Programs and Data

Putting on AIRS Asthma Program

Breaking the Silence Breast Health Awareness Campaign

Community Accessible Foodservice Education

African American Heart Disease and Stroke Risk Reduction Program

Groton Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention

Healthy Kids Are Happy Kids

Immunization Action Program

Ledyard Safe Teens Coalition

Lyme Disease Prevention

More Active People

NLC Health Study

SMILES

Latino Women's Healthy Heart Program

Healthy Kids are Happy Kids

The Ledge Light Health District has received funding from the CT Department of Public Health to implement a program to reduce obesity in elementary school children by increasing nutritional knowledge and engagement in physical activity through environmental changes. The program targets youth ages 5-11 when unhealthy dietary and fitness habits begin. The program goes beyond mere transfer of health information and addresses possible barriers in the school and at home by striving for active participation from parents, faculty, and community members.

Those who are overweight as children and/or will most likely be overweight as adults. When a child is overweight many health problems are seen as they age. These include:

• Type II Diabetes

• Coronary Heart Disease

• High Blood Pressure

• Stroke

• Osteoarthritis

• Sleep apnea

• Breathing problems

The Healthy Kids are Happy Kids program aims to reduce the number of adolescents and children who are overweight by educating them early about proper nutrition and physical activity.

To improve nutrition and increase physical inactivity among students, we will:

• Create a Healthy Tip of the Week- A student announces the healthy tip of the week and repeats the announcement of this tip for the remainder of the week. Each week there is a new healthy tip introduced by a new student.

• Create Healthy Exercise of the Week- The exercise will be announced by "community celebrities" during Mondays engaging the entire school for up to 5 minutes everyday.

• Start a Walking Club- The walking club may meet during or after school, inside or outside, and will consist of a varying number of laps.

• Curriculum Integration- Incorporate "Take 10," "5 a Day" or "Energizers" curricula within classroom academic activities.

• Healthy Poster Making Contest- A poster making contest during the first month of the program. There will be a catchy theme assigned and the winner will receive a prize!  

• Host a Family Night- A fun-filled night including a healthy food cooking demonstration and an exercise demonstration will be held for the students, staff and their families!   

• Jazzercise- A jazz inspired workout for the parents and their children.

• Monthly News Letters- Monthly news letters will be made available to teachers, students, and parents highlighting the month's activities and feedback from everyone involved. 

• Healthy Cookbook- A healthy recipe cookbook, placemats and other materials will be created with recipes collected from parents with a healthy twist added to it.   

These activities will help reach the overall goal of reducing obesity in elementary school children by providing them with an environment that promotes making healthy lifestyle choices and with the hope that they will continue to make these choices.                                                          

 

 

 The More Active People Project is funded by the Connecticut Department of Public Health