TOP Star stands for Teaching Obesity Prevention in Early Childcare and Education Settings. Top Star is a free Utah-based program that helps early childcare facilities improve their nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding policies. TOP Star also offers free technical assistance and resources to participants.
In this short video, childcare providers in Salt Lake County explain how the TOP Star program has positively benefited their facilities. They share some success stories and encourage other providers to sign up for the program. Watch to see the positive impact this program can have on the children in your care!
Facilities that join the TOP Star program are making healthy changes they know will have a positive, lifelong impact on the children in their care. The program also helps their business! Facilities can promote and market their TOP Star endorsement to parents and the community to increase marketability. Plus, they can earn continuing education hours toward professional credits like Career Ladder Credit, Licensing, Child Care Quality System (CCQS), and Child Development Associate (CDA). Facilities also receive fun rewards when they finish the program, such as toys, access to special events, monthly newsletters, and more!
The TOP Star program is designed to teach children healthy habits while they are young. This is the best time to develop lifelong behaviors that reduce the risk of chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes later in life. TOP Star promotes a healthier environment through better nutrition (including healthier meal options and education) and increased physical activity (such as more playtime and reduced screen time). The program also offers dedicated breastfeeding support for parents. Beyond the lasting benefits for children, parents benefit by knowing their child is in a healthy, supportive place, as these healthy behaviors often transfer to the home, making the healthy choice the easy choice for the entire family.
Facilities interested in becoming TOP Star endorsed have six months to complete four required steps. As the program is always free, the endorsement is valid for three years and requires no annual renewal fees or additional paperwork during that time. The four steps to becoming endorsed include:
Upon endorsement, facilities will be awarded a framed certificate and a few fun incentives to celebrate their success. They will also be publicly recognized on the websites for both the Salt Lake County Health Department and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Email us to get started!
Achieving TOP Star endorsement is a noteworthy accomplishment that requires commitment and dedication. While it is not an easy task, it is certainly possible if you are willing to invest the time and effort. We are proud to recognize and celebrate those facilities that dedicate themselves to improving the nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding environments for the children and families they serve.
Facility Name |
Level |
| ABC Great Beginnings Murray | 5 |
| ABC Great Beginnings Redwood | 5 |
| ABC Great Beginnings Riverton | 5 |
| ABC Great Beginnings South Jordan | 3 |
| ABC Great Beginnings West Jordan | 4 |
| ABC Great Beginnings West Valley | 5 |
| Allison Cannon Daycare | 4 |
| Alta Children's Center | 5 |
| Ameris Academy Inc. | 4 |
| Andrea's Daycare | 5 |
| Ann's Daycare | 5 |
| Annie's Childcare | 5 |
| Bear Essentials Academy | 5 |
| Bear Essentials Next Generation Kids | 5 |
| Boss Family DayCare | 4 |
| Boys & Girls Club Greater Salt Lake Sugar House | 4 |
| Boys & Girls Club of South Valley | 3 |
| Brighter Steps #1 | 5 |
| Brighter Steps #2 | 5 |
| Bright Start | 4 |
| Building Blocks Childcare Center | 5 |
| Buttons 'n Bows Preschool & Childcare | 5 |
| Cheryl Nelson's Daycare | 5 |
| Cocoon Daycare | 5 |
| Compass Preschool Midvale | 5 |
| Compass Preschool Murray | 5 |
| Compass Preschool and Childcare Sandy | 5 |
| Concordia Lutheran Elementary and Learning Center | 5 |
| Creative Learning Academy (Murray) | 5 |
| Creative Learning Academy of Utah (Redwood) | 5 |
| Creative Learning Academy of Utah (WV) | 5 |
| D & K Daycare/Preschool | 5 |
| Elizabeth Kingston Family Child Care | 4 |
| FAA Puddle Jumpers | 5 |
| First Steps Childcare and Preschool | 5 |
| The Fun Learning Daycare | 5 |
| Happy Zone Childcare Center | 5 |
| Helena Taylor | 4 |
| Here We Grow Child Development Center | 5 |
| Holly's Family Child Care | 5 |
| Intermountain Child Development Center | 5 |
| Jessica Mecham DBA Preschool Playhouse | 4 |
| Josephine's Daycare | 4 |
| Katydid Cove Early Learning | 5 |
| Kelli Collins | 5 |
| Kid's Life Child Care | 3 |
| Kidz Academy 2 | 5 |
| KOPFC Childcare | 4 |
| Learning Land Childcare | 5 |
| Learning Tree East | 5 |
| Learning Tree Southwest | 5 |
| Learning Tree West | 5 |
| Leary Family Childcare | 3 |
| Lesly's Friends Child Care | 5 |
| Lina's Child Care | 5 |
| Little Angels Child Care | 5 |
| Little Campers Childcare | 5 |
| Little Clovers Academy | 5 |
| Little Critters Learning Center | 5 |
| Little Geniuses Learning Center Midvale | 5 |
| Little Geniuses Learning Center Riverton | 5 |
| Little Geniuses Learning Center Sugar House | 5 |
| Little Minds Academy | 5 |
| Little Orchard Taylorsville | 5 |
| Little Rascals Childcare-Preschool | 5 |
| Lola's Playhouse | 5 |
| Lolie Eccles Early Education Center | 5 |
| Lollipops of Riverton | 5 |
| Lollipops of West Jordan | 5 |
| Luna Academy Preschool & Childcare | 5 |
| Magnolia Academy | 4 |
| Mama J Daycare | 5 |
| Martha's Day Care | 3 |
| Marycarmen's Daycare | 5 |
| Marycarmen's II Learning Center | 5 |
| Milena's Childcare | 5 |
| Millcreek Activity Center | 4 |
| Miss Norma's Childcare | 5 |
| Ms. Stephanie's | 5 |
| My Childcare Academy | 5 |
| Nataleen Johnson Family Daycare | 5 |
| Neighborhood House Association | 4 |
| Panda Child Care | 5 |
| Panda Child Care #2 | 4 |
| Peggy Harris | 5 |
| Peggy J. Dipo | 5 |
| Petit Explorer Preschool | 5 |
| Pratt's Little Ol' School House | 4 |
| Rock-A-Bye Infant and Child Care Center | 5 |
| Rosy's Day Care No. 1 | 5 |
| Salt Lake County Childcare-EHS Central City #3634 | 5 |
| Salt Lake County Childcare-EHS Copperview Community #5966 | 5 |
| Salt Lake County Childcare-EHS South Salt Lake #44515 | 5 |
| Samantha Wyatt | 3 |
| Smart Kids 3 | 5 |
| Smart Kids I | 5 |
| Smart Kids II | 4 |
| Smart Kids Kearns | 5 |
| Smart Kids Redwood | 5 |
| Smart Kids West Valley | 5 |
| Smart Start Learning Center | 5 |
| Sproutlets Academy | 5 |
| Star Brite Kids | 5 |
| Sunshine Academy Magna | 5 |
| Sunshine Academy West Valley City | 5 |
| Superior Child Care | 5 |
| Susan's Lullaby Nursery | 5 |
| Sweet Heart Home Daycare | 5 |
| Teddy Bear Daycare | 5 |
| Tiny Humans Childcare | 5 |
| Wasatch Presbyterian Preschool | 5 |
| Winner School | 4 |
The Salt Lake County Health Department proudly recognizes childcare providers for the outstanding commitment and services they provide to our community. We are delighted to highlight some of our outstanding providers below:
| Year | Child Care Director of the Year | Child Care Educator of the Year | Special Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Johnny Saccomanno, The Winner School |
Laisha Hugie, Buttons 'n Bows |
TOP Star Facility of the Year: Here We Grow Early Learning Center |
| 2023 | Astrid Arias, Bright Beginnings Child Care |
Rochelle Ericson, Explore Preschool |
|
| 2022 | Joni Record, Boys & Girls Club of South Valley |
Rachael Mananu, Little Minds Academy |
TOP Star of the Year: Sylvia Abalos, Lesly's Friends Child Care |
| 2021 | Solkenia Otero, Little Minds Academy |
Claudia Montoya, Infinite Academy & Life Skill Center |
|
| 2020 | Debra Wells, Jordan High School Kinderbeets |
Michelle Kiesewetter, The Christmas Box House |
|
| 2019 | Jessica Lloyd, Creative Learning Academy of Utah |
Amy Burns, Amy's Home Daycare |