250725 Promoting healthy communities and active living with children and youth

Monday, October 31, 2011: 5:10 PM

Gustavo Iturralde, MPH , Health Promotion, PAHO/WHO, El Paso, TX
Under the umbrella of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Healthy Kinds Healthy Communities initiative, the Pan American Health Organization and core community partners, are implementing different strategies in El Chamizal neighborhood of El Paso, Texas in order to prevent and control childhood and youth obesity. This neighborhood was selected due to its urban make-up, limited access to healthy and quality food, and lack of green recreational space. The presentation will include data of number of Ecoclubs, number of children and youth members in each and an overview of the various activities and results. One strategy is the development of Ecoclubs, as an organization formed and led by children and young whose overall objective is to generate solutions to common environmental problems affecting their community. Through leadership training processes and teamwork, members of the Ecoclub El Chamizal developed specific interventions such as revitalization of green areas, garbage and recyclable materials, interaction with city officials for support in their actions, education about water conservation, reuse of materials, waste classification, and involvement of the entire community. Through these actions taken outdoors and more interaction with their community, children are changing their lifestyles, doing more physical activity than before. This has been recognized by the International Network of Ecoclubs, incorporating this Ecoclub as the first one in the U.S. and in the U.S.-Mexico Border Network of Ecoclubs. Its example has served to form new Ecoclubs in Ciudad Juarez, Hermosillo and Nogales in Sonora and in New Mexico.

Learning Areas:
Environmental health sciences
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Discuss strategies to strengthen the effectiveness of Ecoclub initiative in the solution of environmental problem affecting the community Compare the different activities Ecoclub members have accomplished and the network established along the border Describe positive changes in lifestyles of the Ecoclub members

Keywords: Chronic Diseases, Children's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I coordinate the health promotion program, specifically development of children and youth health and leadership at the US-Mexico Office of the Pan American Health Organization.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Border Health and Chronic Diseases
See more of: APHA