The Healthy Out-of-School Time (HOST) Coalition Adopts Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Quality Standards

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In January of 2009, the Healthy Out-of-School Time coalition was formed and by April of 2011 the group had adopted the healthy eating and physical activity quality standands (HEPAQS) for  out-of-school time. In this article from Childhood Obesity, Wiecha et al. (2012) discuss the protocol used to develop the HEPAQS as well as the implications they may have on policy development. HEPAQS includes 11 standards for Healthy Out-of-School Time, that could serve as voluntary guidelines for out-of-school programs and curricula.The physical activity component of this document offers guidelines for:

1. best practices;
2. staff training;
3. social support;
4. program support; and
5. environmental support.

According to a recent study, although Latino children met screen time viewing recommendations, they did not meet recommended levels of physical activity. Currently 8 million children participate in healthy out-of-school time activities but Latino children still lack access to quality physical activity programs. HOST continues to provide technical assistance to groups supporting out-of-school time activities. Access HOST curricula & toolkits, research reports and articles, and learn more about the HOST program.