The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #54552

Shelby T. Gonzales, BA and Julie M. Reynolds, BA. Partnership for Healthier Kids, Inova Health System, 8003 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151, 703-321-1977, shelby.gonzales@inova.com

Partnership for Healthier Kids (PHK), lead by Inova Health System and community partners, is designed to measurably improve the health of children in Northern Virginia by implementing two school-based program components an Access to Care program and a Prevention program. The Access to Care program strives to connect uninsured children to a source health care services including Medicaid and SCHIP. The Prevention program works with school systems and community organizations to monitor and identify pediatric health needs and implement age-specific Prevention programs to address needs in a proactive and collaborative manner. Since PHK piloted in three schools in 1997, program success has supported expansion to over 125 schools. Program accomplishments have additionally lead PHK to become recognized nationally and locally as a model for connecting children to health care and prevention services. PHK has linked over 11,000 previously uninsured children to a source of ongoing healthcare and reached over 24,000 children, parents, and educators through preventive activities. In 2002, the PHK Advisory Committee used surveys, focus groups, telephone interviews and published studies to determine current pediatric health needs in the community. This data indicated that childhood obesity is a major concern. In collaboration with school system and health system expertise, the PHK Prevention program committed to design a program with nutrition and physical activity components geared towards educating children, parents and educators. PHK would like to share results of this pilot at this year’s American Public Health Association annual meeting.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• List three skills that will facilitate the development of partnerships with schools and community organizations.
• Apply nutrition and physical activity guidelines in the development of a prevention program.
• Develop skills to implement culturally competent nutrition and physical activity programs to reach a diverse group of children, parents and educators.

Keywords: Prevention, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.