Keystone Color Me Healthy (KCMH) Program 

Color Me Healthy (CMH) 

CMH is a kit of interactive resources developed by staff from North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service at North Carolina State University and the Physical Activity and Nutrition Unit of the North Carolina Division of Public Health.  CMH was designed to help early childhood practitioners teach low-income children aged 4 and 5 years about the importance of nutrition and physical activity.  Kit materials, which can be integrated easily into an existing preschool curriculum, include colorful cards, posters, newsletters, music, and activities to teach children that healthy food and movement are fun.  To learn more about the original Color Me Healthy program, please click here 

To learn more about all the activities available and to download a copy of the most recent Supplemental Activity Resource see Keystone Kids Current Activities section. 

In 2003, the Pennsylvania Departments of Health (DOH) and Education partnered with the Head Start State Collaboration Project, Tuscarora Intermediate Unit, American Cancer Society, Nutrition Education Network, and Penn State Cooperative Extension to purchase CMH kits and train early childhood practitioners in five Pennsylvania counties (Adams, Allegheny, Chester, Luzerne and Mercer) in how to best use the resources.  Practitioners from Head Starts, Family Literacy centers, childcare centers, and family childcare homes were invited to attend, and every early childhood practitioner that attended a training session received a CMH kit free of charge.  During the 2004-2005 state fiscal year, CMH trainings were expanded to 12 additional counties across the state: Bradford, Butler, Centre, Dauphin, Erie, Lancaster, Lycoming, Monroe, Montgomery, Somerset, Westmoreland, and York.  

In 2005-2006, CMH was implemented in 17 more counties.  During this same year, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) joined the workgroup of CMH partners and obtained funding from the Heinz Foundation to expand CMH to the remaining 33 counties in Pennsylvania.  

Another change in 2005-2006 was the partners’ decision to rename the program “Keystone Color Me Healthy” to represent the ways Pennsylvania has expanded the program to become part of the larger Keystone Kids Go! umbrella initiative.  By adding “Keystone” to the program title, the group also was able to connect the program to other statewide programs and initiatives.  Other programs and initiatives include DPW’s Keystone Stars program and DOH’s Keystone Healthy Zone and Keystone Active Zone initiatives, which are provided by Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity (PANA). In addition, Lancaster General (LG) began a partnership with Keystone Color Me Healthy.  A select group of health/education professionals were trained and certified as Specialty Discipline Trainers to lead Color Me Healthy workshops for child care providers and preschool teachers working in Lancaster County. LG-sponsored workshops are on the PA KEYS calendar but are not administered through the Regional Keys.

By December 31, 2007 Keystone Color Me Healthy was implemented in all Pennsylvania counties.  To learn more about all the activities available see Keystone Kids Current Activities section