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Student Wellness Initiative
South County Family YMCA's Student Wellness Initiative
June, 2008
Did you know that over 19% of Sarasota County youth between the ages of 6 and 11 are overweight or obese? This number has more than tripled in the last 30 years and it is continuing to grow. Despite state-mandated physical activity in schools, healthier vending machine options and even the birth of "active" videos gaming devices, our children are getting more and more unhealthy. And unhealthy kids become unhealthy adults, suffering from serious, often life-threatening medical conditions at younger and younger ages. This may be the first generation that does not out-live their parents.
The South County YMCA's Student Wellness Initiative was created to address this growing crisis. Our philosophy is that the obesity epidemic has many sources and it will take a multi-pronged approach to affect change in individuals, families and communities.
In our 30 years in the Venice community, the SCF YMCA has build solid relationships with our local schools and gained the trust of the Sarasota and Charlotte County School Boards. Because of these good relationships, we are able to coordinate efforts and partner with local schools to provide wellness education and physical activity classes to students during their school day. Thanks to a generous grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, the YMCA-presented classes will greatly increase the amount of wellness/nutrition information and physical activity students receive daily without the schools incurring any additional costs.
In addition to our offerings in the schools, we will be making some changes within our facilities to increase physical activity levels and encourage health eating behaviors in the kids we serve. Beginning in the fall of 2008, our Afterschool program will be incorporating a national wellness and PE curriculum called CATCH, developed by the University of Texas. Kids in the new YMCA Afterschool program will do CATCH activities including active games and exercises, have nutrition classes and cooking lessons, and get the opportunity to sample various types of group fitness activities such as Zumba dancing, kickboxing and circuit strength training.
The SCF YMCA recognizes the importance of families in making health and wellness a lifestyle. Kids can't be healthy without the support of parents and siblings. To increase family wellness and help foster healthy lifestyles of the entire family unit, we will begin offering a special membership type aimed at both kids and families. Kids in grades 3-5 who participate in the Student Wellness Initiative through their schools are invited to join the YMCA for FREE as a "Healthy Kids" member. Special events and activities will be offered for them around a health and wellness theme. Parents may be added to the kid's membership for a low monthly cost, turning the "Healthy Kids" membership into a "Healthy Family" membership. Families who wish to participate in this special membership category have a choice of 3 lifestyle-changing programs in which to participate: an 8-week family weight loss program, an 8-week nutrition series or an 8-week fitness training class.
The support of the community is extremely important in the health of its residents. To that end, the SCF YMCA will host a series of community events centered on health, wellness, fitness and nutrition themes. The idea is to get as many people in the community involved as possible, living as healthfully as possible. Keep on the lookout for the events to be publicized as they get closer in date.
It will take all of us to make a significant, long-lasting difference and begin making strides toward reversing the numbers of American children who are overweight or obese. Watch this website for updates on our efforts and join us to make your own contribution towards healthy living!
Funding provided by 
