About Georgia Shape

Georgia Shape is a statewide, multi-agency and multi-dimensional childhood obesity initiative that grew out of a 2009 bill, the Student Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) Act. The SHAPE Act requires that all K-12 students take part in an annual fitness assessment. This legislation was the springboard that led to the Shape program at Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). The collective impact model brings together governmental, philanthropic, academic and business communities to address childhood (0-18) obesity in Georgia.

Georgia Shape is heavily focused on public/private partnerships to address childhood obesity. Since Georgia Shape’s inception, Georgia has gone from the state with the 2nd highest childhood obesity rate in the nation to 17th, with millions of Georgia’s youth being touched through Shape’s diverse partnerships, programs, and efforts. These initiatives include provider, health education and teacher trainings on early feeding, breastfeeding, physical activity and nutrition best practices; as well as recognition programs for schools, students, early care and education centers, and hospitals, physical activity and nutrition programming.

To learn more about the Georgia S.H.A.P.E act please visit this link.

Georgia Shape is a statewide, multiagency, multidimensional initiative that brings together governmental, philanthropic, academic, and business communities to address childhood obesity. By forming deep and meaningful relationships with partners across the state, Georgia Shape is able to create health-related change throughout Georgia.

“Bright Ideas is an initiative that recognizes creative and promising government programs and partnerships. The initiative is offered through the Innovations in Government Program, a program of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School. For more information, please visit http://innovationsaward.harvard.edu/BrightIdeas.cfm.”