Assistant Professor Henna Muzaffar (far right) receives grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation.
Henna Muzaffar, assistant professor of Nutrition, Dietetics and Wellness, received a $4,510 grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation to establish the Coordinated Approach to Child’s Health (CATCH) Program in middle schools throughout northern Illinois.
“I am excited about expanding CATCH to middle schools in northern Illinois, which until now was only delivered in elementary schools in the region,” Muzaffar said. “I am grateful for the support of NIU faculty, students and our community partners, including DeKalb County Public Health Department, YMCA, and Northwestern Medicine.”
Muzaffar said the primary goal of developing and delivering CATCH middle school curriculum is to continue providing children with health promotion education that focuses on healthy food choices, increasing physical activity and reducing screen time beyond the elementary school years.
“Health promotion programs are needed now more than ever to curb the rise in food insecurity, overweight and obesity during the pandemic,” Muzaffar said. “The continued education will serve to maintain and enhance the positive behavior changes taught in the CATCH elementary school curriculum.”
Learn more about NIU’s Nutrition and Dietetics program.
Source: NIU Today CHHS News
