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Topic: Increasing Trend of Childhood Obesity in Harrisonburg/Rockingham County
Location: Clementine
Convened: 11am
Attendees and Affiliations:
Alli Kinney – RMH Wellness Center; Melinda Swisher – RMH Wellness Center
Tony Lopez – Friendly Food Coop; Pam Mason – Harrisonburg City Schools; Tom Mendez – Harrisonburg City Schools; Melissa Aleman
Notes:
Address the rising trend of childhood obesity and gain perspective about the needs in the community.
What do we all see currently in our areas of scope?
-Not many safe ways that children can be active after-school
-Not a lot of parental involvement as it pertains to activities
-Working parents without resources to bring children to places like the Wellness Center for Fit programs
-Family culture may not embrace healthy activities
-Financial situation may not afford activity programs for their kids
-Children want to do activities with their own peer group
-Lack of PE time or engagement in PE activities
-PE may be too competitive for some children
What resources are available for children and parents to get healthier?
RMH Wellness Center Weight Management Programs allow kids and parents to utilize the facility and learn healthy habits together funded through the Childhood Obesity Fund. Recommendation was to market the fund more in the community so that people know more about it.
H’burg Parks and Rec has family/adult and child activities that are rather inexpensive, but how do we get families/parents/children motivated to change their unhealthy habits and lifestyle?
Brainstorming ideas:
After school program partnership between schools and RMH Wellness Center where the wellness center staff could come to the schools after school and provide education and fun “active” activities.
On-going fitness education for PE instructors that includes fun fitness activities.
Work with PTA to hold a Parent/Child Health and Wellness Night with fun activities the parent and child can do together.
Pediatrician involvement – How do we get the Pediatricians and Family Doctors to get the Parents to “buy-in” to health/wellness and activity and to stress the importance of good nutrition and physical activity. New parents are often dialed into their doctor and their recommendations. The Physicians could be used as a gateway for these families.
Mayors Health Hometown Challenge is a tool to get the community and families engaged in good health and physical activity.
In order to change the Child’s health habits, the entire family has to change their habits.
Have family cooking classes, healthy shopping classes for the family.
Need to consider different cultures and ethnicities and their health habits.
Other considerations include…
-Self-esteem, Body Awareness and Acceptance
-Different Programs to address the differing needs of girls vs. boys.
-Internal/External Motivations
-Internal/External Barriers
Contact: Alli Kinney @ mailto: akinney [at] rhcc.com
