EMU's
College of Health and Human Services uses grant
to promote fitness in area elementary schools
Debbie Laurain used to get winded walking up the stairs
and down the hall to her second-floor apartment. She used
to approach meals with an "if it tastes good, I'm getting
more" philosophy.
 |
WALKING THE WALK: Teachers at Lincoln
Consolidated Schools' Model Elementary walk laps
in the school's hallway after work Feb. 6. (above,
from left) Debbie
Laurain, Jennifer Harless and
Charlene Ronaud are teachers from one of
four
district elementary schools who participated in the
Lose To Win
program, provided by EMU's College of
Health and Human Services through
a $167,000
grant. Teachers will pass their good example to
approximately 2,000 K-5 students, who will
participate in Shape Up, a
program designed to
promote healthy habits. |
But, with help from a program led by Eastern Michigan
University faculty, Laurain hit the new year with a whole
new perspective on her health.
A paraprofessional at Lincoln Consolidated Schools' Model
Elementary, Laurain is one of 120 employees from four of
the district's elementary schools who signed up for Lose
to Win, a program run by faculty from EMU's College of
Health and Human Services (CHHS).
As Lose to Win, which was designed for school employees,
winds down, the CHHS researchers are launching Shape Up,
a program geared toward promoting healthy habits in about
2,000 of the district's K-5 students. Both programs are
funded by a $167,003 grant from the Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Michigan Foundation.
"The unique part of the design was that we focused on
not only the students, but employees as well," said project
manager Chris Karshin, an EMU associate professor in health
promotion and human performance. "We focused on the employees
first, to show them how this could work for them as individuals.
(That way) they could then be good role models and promote
it to students. We're hoping for a positive change in the
whole school environment."
The EMU team will have a better idea of how well the program
worked when Shape Up concludes in May, but the early response
has been good.
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