HIN Health Action e-Bulletin

Attend a We Can! Regional Training

Are you concerned about the epidemic of childhood obesity? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of families in your community? Then join theWe Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity and Nutrition) movement! Attend a two-day We Can! Regional Training* and learn to use science-based programs and innovative approaches to help prevent childhood obesity.

Choose from two locations and dates:

South Bend/Gary, Indiana: April 30 – May 1, 2007
Roswell, Georgia: May 3 – 4, 2007

Learn about the many turn-key, flexible We Can! resources available from the National Institutes of Health Receive training from national experts on science-based curricula promoting healthy lifestyles for youth, including: Media-Smart Youth, CATCH Kids Club, and S.M.A.R.T. (Student Media Awareness to Reduce Television) Hear from local groups that have successfully implemented We Can! programming and discover innovative ideas for getting started with We Can! in your community Experience training on the We Can! Parent Curriculum Network with others in your region working to prevent childhood obesity No registration fee required. Register today at http://www.wecantraining.org.

• School personnel
• After school program leaders
• Youth organization coordinators
• Faith-based youth and family program leaders
• Park and recreation departments

Education coordinators in:

• Hospitals and health systems
• Health departments
• Employer or insurance-based family health programs
• Community organizations

Check out the Parent Curriculum

Even if you cannot attend the regional trainings you can access information on the We Can! Energize Our Families: Curriculum for Parents and Caregivers right now.

The curriculum contains six sessions that cover the basics of maintaining a healthy weight. The core concept explored is "energy balance," or the long-term balance between ENERGY IN (calories from food) and ENERGY OUT (calories burned through activity). In a fun and hands-on way, the activities give parents and caregivers essential skills to help their families make healthful food choices and become more physically active. At the end of each session, attendees are encouraged to try new nutrition and physical activity tips with their families over the next week. Teaching scripts and reproducible handouts make the sessions easy to use.

Download the curriculum for free at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan_mats/parent_curr.htm or if you would like to order a printed copy it is available in Appendix A of the We Can! Energize Our Community Toolkit for Action . Item #05-5272