The PEACH Initiative:
Physical and Emotional Awareness for Children Who Are Homeless

The physical and emotional health of 1.3 million children who are homeless in America each year is dramatically worse than that of other children. Homeless children are sick more frequently. They have more emotional problems, cry more often, and are easily distressed. Their diet is often determined by shelter kitchens and whatever prepared foods their family can afford. Excluded from the routines of usual family life, homeless children do not have regular opportunities for sports, group play, or physical exercise.

To respond to the need for a nutrition and wellness program adapted to the unique characteristics of family shelters, The National Center on Family Homelessness (The National Center) has adapted the OrganWise Guys Younger Years program, an interactive curriculum created for use in schools, to develop the Physical and Emotional Awareness for Children who are Homeless Initiative (PEACH). Through PEACH, The National Center is training shelter providers and others to teach young homeless children and their parents about good nutrition, physical activity, and how to deal with the stress of being homeless.

The National Center also created sessions on emotional health, specifically designed to introduce children living in shelters about their bodies' reactions to traumatic stress and what to do about it. These sessions help children identify and feel comfortable with a range of emotions and reinforce strategies help them feel safe.

Since mothers are often the primary teachers and most important influence in young children's lives, The National Center has also developed sessions for parents. These sessions focus on concerns about family nutrition, accessing mainstream resources, and young children's development and ability to cope with the stress of homelessness.

The National Center has partnered with OrganWise Guys, Inc. to bring the PEACH Initiative to homeless children across the country. These efforts are currently funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.