Priority Area: Obesity

Through a collaboration with St. Joseph Community Health Foundation (SJCHF), Parkview is committed to the continuation and further evolution of the HEAL initiative from 2017 through 2019. The HEAL initiative engages in three primary activities providing support of the following: 1) Seasonal gardens at various community organizations; 2) Processes that allow for acceptance and doubling of WIC produce vouchers and SNAP purchases at local produce and Farmers’ Markets and; 3) Our HEALing Kitchen cooking classes with curriculums for training the trainer and class participants.

A registered dietitian provides educational and screening programs to underserved individuals with pre-diabetes, diabetes or other nutrition-related disease such as obesity, heart disease and hypertension. Activities are in the form of accessible educational classes, one-on-one consultations, blood glucose checks, cooking/nutrition classes, exercise classes and evidence-based educational materials.

This program is a school-based healthy eating/active living eighteen lesson curriculum designed for 3rd and 4th graders. This Indiana State Department of Education approved curriculum is used as a tool for teachers to instruct students on healthy living habits. Planting Healthy Seeds helps to instill healthy eating and active living habits and ties into this education the local mascot of the Fort Wayne TinCaps Baseball team, Johnny Appleseed.

This program was created for childcare providers focusing on the early childhood audience, ages 0 to 5 years, and their parents. A toolkit was developed for preschools and childcare sites and focuses on nutrition, physical activity and wellness plans. In collaboration with local early childhood education provider, this program provides linkage to professional development and well-being educational materials. Participating preschools and childcare sites receive the toolkit along with three professional development sessions for staff and implementation assistance through an early childhood educator site coach.

This program is an adaptation of the original Planting Healthy Seeds curriculum focused on healthy lifestyle habits messaging that can be adapted to various age-groups. This program provides after-school programs with a linkage to well-being educational materials.

Designed for 4th and 5th graders, Taking Root is a school-based wellness challenge program that combines education from all components of well-being, structured quarterly challenges and school faculty wellness champions located at each participating school.

This program provides free cardiovascular and diabetes prevention screenings including blood pressure, and cholesterol/HDL/glucose to underserved, low-income adults. Those screened are provided with education at the point of care by a Parkview community nurse (Registered Nurse). Participants are connected with a medical home and community resources if needed.