HEALTH CHAMPIONS EXPAND THEIR WORK
TO PREVENT CHILDHOOD OBESITY!
Community Health Council Updates
COAHOMA
COUNTY’S HEALTHY KIDS – Chair, Lela Keys
The Coahoma
Council is taking on an expanded role as health advocates and champions after
having successfully completed pilot projects for students at Kirkpatrick,
Booker T. Washington and Friars Point Elementary Schools. The 2008 pilot project provided nutrition
information and thousands of dollars worth of equipment to promote physical
activity including Dance Dance Revolution for two of the schools and a
substantial list of other equipment for another. Reports
Shane
McNeill, Director of the Office of Healthy Schools, has agreed to address the
third workshop sponsored by the Council for area school food service personnel. Previous workshops with other outstanding
speakers and interactive discussions have engaged food service personnel in
discussions about how to improve the quality and acceptance of healthy foods
for school meals.
The Council
has recognized Friars Point Elementary for transforming their entire school
environment with funding from the Bower Foundation with healthy improvements including
combination ovens to implement a “No Fry Zone” in their kitchen, salads in the
cafeteria line, a staff wellness exercise room and Project Fit equipment on the
campus. Friars Point was selected for
recognition by the Council as their first Health Champion and the presentation
was made in October 2009 when Council Chair, Lela Keys, addressed the entire
student body then took a spin with one of the weighted hula hoops.
January
2010’s Health Champion for Coahoma is John Ruskey and Quapaw Canoe Company for
their outstanding promotion of physical activity. Since its inception ten years ago, John and
the Mighty Quapaws have gotten nearly 10,000 people out in canoes on the
Mississippi River!
Click here
for a link to the Quapaw Canoe Company website:
http://www.island63.com
DESOTO
COUNTY COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL - Chair, Jim Robinson
DC health
council members continue their work through schools, businesses, the faith
community and local government to improve health outcomes in their area. A monthly Health Champion is recognized and
monthly health campaigns created by council member Dr. Heather Chambliss are
published for children and families.
Recently the
Council awarded $250 grants to nine schools to purchase WII Fit systems with
matching funds from each. They
provided Kiwanis Club of Desoto County with a grant for $1,250 to expand school
gardens and the Hernando Community Garden project also was awarded $1,250 in
support of that community’s first garden on city property.
Health Champions - Jan 2010
Health Champions - May 2010
Hernando Middle State State Fitness Champ
MARSHALL
COUNTY COUNCIL – Chair, Lorena Adams
The Marshall
CHC is actively promoting increased production and consumption of fresh locally
grown vegetables with a new project to engage students at Byhalia High School
in utilizing their existing greenhouse on campus to extend the growing season
and produce vegetables for the school and their community. A field trip to nearby Marshall County vegetable
growers using sustainable methods is planned for this spring.
In
partnership with our Healthy Congregations initiative, the Council will support
and provide recognition for congregational gardens at two area churches, Hearn
Grove and Eason Grove M.B in 2010.
Council
Chair, Lorena Adams, and staff members of Holly Springs Primary will engage in
a youth service project in connection with Global Youth Service Day in spring
2010. The project will include a school
garden under the supervision of their 2nd grade teacher and ongoing
education for students and their families about the importance of increasing
their consumption of vegetables to maintain a healthy weight and help avoid
chronic diseases associated with obesity.
Previous
efforts by the Council include asking for a safer route to Holly Springs
Primary School in a letter sent to Mayor Andre’ Deberry requesting speed limit
signs and a bike/pedestrian lane for Maury Street and co-sponsoring “I Am
Moving, I Am Learning” training for ICS Head Start staff representing 13
centers serving nearly 2,000 children. “I Am Moving, I Am Learning” has now been
implemented system wide at ICS.
Several members
of the council serve on school wellness councils. In an effort to increase physical activity
in schools, the council purchased Dance Dance Revolution arcade quality
equipment in 2009 and rotates the DDR equipment among area schools and several
summer programs.
The 2010 SOCO event was a big success with 325 children
from five area schools
enjoying a gym full of activities and learning about
good nutrition. A highlight this year was the special “kid friendly”
session with Kathy Tucker of HealthWorks! in Tupelo which was NOT your
typical training
session! Dance Dance
Revolution, the big parachute and limbo contests also
helped make the day loads of fun. This is the third annual “Stamp
Out Childhood Obesity (SOCO)
event sponsored by the Marshall CHC.
PANOLA
COUNTY COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL – Chair, Rupert Howell
S.P.A.R.K
equipment and training were provided for 23 schools and pre-school programs in
both north and south Panola County.
The Council
welcomes interested new members who want to champion Healthier
Communities. Contact Judy or Lillian at
662-449-5002 for more information!
The Council
partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Batesville to provide TRIPLE PLAY
training to staff from eight B&G Clubs in the region to promote physical
activity and better nutrition during non-school hours.
QUITMAN
COUNTY’S YOUTH IN MOTION – Chair, Judy Bland
Following a
successful pilot project using Organ Wise Guys curriculum to educate local
parents and Head Start students, the Quitman Council held a community wide
celebration. The curriculum continues to
be used at after-school program at a local school. The Council helped sponsor “I Am Moving, I
Am Learning” for ICS Head Start centers in the region.
Several
members have been added to the Council recently including Healthy Congregations
Board member, Reginald Griffin, who will oversee a large transformational
sustainable growing project to be launched this spring. The project will provide funding to install
hoop houses on three local farms. The
Marks Vegetable Processing Plant operated by Alcorn State will process
vegetables grown for commercial markets and a portion of the vegetables raised
will be distributed to area residents who have limited access to fresh, locally
grown produce.
TALLHATCHIE
COUNTY COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL – Co-chairs, Valeria Hawkins and Debra Daniels
The
Tallahatchie Council includes representatives from both East and West
Tallahatchie who together implemented Junk Food Free Wednesdays in area schools
then partnered with Subway to provide a free healthy snack for every child who
came in with a readily available coupon!
The Council
has provided the very popular and impactful Dance Dance Revolution equipment to
two schools as well as the Charleston Boys & Girls Club and the Tutwiler
Community Education Center. They also
provided equipment and supplies to both Head Start Centers in the County.
Members of
the Council serve on seven school wellness councils and provide small awards to
enhance SWC meetings. Charleston Middle
School recently completed an extensive application for recognition at the
BRONZE LEVEL by the Alliance for A Healthier Generation becoming one of only a
handful of Mississippi schools to aspire to the lofty goals and requirements of
this program. The Council is rewarding
the school’s efforts with a WII Fit system for use beginning this fall!
TATE COUNTY
COUNCIL
The Tate
Council has expanded since its initial project, the implementation of monthly
“Active Family Nights” at four elementary schools with creative, easy to
replicate activities for parents and children, appropriate nutrition
information and some pre and post testing to measure impact. Dance Dance Revolution equipment was
provided for five schools and continues to provide area students with vigorous
and fun physical activity.
The Council
is now undertaking a tree planting initiative to provide shade for Coldwater
Park so it is able to be better utilized during hot summer months. Students at Senatobia Middle School, under
the direction of PE Teacher Brandi Shapley will conduct an advocacy campaign
entitled “I Will Not Be Silent” this semester to promote healthy eating and
active living for chronic disease prevention.
Check back here in a few weeks for photos of the event!
4-H Club kids and staff from Homestead Nursery planted trees
at the park in Coldwater in February as part of their Global Youth Service Day
project. The trees will eventually provide shade to make the park more
inviting during hot summer months.
PE teacher, Brandi Shappley, got her Senatobia Middle
Schools involved in a demonstration to raise awareness about the
harmful impacts
of obesity on a child’s body.
Nearly 600 students in grades 3 through 6 learned
“adult”
chronic diseases
that now plaque children when they don’t get enough
exercise and eat too much junk
food! North Central MS AHEC
sponsored the project and provided the school with a Wii Fit System to
make
getting fit more fun!
TUNICA
COUNTY COUNCIL - Chair Dr. Gene Osborne
The Tunica
Health Care Authority Board serves as the Tunica Council. Through a partnership with Tunica Parks and
Recreation, the CATCH curriculum is being offered to kids at three area Boys
& Girls Clubs. Screenings, 15 weeks
of instruction and participation in the President’s Physical Fitness challenge
are all a part of the project.
Dance Dance
Revolution equipment was provided for the three Boys & Girls Clubs which
holds an annual competition among their sites and has now issued an open
invitation to other county councils for a regional DDR competition in the
future!
Click on
individual counties below for contact information on their Community Health
Councils.
