Checklist for Improvement at Residential Child Care Institutions
Area 1
Support and Commitment
Does facility desire to make
improvements to increase the health
and wellness of staff and residents?
Does the facility have a local wellness
council in place with various
members?
Facility administrators support the
development of healthy lifestyle
changes for all residents and staff?
Are there policies in place that
establish and enforce the
improvement of the facility to
support a health and wellness
environment?
Are nutrition and physical activity
programs included in the daily
program for all residents?
Does the facility’s local wellness
policy address nutrition and physical
activity?
Area 2
Do all residents receive nutrition
education that teaches the skills
needed to adopt healthy eating
behaviors?
Is nutrition education offered in the
cafeteria, staff and resident lounges,
hallways, or other areas of the
facility?
Do residents receive consistent
nutrition messages throughout the
facility?
Do residents and staff receive
positive, motivating messages about
healthy eating throughout the
1
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Nutrition Education and Promotion
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Checklist for Improvement at Residential Child Care Institutions
facility?
Is nutrition integrated into the core
curriculum or daily programs offered
to residents?
Are there opportunities for nutrition
education for residents using various
free nutrition websites?
Area 3
2
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Physical Activity
Are daily structured physical activity
programs available for all residents?
Are various physical activities in place
for all resident activity levels
including disabled or injured
residents?
Are tracking logs available for
residents to record daily physical
activities and measure progress?
Is safe and adequate exercise
equipment available for residents’
daily use?
Are surveys used to obtain input from
residents on physical activity
programs that support positive
resident attitude toward physical
activity?
Are a variety of sports programs in
place at least once a week?
Are health assessments conducted to
obtain residents fitness and health
levels?
Is physical activity used as
punishment (extra or restricted)?
Are facility schedules revised to allow
adequate time (30 min or more) of
structured physical activity?
Area 4
Y
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Nutrition Guidelines for All Foods and Beverages
Checklist for Improvement at Residential Child Care Institutions
Do all foods and beverages available
on facility premises contribute to
residents’ health?
Are all foods and beverages available
on facility premises to meet the
recommendations of the current
Dietary Guidelines for Americans?
Are specific nutrient guidelines in
place for foods or beverages offered
to residents and staff?
Are healthy options included in all
vending areas, site stores, reward
programs, celebrations or other
events?
Are appropriate restrictions in place
to avoid excessive access to
unhealthy options to residents?
Are restrictions in place to limit the
portion sizes of unhealthy options?
Area 5
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Quality Nutritious Meals
Is all food service staff properly
qualified to prepare and serve meals?
Does all food service staff receive
adequate training and regularly
participate in professional
development activities?
Are all meals planned to meet the
Dietary Guidelines
recommendations?
Are all meals planned to ensure
adequate calories and necessary
nutrients for each age level?
Does food service staff use food
preparation techniques to reduce
total fat, saturated fat, trans fat,
sodium and sugar?
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Does the facility have a Food Safety
Plan written with standard operating
procedures, site specific and used by
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
3
Checklist for Improvement at Residential Child Care Institutions
all food service staff?
Has all food service staff received
adequate food safety training that
meets USDA, state and local health
regulations?
Do planned and served menus offer
whole grains daily, fresh fruits and
vegetables and low-fat or non-fat
dairy products?
Are hand washing facilities available
prior to meal service for all residents?
Is adequate time allowed for
residents to consume meals in a
quiet, clean and appropriate
environment?
Are tables, counters, chairs, etc.
properly sanitized between each
scheduled meal service?
Area 6
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Other Facility-Based Activities That Promote Wellness
Does facility sponsor health/wellness
fairs to educate residents and staff on
healthy lifestyle behaviors?
Does facility offer an on-site smoking
cessation program?
Does facility offer stress management
workshops?
Does facility staff serve as role
models for residents on healthy
lifestyle behaviors?
Does the facility sponsor an on-site
gardening or landscaping program for
residents and staff?
Does facility offer health/wellness
presentations or workshops on a
variety of topics for residents and
staff?
Are nutrition guidelines in place for
all foods and beverages available on
facility premises?
4
Y
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan
Y
N
Explain:
Improvement Plan