Springboard Opportunities
As part of the Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Technical Assistance Program (HKHF TAP), Nemours Children’s offers curated resources to enhance state efforts to address healthy eating and physical activity in ECE. Known as “Springboard Opportunities,” 38 states and the District of Columbia have accessed these training and technical assistance (TA) since 2019.
How does it work?
HKHF TAP created the Springboard Opportunities using our extensive experience implementing programs aimed at improving the health of young children in both clinical and community settings. We coordinate these offerings each year to respond to state agency and ECE providers’ needs and priorities. By collaborating with state and national partners, we create a tailored set of resources and services to address the challenges and opportunities facing ECE professionals.
State organizations such as departments of health or early childhood organizations assess stakeholder interest to pursue Springboard Opportunities and apply to participate through an “Expression of Interest” process. Each applicant indicates how the requested Springboard would complement and advance their efforts to integrate healthy and physical activity into ECE settings and systems.
Finally, HKHF TAP provides technical assistance support to implement opportunities. We collaborate with states over 6 months to implement the Springboard activities.
Who has participated?
HKHF TAP initially offered Springboards to states involved in the Technical Assistance and Partnership Support (TAPS) program in 2019. Given the growing demand for these resources, HKHF TAP expanded eligibility to all states in 2021. From 2018-2025, Nemours Children’s offered 11 unique Springboard Opportunities to 39 states and the District of Columbia.
This year’s Springboard Opportunities kicked off in September 2025 and will be completed by July 31, 2026.
Current Springboard Opportunities: 2025-2026
- Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate
Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate Course
HKHF TAP has offered North Carolina State University’s Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments Certificate course since 2019. As of July 2025, 378 individuals from 28 states and the District of Columbia received their NLI certificates demonstrating that they have completed the 12-week, 24-hour course focused on evidence-based best practices in planning and creating high-quality outdoor play and learning environments. For the 2025-2026 opportunity, participating state or local organizations will receive ongoing TA and coaching from HKHF TAP and NLI, including the development of an Action Plan to integrate OLE into existing plans to advance statewide goals.
- Gardening With Young Children Certificate Course
Gardening With Young Children Certificate Course
HKHF TAP has offered the Gardening with Young Children Certificate Course from North Carolina State University’s Natural Learning Initiative since 2023. The course aims to provide knowledge, tools, and resources for child care providers and associated professionals to develop and implement fruit and vegetable gardens for young children as a vehicle for learning. Eighteen states have participated in this course so far. For the 2025-2026 opportunity, participating state or local organizations will receive ongoing TA and coaching from HKHF TAP and NLI, including the development of an Action Plan to integrate gardening into existing plans to advance statewide goals.
- Physical Activity Learning Sessions (PALS)
Physical Activity Learning Sessions (PALS)
Since 2019, HKHF TAP has offered a “train the trainer” opportunity on physical activity for ECE trainers and technical assistance staff working at the state level. Participants receive an evidence-based curriculum and set of materials that they can use to deliver trainings to ECE providers virtually or in-person. The curriculum and resources combine content on physical activity in ECE with self-assessments and policy development opportunities. Together, PALS helps state-level staff to work with ECE providers to make changes that enable the children in their care to be more active and healthier. Since 2019, PALS has trained over 1,000 PALS participants, such as trainers and TA staff in 23 states.
- PALS Support Services
PALS Support Services
New for 2025-2026, HKHF TAP is offering PALS Support Services. This is a package of 4 services for existing PALS states with the goal of providing strategies to expand trainer networks, build trainer capacity on physical activity topics and advance physical activity in state ECE systems. PALS Support Services includes:
- A PALS refresher course for existing trainers
- Onboarding of a cohort of new PALS trainers
- Micro-Training TtT events for existing PALS trainers
- State networking calls for PALS trainers, co-facilitated with HKHF TAP staff
- Springboard Funding
Springboard Funding
To advance state and local level action, HKHF TAP offers funds and technical assistance to accelerate or build capacity through an ECE project of systems change effort coupled with coaching from HKHF TAP to support sustainability planning.