“Dear Cary,

Thank you so much for the opportunity to evaluate your well needed school based Kidz for Life Program to be used as a natural progression from our preschool B.E.A.N. Sprouts Program.

As you know, the most recent JAMA article April 2006 regarding the 1999-2004 NHANES shows that 37.2% of children 6-11 years old and 66.3% of adults are either overweight or obese. Recent societal and environmental changes have affected our children’s diet and activity patterns and these changes have greatly affected our ability to make routine healthy choices:

  • An increase demand for convenience foods.
  • An increase dependence on computers, TV’s and other screens.
  • An increase in marketing to children.
  • More families with working parents.

Health is especially confusing in a child’s environment. Our children are served desserts and Lucky Charms cereal for a snack at preschool, they are given lollipops at the doctor’s office, promised sweets if their parents return a survey and watch their teachers drink soda daily.

Kidz for Life helps educate students and teachers regarding these recent changes and alerts them to the health consequences of our every day choices. Your program is the only up to date school based program I know of that includes the new 2005 dietary guidelines and valuable information regarding fats, heart disease and the pros and cons of media information and technology. All children need to learn these lessons to face our ever changing environment.

You have created something essential for both teachers and students; a fun interactive set of lessons for students and user friendly assessments for teachers. I believe your lessons will follow nicely from the games and crafts we use in B.E.A.N. Sprouts and deliver a consistent message to keep kids healthy. As a physician I applaud your efforts at bringing health and wellness to the forefront of public education for all children. I fully support Kidz for Life.”

-Julie Crichton, MD

Diplomate of American Board of Anesthesiology

B.E.A.N. Sprouts www.stringbeansorjellybeans.com

Author Award Winning Children’s Book Series for Health and Wellness

Communication Chair Scottsdale Unified School District Wellness Committee

Fit City Scottsdale Member and Public Health Advocate

“The YMCA launched an initiative to Activate America. A crucial program in that initiative is to combat youth obesity. It is officially a disease and at epidemic proportions. The Tempe Family YMCA received a grant for thirty thousand dollars to create a program specifically to combat youth obesity. We obtained a complete line of equipment from Life Fitness called the “Circuit Series”. It is scaled down models of nine machines with band resistance technology suitable for six year olds and up. Partnerships with local medical advisory boards and clinics provided pre and post testing for blood work to measure lipids and blood sugar levels. We designed specific workouts for all ages and began to market to the local community and were able to scholarship those who could not afford our services so no one was turned away for any reason.

We had the facility, the equipment, and the exercise programs but we were still challenged when it came to the nutrition, healthy lifestyles and self esteem segments geared especially for children. We wanted to be the pioneers in measuring weight-loss/self-esteem and how it improves student GPA as well.

A chance encounter with the KIDZ FOR LIFE curriculum changed everything for the Tempe Family YMCA. We found our missing link. The Valley of the Sun YMCA as an association has made itself familiar with the CATCH program and YMCA of the USA has specific programs similar to CATCH. KIDZ FOR LIFE stands alone. Never before have I seen a curriculum that is so easy to use and so adaptable to any age group. The Tempe Family YMCA is a non-profit agency dedicated to building strong kids, strong families, strong communities. It is our mission to put Christian principals into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. I offer this only to segue into the fact that we have a budget to manage and a board to answer to so fiscal responsibility is crucial to being successful in our community. KIDZ FOR LIFE is a ready made curriculum that can be purchased and implemented seamlessly as the design is flawless and the material user friendly. The owner of KIDZ FOR LIFE was always available to train staff and be there for phone and electronic support. The greatest compliment I can pay the program is tech support was never needed. The program is that easy to use, and so effective every single child in our initial eight week program scored perfectly on the nutrition portion of the post test. In the Valley of the Sun association of the YMCA the Tempe branch was the first to receive a grant for a youth obesity program. A nutrition self-esteem program was essential and time was of the essence hence a precedent setting purchase of KIDZ FOR LIFE.”

Lance T. Gray

Membership Director Tempe Family YMCA

Health and Fitness Director Tempe Family YMCA

Chairman Valley of the Sun Youth Sports Cabinet

Chairman Tempe Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Ambassador Committee

Chairman SCF AZ Compliance Review Board

Kwanis Club of Tempe Board of Directors

“My name is Debby Pool and I’m the founder and owner of Nutrition Concepts, Inc., a nutrition education and wellness coaching firm specializing in children’s and family nutrition . I have a MS Holistic Nutrition degree, am a certified wellness coach and a member of the School Nutrition Association and Action for Healthy Kids organization.

I was first introduced to the Kidz for Life curriculum earlier this year and was so impressed that I wanted to partner with Cary Bailen to get the word out to schools and other organizations that focus on children’s wellness, such as the YMCA. A federal government mandate enacted in 2006 requires all public schools to provide nutrition and wellness education to all students. Teaching time is at a premium so teachers need tools that will assist them in educating students with minimum preparation time. The Kidz for Life curriculum enables teachers to meet the Wellness Policy requirements in an easy to use format that includes all facets of child wellness in one book – Communications, Environment, Safety, Self-esteem and general well-being. There is an urgent need for the curriculum that Kidz for Life provides and I wholeheartedly give it my endorsement as a tool for bringing wellness education to the classroom.

“I wanted to take this opportunity to express how much my staff and I enjoyed the presentation of Kidz for Life given by Cary Bailen at a recent In-service. Ms. Bailen presented information that emphasized the importance of eating healthy. During this class, staff members were given lessons plans and a Meal Patterning Food Target. The information will help students and staff become successful at attaining healthy life choices.”

- Linda Horner, Principal, Imagine Schools at West Gilbert Charter,
Gilbert, Arizona

“Cary Bailen has an amazing ability to communicate clearly and effectively to audiences of all ages. She adapts to ever-changing needs and requirements with ease. I truly appreciate her passion for educating people about the importance of their health. Cary and the Kidz for Life program will be a great force toward creating a healthier future for all the people she meets.”

- Laura A. Whitson, General Manager, USA’s Skateland-Chandler

“I was thrilled to see such an interdisciplinary, comprehensive health education curricula that was extremely teacher friendly and was already beautifully aligned with the state health standards. I have been a classroom teacher for over 20 years as well as a cofounder of a large charter school, Dean of a college and a mother of four and I strongly support and encourage the use of the Kidz for Life curriculum and applaud their effort in helping our children.”

- Evelyn Wilson M.ED