Health Promotions
Promoting Health and Well-Being
The mission of the Health Promotions Department at Westside Health Authority is to use the capacity and knowledge of Austin residents to assist them in choosing and following a healthier lifestyle. We will achieve this mission by focusing in the following health areas:
- Nutrition, medical and fitness education and stress management & dietary support;
- Community-based participatory research;
- Development of peer health educators;
- Providing resources to improve health;
- Involve community health providers in program development
- Utilize a family-centered approach to improve health outcomes
Healthy Lifestyles
Healthy Lifestyles is an education and awareness program designed to improve the health and well-being of Chicago’s Westside residents and supports lifelong healthy behaviors. The program teaches practical skills to help lose weight and live a healthier life. The goals of Healthy Lifestyles include helping residents learn to make healthier food choices and increasing community awareness of health, nutrition, and fitness, while helping to build relationships among community members. The Healthy Lifestyles program is aimed at helping people 17 and up.
Participants
are referred from five local health care providers, who provide clinical
support and oversight to the project through monthly meetings held at
WHA. The program is also marketed in area newspapers, local businesses
and organizations, and by word of mouth. Participants pay $60 annually,
which primarily offsets the costs for the rental space at the Austin
YMCA. The costs of the nutrition education programs are free.
Participants, upon enrolling, receive a “passport” in which they may
record points for such activities as attending a fitness or nutritional
session or recruiting a new member. Prizes are awarded as points
accumulate, and have included goody bags, manicures, and massages.
Healthy Lifestyles’ two main program components include:
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Nutrition: A nurse consultant and nutritionist provide education classes (every other Wednesday evening), private consultation on participants’ dietary intake, and monitor their body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure upon initiation into the program, and subsequently on a quarterly basis.
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Fitness: Provided four days a week by a fitness trainer, classes include aqua aerobics, cardiovascular workout, muscle strengthening and relaxation and are offered at the Austin YMCA.
Jr. Healthy Lifestyles
Westside
Health Authority also promotes healthier diet choices and more physical
activity among its youth. The Junior Healthy Lifestyles program strives
to promote early nutrition education and decrease poor eating habits for
youth. The goals of the Junior Healthy Lifestyles Program are to help
youth make good food choices, stay active, and to make friends. The
Junior Healthy Lifestyles program is free and is aimed at children aged
6-16. In addition to reaching children via WHA’s Every Block a Village
(EBV) Kids after-school programs, Junior Healthy Lifestyles is also
working with local elementary schools and park districts to introduce
its program throughout the Austin neighborhood.
Both Healthy Lifestyles programs are currently funded by the UIC Chicago Partnership for Health Promotions, a USDA Food Stamp Nutrition Education program. Additionally, we have received generous support from Teen REACH, Austin Cook County Wellness Center and the Austin YMCA.
For more information about the Healthy Lifestyles & Junior Healthy Lifestyles programs,
contact us at 773-786-0249.
Healthy Births for Healthy Communities
Healthy
Births for Healthy Communities (HBHC) is an outreach program at the
Westside Health Authority sponsored by the Steans Foundation and the
Illinois Department of Human Services. HBHC is designed to help the
Austin community have healthier babies by helping pregnant women access
health and social services. The program goals are to annually reach 75%
of the underserved pregnant women in Austin and enroll them in family
case management and WIC. Women not enrolled in prenatal support programs
have been shown to have worse birth outcomes (i.e. very low birth
weight, premature labor, infants dying before their first birthday). WHA
has employed two outreach workers, Tyrise White and Sally Watts, to
assist in our efforts to find pregnant women and connect them to
services in the Austin community.
If you know someone who could benefit from our services please contact Rachel Rice, HBHC Coordinator, at 773-786-0249.
Lead Awareness & Prevention
The Lead Awareness & Prevention program is designed to provide the community with information about lead poisoning and its adverse health effects. The goals of the program are to educate, test and eradicate the hazards of lead in the Austin community area.
According
to CDPH data, the Austin community area is ranked fourth highest in the
city for percentage of children with elevated lead levels. If
lead gets into your body, it acts as a toxin, and when a person has too
much lead in their body they are said to be lead poisoned.
Experts define blood lead levels of 10 mcg/dL and higher as
toxic. Children under the age of 6 are at highest risk for becoming lead
poisoned and can suffer permanent brain damage, as well as behavioral
and learning difficulties. Lead poisoning can be
diagnosed by a blood test.
The Westside Health Authority will play a key role to link the community to primary care providers and other resources to address the dangers of lead, which can be found in windowsills, paint in houses/apartments built before 1978, and some toys.
WHA and CDPH are committed to "Getting The Lead Out."
Accomplishments:
- Healthy Lifestyles implemented the “Biggest Winner” contests to encourage healthy behaviors, fitness and nutrition. Eighteen community teams have participated to earn points for activity in fitness classes, and medical and nutrition sessions.
- Over 400 Cook County physicians have been trained by EBV Citizen Leaders in the community medicine program.
- Nearly 240 children were tested for lead as a part of the Lead Awareness and Prevention Project, in partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health. 350 homes were tested for lead in Austin.