TEACHING HEALTHY BEHAVIORS

Being obese or overweight disproportionately affects low-income and minority children and, in particular, Hispanic and African-American children. Any childhood obesity prevention program will address the cultural and socioeconomic factors that have an influence on the nutrition and physical activity patterns of these children. To fully impact the role cultures play in American nutrition, it must address both food and culture.

The Childhood Obesity Prevention Program of the Alameda County Medical Center is a comprehensive approach to the issue of overweight and obesity in children. The program promotes healthy eating and healthy activities in the surrounding communities. Through this program, locally-grown fresh fruit and vegetables are provided to targeted high-risk families.

Individuals in this program are children in our pediatric clinic with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 85-95%. It is a collaborative effort with community coalitions (local governments, public health agencies, schools, and community organizations) to facilitate and promote health education, healthy eating and physical activity programs, particularly for high risk groups.

Your support of the Childhood Obesity Prevention Program will allow us to create a multidisciplinary team that will include a primary physician, an obesity specialist, diabetes educators, nurses, dietitians and patient navigators, as well as the patient and family.

Working in tandem with our free-standing clinics and community partners, the  Childhood Obesity Prevention Program establishes a health and fitness education program, a comprehensive, user-friendly referral system and interventions that target the process and delivery of care, such as screening and charting approaches for overweight/obesity, referral for education/counseling and approaches to follow-up scheduling, etc.

In response to the current economic crisis which has exacerbated this condition, ACMC has recently implemented a program - currently geared toward employees - wherein local organically-grown fruits and vegetables are delivered to the campus each week.  Part of our program will also fund these same food boxes for our pilot group participating in the program.

ADDRESSING THE WHOLE PERSON, NOT JUST THE DISEASE

In Alameda County, cancer is the second leading cause of death (after heart disease). A cancer diagnosis is a devastating thing to hear, causing confusion, anger, grief, and a sense of helplessness.  That is why the Cancer Navigator Program of the Alameda County Medical Center is so important to a cancer patient and their family.

The Cancer Navigator program helps patients understand what's happening to them so they can regain a feeling of control when it seems there is none. The program links patients to the community and medical center resources they might need and, most importantly, help them find the courage to heal.

The program is a unique project that provides personalized assistance and emotional support to newly diagnosed cancer patients, who are uninsured or underinsured. The Navigators will coordinate diagnoses and treatment services to help these patients through the often confusing maze of specialists, testing sites and therapy centers with which they are confronted. By providing comprehensive care at the onset of diagnosis, we hope to improve the patients' decision-making and coping skills, recover periods and overall well-being.

The program, in collaboration with the American Cancer Society, offers cancer education through print/media material and one-on-one informational and counseling sessions. The Foundation’s support of the Cancer Navigator program enhances patients' quality of life as they go through the difficult physical and overwhelming emotional challenges that are associated with cancer disease.

Your support toward this award-winning program will help sustain the current program.