HEALTHY FUTURES INITIATIVE
Community Initiatives reflect our commitment to social responsibility. They represent sustained effort by our Y to raise funds and awareness to deal with important community concerns.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
IMPACT:
IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR KIDS
The Healthy Futures Initiative addresses the primary causes of obesity in our young people, including physical inactivity and poor nutrition. Using proven models in programming and community change, our Healthy Futures programs improve health outcomes for children and their families.
We partner with schools and community leaders to deliver programs that show kids how fun being healthy can be. Our partnerships with school superintendents, principals, teachers, food service directors, and parent groups, have been the centerpiece of Healthy Futures’ sustained impact.
Hockomock’s Healthy Futures programs promote healthy choices by focusing on nutrition, education and exercise. From our Nutrition Detectives program and Walk to School Days, to our Community Garden initiative, providing fresh produce to area families and food pantries, we are helping thousands of area families.
SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM
Our Healthy Futures Initiative is made possible by community support, especially donations to the Reach Out for Youth and Families Campaign – the primary vehicle in subsidizing the cost of after school and physician intervention programs for children.
“The Healthy Futures program is helping to change the culture of our school. It is so important that children become more active and eat healthier foods. The Y is helping educate elementary students on the importance of making healthy choices and teaching them how to do it.”
Julie, program parent
AREAS OF FOCUS FOR HEALTHY FUTURES PROGRAMS
The Hockomock Area YMCA Healthy Futures Initiative is our Y’s commitment to reduce inactivity and poor nutrition in the fifteen communities we serve through programs, projects, and policies. Healthy Futures incorporates prevention and intervention based strategies to ensure we are supporting families in our communities.
Our Community Guide allows you to easily locate an outdoor space including hiking trails and forests, lakes/ponds, fields and playgrounds.
Nutrition Detectives
A free, evidence based nutrition education program developed by Dr. David Katz offered to all school districts in our service area by a trained YMCA facilitator. This prevention-based program empowers youth to use the five ‘detective’ clues to make more nutritious choices.
Safe Routes to School
A program that educates children and adults on the importance of walking and biking to school safely through a combination of pedestrian and safety education sessions, assemblies, and workshops. The Hockomock Area YMCA will support schools in the organization of events and activities such as Walk to School Day, Safe Routes to School Task Forces, and helping create excitement around increasing physical activity.
School Wellness Committees
The Hockomock Area YMCA supports School Wellness Committees by attending meetings, sharing best practices and strategies, reviewing language to strengthen policies, and assisting schools in reaching the Healthier US School Challenge requirements.
Healthy Futures Harvest Project
The Healthy Futures Harvest Project, occurring at our Y and throughout our communities, is our multi-pronged approach to educate youth and families on how to create gardens, grow and harvest foods, increase access to fresh local produce, and foster a sense of community. The Harvest Project includes a youth–based garden program tied to curriculum, adult learning workshops, sponsorship for raised-garden beds throughout the community, and development of school and community gardens.
Community Garden Veggie Share
Perfect for individuals or families looking for fresh veggies and to learn about sustainably grown food. Get 20 weeks of veggies (June-October). Locally grown using organic practices on Essex Street in Mansfield and freshly harvested on day of pickup. 2021 UPDATE: Due to our YMCA’s current operational capacity and staffing priorities, we will no longer be operating the Community Gardens. We are excited to announce however, that our partners in the towns of Mansfield & Bellingham are looking forward to a great season and can be reached at: Mansfield Rec Dept: sgurnon@mansfieldma.com or Bellingham Garden: bellinghamcommunitygarden@gmail.com.
Healthy Weight and Your Child
Healthy Weight and Your Child is a weight maintenance program designed for youth ages 7–13, who are in the 95 percentile or greater for BMI (Body Mass Index). The program is an evidence-based model, developed by leading child health and weight management specialists using the best available research, as well as clinical and government guidelines. The program meets twice a week for two hours in a ten week period, and then once a week for the remaining five weeks. Children attend each 2-hour session along with a parent or guardian, and learn nutrition tips and participate in physical activity. The sessions are facilitated by trained content and activity leaders who are committed to engaging the whole family in a way that will allow them to learn and adopt skills to live a healthier lifestyle. This program includes a 12-week free family membership for the duration of the sessions.
BOKS Program
The BOKS before-school physical activity program is designed to jump start kids’ brains and pre-pare them for a day of learning. The program combines play, physical activity, team games, and short talks on nutrition to create healthier habits for children to achieve life-long fitness. The Hockomock Area YMCA offers support in the planning and launch of the program.
Before School Breakfast Program
There are recommended program models designed to expand the school breakfast program and make a healthy breakfast available to students outside the cafeteria. These include “grab-n-go” options, breakfast in the classroom, picnics, and special breakfast events. Assistance is available to choose the program that will work best for your students and employees. Funding for equipment and launching the program is available through Fuel-up to play 60.
