CURRENT FOCUS
Health Connections’ main goal is to address unmet or under-met health needs which will improve the health of individuals and the communities where they live. While there are many health issues Health Connections could be addressing, our current focus is:
- To reduce youth’s and adult’s use of tobacco products
a) By educating youth about the health consequences of tobacco so they never start
b) By providing classes and resources to help youth and adults quit their tobacco habit
c) B y disseminating information about the health risks of breathing in secondhand smoke
d) By strengthening policies in the community which discourage or prohibit the promotion
of or use of tobacco products
- To reduce the risk of youth obesity
a) By increasing opportunities in the community for youth to participate in physical activities
which are accessible, affordable, and inclusive
b) By increasing the availability of affordable healthier foods and beverages to youth
and families
c) By improving the opportunities for families and schools to purchase locally grown foods
d) By educating youth and families on the importance of healthy nutrition and regular exercise
While Health Connections often initiates attention to a specific health concern, Health Connections typically collaborates and partners with other organizations, community based coalitions, town officials, and others to accomplish its outcomes and achieve its health objectives. |
EXAMPLES OF HEALTH CONNECTIONS
IN THE COMMUNITIES
Health Connections works with the Hartford School District to educate its students about the health risks of tobacco. During the 2009-2010 school year, Health Connections collaborated with Hartford High School’s Peer Projects, a youth led group that advocates for healthy lifestyle choices, to conduct tobacco presentations to more than 150 Hartford 5th and 4th grade students.
Rick Bender spoke to Hartford’s Middle School Students and Staff and at the Wilder School about the dangers of spit/chew tobacco, reaching about 450 students and staff members. Because Rick used up to a can of chew tobacco a day during his 20’s, Rick developed lucoplatia, a form of cancer, in his mouth and throat. Rick had to have a third of his tongue and part of his right jaw removed and was given a slim chance to survive.
(The Rick Bender Story)
Health Connections partners with the Upper Valley Haven, the Family Place, Good Neighbor Health Clinic, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Mt Ascutney Hospital, the Veterans Administration Hospital, the Vermont Department of Health, and other community members to form a tobacco coalition that plans tobacco outreach initiatives. Together, these organizations ensure that smoking cessation classes are available in the community.
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Information Concerning
Youth Obesity Prevention
Approximately 160 South Royalton Kindergarten – 6th grade students learned about healthy eating and the “Fizzics of Soda” from Health Connections at the school’s Family Fun Day. Children taste tested different types of humus with whole wheat pita bread and tried some tabouli as well.
Health Connections led a community forum for the towns of Sharon and Royalton to determine which strategies should be used to address youth obesity prevention. The gathering decided on 4 Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommended strategies:
1) Increase Opportunities for Extracurricular Physical Activities
2) Increase Availability of Healthier Foods & Beverages at Public Service Venues (public schools, day care centers, town sponsored events,etc);
3) Improve Availability of Affordable Healthier Foods & Beverages at Public Service Venues
4) Improve Availability of Mechanisms for Purchasing Foods from Farms. Strategies 2 and 3 will be combined whenever possible.
Close to 800 families in Hartford and Royalton received parenting resources from Health Connections. Using resources primarily from the Search Institute, (www.search-institute.org) positive parenting tips are easily at hand.
Health Connections targeted parents of preschoolers – 2nd grade, 5th graders and 7th and/or 8th grade students since those ages denote times of significant child development.
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