The Down East Partnership for Children is continuing its fight to curb childhood obesity with the help of a $226,500 grant.

The partnership was selected as one of 30 recipients by the N.C. Partnership for Children to be part of the Shape NC: Healthy Starts for Young Children initiative, funded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.

The money will flow to the partnership incrementally over the course of three years. The funds will allow the partnership “to serve as one of four training and technical assistance hubs across the state, while also developing a model early learning center and early childhood obesity prevention action plan for Nash and Edgecombe counties,” said Ian Glancy, the partnership’s communication coordinator.

Glancy said Shape NC will strengthen existing strategies within early care environments.

“The Down East Partnership for Children will be able to focus its efforts on prevention rather than intervention to defeat the increasing obesity rate amongst our community’s young children,” he said.

Jessica Jones, the Down East Partnership for Children research and evaluation director, said the majority of the money will go toward hiring a Shape N.C. liaison who will not only provide assistance to the partnership but to neighboring counties as well.

The remaining funds will be directed toward the planning for programs that emphasize active play and healthy eating habits for children and to forming a model child care center.

“One of the partnership’s most successful strategies is being able to use financial resources responsibly,” said Henrietta Zalkind, executive director at the Down East Partnership for Children. “By targeting programs and services that provide the greatest return on investment, we ensure every dollar spent impacts our community’s families and children now and in the future.”

Zalkind said healthy children are more successful learners.

“If we invest time and resources now by increasing access to physical activities and nutritional foods, we can ensure every child is launched as a healthy, lifelong learner,” she said.