthy habits,” said Katharine Putnam, coordinator of the Aroostook County program.
“Aroostook County has really embraced the concepts of Let’s Go! since it first started in 2006. The sites have done amazing things this year. It really is exciting to see kids recognizing the message and learning to live a better lifestyle,” Putnam said.
Introduced in 2012, the Let’s Go! recognition program identifies and celebrates schools, out-of-school programs, child care programs and health care practices for their roles in improving the health of all children. The program focuses on sustainable change.
A Bronze award reflects a site implementing the program’s five, evidence-based priority strategies, Silver acknowledges a site that has communicated these changes to parents and family members. Gold, the highest level of recognition, is reserved for sites that have written all five priority strategies into policy.
Let’s Go! is a nationally recognized childhood obesity prevention program. The program aims to change environments with a daily 5-2-1-0 message (five or more fruits and vegetables, two hours or less of screen time, one hour or more of physical activity and zero sugary drinks).
