Healthy Kids Ohio and The Ounce of Prevention Project

Healthy Kids Ohio and Ounce of Prevention (HKO-OP) is a improvement collaboration between two statewide initiatives from the Ohio Department of Health.  One was created to partner with Ohio's community health centers to; prevent, identify and treat childhood overweight and obesity, and to build capacity for treatment.  The other was developed to utilize the Ounce of Prevention materials, which provide primary care physicians simple tools to educate parents in obesity prevention strategies through nutrition and physical activity, in all practices that care for children.

The six Ohio Children's Hospitals (Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo) have recruited Community Health Centers across Ohio to participate in this collaborative.

Project Overview

The aim of this project is to assist centers and practices in utilizing systems and tools that increase the number of screenings and referrals for childhood obesity. Participating Community Health Centers, Academic Centers and private practices will receive tools, training and coaching needed to assist them with implementing changes to implement office systems for overweight and obesity.

With input from community health centers, we will develop state and local policy recommendations to further support health centers in addressing pediatric obesity.

About us

HKO-OP Sponsors