We identify and respond to public health issues in the community.
PVAHEC co-founded the The Crossroads Health Coalition (CHC). The CHC is a grassroots coalition comprised of citizens representing the healthcare, business and education industry and others who are dedicated to the prevention of childhood obesity. The CHC was created in large part, because of the increasing obesity statistics among pre-schoolers and elementary students in Victoria. At the
Get Fit Victoria’ kickoff, 500 pedometers were given away to the public as well as information on nutrition. The goal of the CHC is to develop a community-wide approach to help Victorians of all shapes, sizes and ages learn to incorporate better nutrition and increase physical activity.
After four Victoria teens committed suicide in 2001, the Pecan Valley AHEC staff gathered a group of community leaders forming the Teen Suicide Prevention Task Force. The overall goal was to assess, develop, and acquire new funding for educational programs and additional behavioral health services for teens. The group, which included AHEC staff, hospital administrators, elected officials, law enforcement, media, mental health care providers, school officials and parents, grew to a membership of over 70 people.
The task force met on a monthly basis in order to implement a number of programs. It was critical to start with raising the awareness level in the community and educating teens and parents about the signs of a troubled youth.
The next step was the development of the “HOPEline”, and a prevention/awareness campaign for teens. In collaboration with Pecan Valley AHEC, the Victoria Advertising Federation (VAF) developed the public awareness campaign. Pecan Valley AHEC is a referral agency for those afflicted with Behavioral Health issues.
School Physical Activity and Nutrition (S.P.A.N.) Study
In the Spring of 2005, PVAHEC assisted the Victoria City-County Health Department conduct the SPAN study. The School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) Project, was designed to monitor the prevalence and degree of overweight in school children in Victoria County. A questionnaire was given to 4th, 8th and 11th grade students in the VISD that will identify factors that influence the development of overweight and obesity in children. The overall goal of the project was to monitor the prevalence of overweight and obesity in school children in Victoria County.
Participating Schools:
Aloe Elementary, Chandler Elementary, Dudley Elementary Magnet, Juan Linn Math and Science Magnet, DeLeon Elementary, O’Conner Elementary Magnet, Shields Elementary Magnet, Vickers Elementary, Crain Middle School, Howell Middle School, Patti Welder Middle School, Memorial High School.
Health Education Programs Offered by PVAHEC
Eat for Good Health 3rd - 6th grades
According to a statewide study, 40% of Texas fourth graders are overweight or obese.“Eat For Good Health” is an educational program designed to give your students accurate and useful information about good nutrition.
The program will:
Teach children how to use the Food Guide Pyramid in their own lives
Explore the relationship between nutritious food and good health
Encourage children to take responsibility for making the best food choices for both meals and snacks
The Supersized Generation- 7th to 12th grades (The Supersized Generation also has a version for parents).
The fast food and entertaining industries can make it difficult for anyone to stay on a course of healthy living. TV advertisements bombard teenagers with countless images of obscenely large portions of greasy fast foods, potato chips, cookies and ice cream. Also, messages come from ads for so-called “miracle” diet pills. The simple truth is that there are no quick-fix diets or pills that melt away the pounds. Teens need to be reminded of the value of healthy eating. Food, Health, and Exercise will help your students have a better understanding of how certain factors in the environment have an effect on their diet and activity level.
After viewing the video Food, Health and Exercise and participating in the class activities, your students will be able to:
Describe how factors in their environment may promote an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle
Explain the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise
Identify the risks of an unhealthy diet sedentary lifestyle
Describe the basic principles of the Food Guide Pyramid
Be able to interpret the nutritional information on food labels
Recognize the dangers of fad dieting
Appreciate that the healthiest way to lose weight is to exercise and eat moderately
The workshop is free and open to the public, however, registration is required as seating is limited. The topics will include: designing effective interventions, sharing of successful community intervention and how to conduct outcome based evaluations.
July 25-27, 2007
8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Victoria County 4-H Activity Center (located at the airport)
Take one part cooking instruction, stir in some physical fitness fun, sprinkle in education and then blend them all together to create “Cooking up Good Health” a cooking and nutrition camp for local youth.
The goal of the program is to provide participants with a fun atmosphere for creating delicious, healthy meals and snacks and also learn some fun fitness activities. Participants will receive “hands-on” instruction on how to properly measure ingredients, read food labels, learn about appropriate portion sizes and on the last day, participate in a “food challenge”.
September 4
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
First United Methodist Church
6-weeks Do Well Be Well series begins. The series is a diabetes prevention and management series open to the public.
One million Texans have Type 2 diabetes and don’t know it. Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes is an educational program for people interested in learning more about this chronic problem. Whether you are a diabetic, a caregiver of a diabetic, or just want to know more, this program can help. The primary goals are to help participants learn how to prevent the development of diabetes and to manage the illness if they are already diabetic. Join us in our upcoming classes to learn more.
Topics:
What is diabetes & managing your blood sugar
Diabetes & exercise
Preventing & managing complications
Nutrition: The first step to diabetes management
One diabetes diet – no longer the sole option
For good measure at home & eating out
Who should attend:
African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian Americans
Family history of diabetes
High or low blood sugar
Overweight
Limited physical exercise
Age 45 or older
Diabetes with pregnancy or you’ve had a baby weighing more than 9 pounds at birth
