HealthCorps®’ goal is to fight child obesity in schools and communities across the country.
Dr. Oz modeled HealthCorps after the Peace Corps to show teens practical life skills through upbeat school seminars focused on the value and power of students' bodies and minds, as well as community events and initiatives that help expand its message.
Grant High School is one of only 50 schools nationally offering this groundbreaking program.
Recent college graduates become HealthCorps "Coordinators" for two years and defer medical school or graduate health program studies to participate in public service and empower teens to become educated consumers and health activists.
Cassidy Boesch is Grant High School’s first Health Coordinator. Ms. Boesch carries out the HealthCorps program through teaching lessons on health and wellness, holding mentoring sessions and office hours for interested students and faculty, coaching the Girls Junior Varsity Soccer Team, establishing the HealthCorps Health and Wellness club on campus, and promoting health on campus and in the community through planned events and activities.
Ms. Boesch comes to Grant High School from Los Angeles. She has an undergraduate degree in Community Health from Brown University and plans to study medicine and public health in a few years. To learn more about Ms. Boesch, visit her profile here.
To get Grant students and school staff to make healthier eating choices and stay active, the HealthCorps shares some of its grand plans:
· In October, Ms. Boesch planned a seminar and dinner for Lancer parents entitled: “Helping Your Kids Live a Healthier Life,” where she gave a presentation about the state of health in our nation and what parents could do to improve it.
· In November, Ms. Boesch planned Grant High Schools very first Health Fair, where she had over 20 interactive booths and activities dedicated to different health issues. Community groups and members also participated in the health fair. Students were able to meditate, hoola hoop with Hoopnotica, eat free food, exercise, and dance, watch a performance from the Armenian Dance Club, and win prizes!
· In November and December, Ms. Boesch will hold “Healthy Steps” Competition, a virtual race using pedometers to measure steps walked every day. Faculty and staff members will compete against each other individually and within their Small Learning Communities (SLCs). At the end of the competition, prizes will be distributed to the individual winner and the SLC winner.
· In February, Ms. Boesch will plan a “New Year, New You!” for teachers and staff to get fit and healthy after the Holidays.
· Also in February she will begin a cooking program, entitled “Teen Iron Chef,” to engage selected students in cooking skills and healthful eating habits.
· HealthCorps’ FitTown USA initiative will get students actively involved in improving the health and wellness of their home, school and community. In early 2010 a special Town Hall on the project will be held in the city, following by the “Highway to Health” Festival in the spring where FitTown’s progress will be unveiled.
HealthCorps depends upon public sector partners and philanthropists to maintain its current program and to support its continued growth and national rollout. HealthCorps® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit service organization.
Ms. Boesch (center) and two of her students, Tatiana Goss (left), and Fatoumata Tounkana (right) passing out apples at Grant's 50th Anniversary celebration.
Ms. Boesch and her HealthCorps Health and Wellness Club at the Health Fair with the ladies from Hoopnotica!
Students teaching students about the danger of sugar at the Health Fair!
Students waiting in line for Ms. Boesch's weekly Cafe 'O Yea healthy food demonstrations, samples, games, and prizes!
Students taking students' blood pressure at Grant's first Health Fair!
Mr. Jacoby runnning a meditation circle for students at the Health Fair.
Some HealthCorps Health and Wellness Club Members getting information on Valley Teen Clinic.
