Throughout our history the YMCA has evolved to meet the needs of the community, but since the beginning health and wellness have been at the core. You're probably aware that our country is facing a problem with obesity and the chronic diseases (cardiovascular, asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and many others) related to it.
Over the past 30 years, obesity rates have doubled for preschoolers and tripled for those ages 6 - 11. Currently 1 in 3 children in NH and MA are overweight, and that is enough to fill Fenway Park 14 times. Children overweight at age 12 have an 80% chance of staying overweight as an adult. Obesity has become a nationwide problem and the related chronic effects of diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and many other related problems. The economic impact is astounding as well. For every dollar we spend in prevention, we are looking at $7 in intervention when you consider the health care costs related to this issue. Much of this is related to the amount of screen time (TV and computers that children have), fast food for convenience with busy lives, and limited outdoor play. The solution is long-term, cultural, behavioral, and environmental changes in communities that support children and families to make healthier food choices and exercise more. This issue will not be solved quickly; this is a long process that is really in the early stages of education. This national problem is on par as a movement much like: tobacco, seatbelts, and recycling, 20 or 30 years before the impact can really be seen.
In the past year we have worked very hard to develop some strong partnerships in the community to help our local residents become healthier. We have also been selected as one of 20 YMCAs in New England to serve as an Activate America Y. These 20 Ys are part of a nationwide initiative in response to this growing health crisis. The YMCA is redefining itself and engaging communities across the country to provide better opportunities for people of all ages in their pursuit of health and well-being in spirit, mind, and body. We can influence and motivate health seekers to make positive changes by defining membership not as a commodity, but as an experience characterized by the creation of relationships and opportunities to support the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle.
We are working together with these other YMCAs and community groups to share best practices and trainings to learn from each other. At our YMCA we have identified key staff to lead teams of staff and volunteers.
America is in a health crisis so severe that for the first time in history, this generation of children could face a lower life expectancy than their parents.
To succeed, we must close five critical gaps between where we are today and where we must be:
1. Target Population Gap - From working primarily with the already active population TO targeting health seeking children, teens, adults, and families.
2. Relationship Gap - From viewing membership as providing access to facilities and programs TO defining membership in terms of relationships, engagement, support, and involvement.
3. Program Innovation Gap - From "Canned" programs focused mainly on single activity or service TO a variety of programs, activities, clubs and events locally developed for, and with health seekers, fostering small communities of support.
4. Environment Gap - From environments primarily designed to support fitness and program activities TO environments primarily designed to support participants in their pursuit of well-being.
5. Community Development Gap - From YMCA leadership that is building centered TO YMCA leadership that balances internal and external focus on supporting the pursuit of health and well-being by all.
You may have noticed some exciting new things happening around the Y to encourage active involvement including a youth wellness center in Nashua and the MobilFit support program in both the Nashua and Merrimack Y facilities (see more about this in another section of this webpage: news & events / news releases).
If you are interested in learning more or assisting with Activate America please feel free to contact our project manager, Lynn Allen (lallen@nmymca.org) or myself (mrlachance@nmymca.org).
