CONTACT - Volume 10, Number 1
Welcome to Healthy Lifestyles

Shirley Schantz, Ed.D., ARNP
Director

The walls of the Primary Care Nursing Center are bulging with children, students, and faculty. During the past year we have added St. James to the other five schools and are conducting screenings and health education there. In addition, we have doubled the number of health education presentations from this time last year; so to everyone, thanks and keep up the great work.

Barry Students Hold Health Fair at Gratigny Elementary Full Service School from left to right : Betty John, Faika, Zoila Revuelta, Joy Lee, Julie Soule, Merryle Parns (faculty); back row: Gene Majka (faculty), Jovana Saunders, Steven Guzman, Omar Ferrer, and Jim Martinez.

The new initiative for this year and the next few years is the Healthy Lifestyles Intervention Program. It is well documented that childhood obesity, and all the associated health risks, is an epidemic in this country. We have developed a Healthy Lifestyles Intervention in collaboration with the Division of Nursing nutrition teacher and the School of Human Performance and Leisure Science. The eight-week program was presented to all the 6th and 7th graders at the four Catholic schools this semester, and the parents were involved in reading and participating in the weekly classes. So far the children have loved the classes, especially the jumping jacks.

The program will continue for the next school year targeting children in 5th and 6th grades, so children in four grades will have the presentations. Other initiatives associated with Healthy Lifestyles include Tobacco Prevention. The Parent-Liaisons (PLs) attended a special program sponsored by University of Miami titled "They're Rich, You're Dead." This program is intended for the middle school students. The PLs will be presenting this information beginning next school year. Other areas of Healthy Lifestyles for the parents and families have included Bone Density testing and HIV-Aids information, presented at PTA meetings. It is exciting that we are including parent and family health concerns.

Vision testing at the schools resulted in 20 children receiving free glasses from Bruce Heiken Memorial Foundation, who provides free eye exams and glasses. Another group of children were examined in May.

All the students and faculty who have participated in the schools can take away a feeling of pride and joy at really making a difference in the lives and health of this vulnerable and underserved population of children and their families. We look forward to a productive, creative, and dynamic next school year. Thank you.

Barry Students Hold Health Fair at Gratigny Elementary Full Service School from left to right: Betty John, Faika, Zoila Revuelta, Joy Lee, Julie Soule, Merryle Parns (faculty); back row: Gene Majka (faculty), Jovana Saunders, Steven Guzman, Omar Ferrer, and Jim Martinez.