What We Do

Health and Wellness

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

- World Health Organization, 1948

With generous support from the Walmart Foundation and Pfizer Foundation, the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) has developed the Good for Me! program, a key component of our national initiative to promote culturally relevant healthy nutrition and fitness practices among Black families with young children. Since 2011, we have reached more than 80,000 individuals, including children, parents, caregivers, and teachers, nationwide. The goal of our initiative is to improve outcomes for young children of color by providing strengths-based resources that reflect our children’s families, cultures, and communities.

Rigorous evaluation, as conducted by Child Trends, indicates that Good for Me! is culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate, and easy to implement. Highlighted outcomes from our Health and Wellness program include:

  • 100% of parents agreed that Good for Me! had a positive impact on their lives and on their children’s lives.
  • 99% of participating site staff reported that Good for Me! increased participants’ engagement in physical activity.
  • 96% of participating site staff reported that Good for Me! increased children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables.
  • 85% of families reported that their children are more willing to try new foods.
  • Participating site staff reported that Good for Me! increased children’s consumption of healthy foods in the classroom while improving their knowledge of and comfort with a range of fruits and vegetables.
  • Families reported an increase in the consumption of fruits and vegetables and a decrease in the consumption of fast food and soda. 

NBCDI’s health and wellness programs have been implemented with our Affiliates and partners in:

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Denver, CO
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Greater Tampa Bay, FL
  • Greensboro, NC
  • Jackson, MS
  • Miami, FL
  • Milwaukee, WI
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Washington, DC

NBCDl's Good for Me! resources are designed to deliver developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant information that aligns with the latest research and evidence about nutrition and fitness.

  • The Good for Me! curriculum engages children three to five years old in healthy eating and physical activity by introducing them to a diverse range of fruits and vegetables, hands-on activities, and active play.
  • Developed in partnership with Oldways, the Good for Me! cookbook supports the at-home component of the curriculum, helping families make healthy food together while celebrating heritage, learning, and fun.

To purchase a copy of these resources, please click the respective link above. Due to the COVID-19  global pandemic, shipping may be delayed or unavailable at this time.

For more information, please click here to download our Good for Me! one-page overview.