Shape NC Partners

The Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) at the College of Design, NC State University, is working with several state-level partners to develop policies, programs, and healthy outdoor environments to address early childhood obesity in North Carolina with the support of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. 

Through Shape NC, NLI is working collaboratively with Local Partnerships for Children and Model Early Learning Centers (MELCs) to design natural outdoor learning environments (OLEs) in selected sites.  In addition, NLI provides training, technical assistance and resources to support Shape NC participants and communities throughout North Carolina to assist them in creating healthy environments for young children in childcare. 

Our state level partners include:

• Smart Start and the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc.

  The North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) or Smart Start is North Carolina’s nationally recognized early childhood education initiative whose vision is to ensure that all children have all they need for healthy growth and development.  Smart Start is organized at the community level through Local Partnerships for Children which have established community networks that bridge education, health services, and family supports to best meet the needs of young children and their families.  Through Shape NC, NCPC and selected Local Partnerships for Children are developing innovative strategies to address early childhood obesity and to build the capacity of local communities to support the healthy development of young children and their families.  For more information, visit www.NCSmartStart.org.

• NAP SACC

  The Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) program was developed by the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the University of Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). The program targets childcare policy, practice and environmental influences on nutrition and physical activity behaviors in young children. UNC-CH staff provide guidance and training on using NAPSACC in the Shape NC model early learning centers.  For more information, visit www.napsacc.org.

• Be Active Kids

  Be Active Kids (BAK) is a physical activity initiative focused on providing physical activity related support and resources to individuals caring for young children in North Carolina.  Be Active Kids utilizes a developmentally appropriate curricula and various training modules to increase physical activity of both children and adults in early childhood settings.   For more information, visit www.beactivekids.org.

• The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation

  The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) Foundation is an independent nonprofit foundation dedicated to improving the health and well-being of North Carolinians. BCBSNC Foundation is committed to children’s health and funded NLI’s Preventing Obesity by Design (POD) Project in previous years.  The BCBSNC Foundation is the major funder for the Shape NC. For more information, visit www.bcbsncfoundation.org.