Cleveland AmeriCorps Members Expanding Reach to Akron
A proven program will benefit additional children throughout northeast Ohio
Online, November 30, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Children's Hunger Alliance (CHA) announces today an expansion of its existing work with AmeriCorps members in northeast Ohio to Akron.
CHA, a statewide nonprofit organization with a strong northeast Ohio presence, utilizes AmeriCorps members stationed at urban afterschool and summer program sites throughout the Cleveland area to teach the Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities program which focuses on nutrition and physical activity for children in grades K-8. Last year, nearly 400 children participated in this program in the Cleveland area and this upcoming year the program will expand to Akron with the addition of two more AmeriCorps members, Colleen Poling and Theresa Attalla. Those members hope is to reach 150 Akron children through the program.
"We view this expansion as a real opportunity to make a difference in the Akron community," says Debra Parmer, Vice President with Children's Hunger Alliance's northeast Ohio office in Cleveland. "This nationally recognized program improves the chances of these children leading a healthy and productive life."
Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities teaches two proven curriculum, Food Folks and CATCH, to improve the nutrition education and physical fitness of the children who participate.
The Food Folks nutrition education curriculum consists of 12 hands-on lessons focusing on healthy behaviors for elementary school age children. The Coordinated Approach to Childhood Health (CATCH) physical education curriculum is designed to promote healthful behaviors in school children and reduce their subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease.
Overall, 88 percent of children who participated in the CATCH physical education program in Cleveland increased their cardiovascular endurance during the implementation of the program. In addition, 78 percent of children who participated in the Food Folks education program improved their knowledge of healthy eating through the program and over $3,000 of physical education equipment was given to sites following the completion of the Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities programming to help continue the mission.
AmeriCorps is a national service program that provides adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. AmeriCorps members devote a year of their lives to this service, which address critical needs in communities all across America.
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Children's Hunger Alliance is the statewide nonprofit organization committed to breaking the cycle of childhood hunger in Ohio through education, leadership, advocacy and service. The agency, which has a regional office on Euclid Avenue, works with schools, child care providers, youth-serving and faith-based organizations, elected officials and other policy makers, businesses and individuals to improve each child's opportunity to be well-nourished, healthy and thrive. To learn more, visit www.ChildrensHungerAlliance.org or call 614-341-7700.