Alabama Healthy Kids, Healthy Future

Every Child in Alabama Deserves a Healthy Start in Life

Girl smiling with paint on hands and face

Areas of Focus

About Us

Alabama Healthy Kids, Healthy Future is a health promotion program within the Alabama Partnership for Children with the mission to support and encourage early childhood educators, families, and children to make healthy changes in ECE policies, practices, and environments through education, technical assistance, and collaboration.

In the state of Alabama, the rate of obesity in 2023 was 39%, among the highest in the United States (CDC, 2023). While obesity has many causes, quality nutrition and physical activity can reduce the risk of developing chronic health conditions later in life. Establishing healthy habits in early childhood can make a lasting impact.

Resources

Through our program, we provide trainings, resources, and opportunities to child care programs throughout the state of Alabama.

We also partner with stakeholders to impact state systems changes that ensure all children in child care have access to healthy choices. 

Featured Programs

Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Certification Program

This program ensures child care providers are equipped to support breastfeeding moms and are trained to properly handle breast milk.

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PALS (Physical Activity Learning Sessions)

PALS is a training series for early care and education providers focused on evidence-based practices for physical activity in ECE settings. Child care professionals learn strategies for implementing best practices in a sustainable way, including action planning and goal-setting activities.

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Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE)

Alabama Healthy Kids, Healthy Future provides resources, professional development, and technical assistance to early childhood educators to increase local food purchasing, nutrition and agriculture education, and gardening experiences in ECE settings.

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Training Sessions

  • Child Nutrition 101: Encouraging Nutritious Foods and Positive Mealtimes in ECE Settings

    This training session will be offered at The Measure of Tomorrow Early Childhood Conferences being hosted in Anniston, AL, and in Athens, AL. This conference is hosted by TCR Child Care Corporation. In this session, participants will learn the basics of early childhood nutrition, how they can create a positive environment for eating, and how to include children in the preparation and cooking of nutritious meals or snacks.

    Learn more about the conference

  • Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Training

    Wednesday, August 20th, 2025, 12:30 - 2:00 PM

    Learn the foundations of breastfeeding and infant feeding and discover strategies for creating a breastfeeding-friendly environment in your child care program. This training session fulfills the training requirement for the Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Certification.

    Sign up here

  • Creating a Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Program

    This training session will be offered at The Measure of Tomorrow Early Childhood Conferences being hosted in Athens, AL. This conference is hosted by TCR Child Care Corporation.

    Learn more about the conference

  • Play, Connect, Grow: The Power of Active Play in Fostering Social-Emotional Development in Early Childhood

    This training session will be offered at The Measure of Tomorrow Early Childhood Conferences being hosted in Anniston, AL, and in Athens, AL. This conference is hosted by TCR Child Care Corporation. This session will focus on four key social-emotional skills and demonstrate how active play can support the development of these skills.

    Learn more about the conference

  • Yogapalooza: Fun Ways to Bring Peace and Calm into the Classroom

    This training session will be offered on Wednesday, October 29th, during the 2025 Alabama Early Childhood Education Conference in Birmingham, AL. This conference will be hosted by the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education. In this session, participants will discuss the importance of physical activity in early childhood and how mindful movements and activities can assist in building the whole child.

    Learn more about the conference

  • Preparing for Your Fall Garden (Layout) and Starting Cool Weather Seeds

    Thursday, August 14, 2025, 1:00 PM

    Join the AL HKHF Team and Bionca Lindsey as we discuss how to prepare for a fall garden! We will also discuss how to start seeds for cool-weather crops.

    Sign up here

  • Planting Your Fall Garden (Getting Our Cool Weather Garden in the Ground)

    Thursday, September 11, 2025, 1:00 PM

    Join Garden Educator Bionca Lindsey and the AL HKHF Team as we discuss planting a garden in the fall! We will also discuss how to transplant cool-weather seedlings into the garden.

    Sign up here

  • 2025-2026 Farm to ECE Learning Collaboratives

    By participating in the Farm to ECE Learning Collaborative, early childhood educators agree to work with HKHF trainers for at least 6 months to receive professional development, technical assistance, and resources for implementing Farm to ECE activities into their program. Educators can complete this form to express interest. The next round of Learning Collaboratives will start in late 2025.

    Sign up here

  • STEM Sprouts: Hands-on Gardening Activities for Little Learners

    This training session will be offered on Wednesday, October 29th, during the 2025 Alabama Early Childhood Education Conference in Birmingham, AL. This conference will be hosted by the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education.

    Learn more about the conference