CHALK Program
CHALK-Choosing Healthy & Active Lifestyles for Kids
CHALK, a collaboration with Community Pediatrics, is a five year Center for Best Practices grant funded by the New York State Department of Health starting in 2008 at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. The goals of CHALK are to reduce over time the prevalence of childhood obesity and its related morbidity in Northern Manhattan (with a focus on school-aged children), and to promote a culture and create an environment in which healthy lifestyles are integral to the lives of all children. CHALK works with a community coalition of partners, initially focusing on Washington Heights/Inwood to develop and disseminate a social marketing message that promotes healthy lifestyles, while identifying barriers and resources to healthy living. CHALK also works internally within the hospital to engage and train health care providers to identify best practices and to foster an environment of healthy living. Our Goals- To reduce over time the prevalence of childhood obesity and its related morbidity in Northern Manhattan using prevention strategies and targeting the community
- To promote a culture and create an environment in which healthy lifestyles are integral to the lives of all children
- Develop a culturally-appropriate community-wide obesity prevention/healthy lifestyle promotion strategy
- Coordinate broad dissemination of consistent information through community
- Identify resources to implement strategy
- Engage community agencies, leaders and elected officials in a broad initiative
- Engage and train health care providers
- Identify and evaluate best practices
Community Task Force on Childhood Obesity Prevention and Healthy Lifestyles
Central to CHALK's work is engaging a community coalition of agencies, leaders and elected officials to develop a culturally appropriate community-wide healthy lifestyle promotion strategy. This coalition is developing a social marketing message that will be disseminated in Northern Manhattan around healthy living, while identifying resources and barriers to implementation of its principles. As of its kick-off on October 8th 2008, there are thirty different organizations comprising this task force. Healthier Hospitals
- NYPgreen Wellness Task Force-CHALK is currently collaborating with NYPH leadership in the marketing and development of current “best practices” in food services for patients, their families and staff. This builds on concepts from the Food and Fitness Partnership of New York, ongoing efforts by the hospital, as well as CHALK's own agenda. On June 17th 2008, CHALK hosted a "Healthier Foods in Hospitals" roundtable discussion with various hospitals, community groups and agencies. Since then, NYPH has launched the Sustainability Program "NYP Green", with food, wellness, nutrition and procurement policies on its agenda. CHALK chairs the Wellness Task Force of NYP Green.
- Columbia University Childhood Obesity Prevention Workgroup-This working group brings interdisciplinary collaboration around childhood obesity that aims to translate research into effective prevention and treatment. Together with its clinical subgroup, CHALK is working with NYC DOHMH in preparing the content of a Pediatric Obesity City Health Information (CHI) sheet and accompanying toolkit, and will assist in its distribution.
- Family Fitness Night at the YM&YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood-CHALK hosts weekly hour-long fitness sessions for Northern Manhattan families at the YM&YWHA of WaHI. This follows the American Hospital Association’s recommendation that hospitals partner with local Y's to improve community health, and builds on a two year Y-Healthy Schools, Healthy Families partnership. "Family Fitness Night at the Y" allows families use of the open gym for organized games and free time. Equipment is provided for basketball, soccer, jump rope, team sports, tag games, and more. Every Monday, 6pm-7pm at the YM&YWHA at 54 Nagle Avenue.
- Farmers' Markets and Go Green Initiative-CHALK works with both Greenmarket and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer's Go Green Initiative, promoting access to healthy foods and farmers' markets in Northern Manhattan. In addition to CHALK hosting a Farmers' Market tour and cooking demonstration during the summer of 2008 at the 175th Street market, CHALK shares culturally relevant healthy recipes with Greenmarket, and is currently developing a permanent resource rack for each Greenmarket table.
- NYC DOHMH Green Carts-CHALK has worked with NYC DOHMH in outreaching to food vendors in Washington Heights/Inwood for the City's new Green Cart initiative, which places fresh produce stands in neighborhoods with poor access to healthy foods. As ongoing outreach, CHALK plans to assist vendors by promoting their locations and linking them with resources for business sustainability.
CHALK runs a small resource library in the Vanderbilt Clinic (4th floor room 412) with books on nutrition, physical activity, program evaluation, social marketing, patient counseling, and sociology, as well as children's books. Books are available in Spanish and English. The library also includes musical CDs, sports equipment, guides for incorporating fitness activities into afterschool programs and a radio/CD player. The library is available during business hours for staff to use in their work with patients and community partners. Educate
Part of CHALK's work is educating to effect positive change in policies, laws, and environment regarding childhood obesity prevention and reduction. Past and current projects include improving greenways in Northern Manhattan, supporting community applications for the NYC Plaza program, and considering bike racks for the outside of our ACN clinics.
For more information about CHALK, to join the community task force or for more information about our library, please contact:
Patricia Hametz, MD, MPH, Program Director
VC4-402
Phone (212) 342-6046 Fax (212) 305-8819
Email pah27@columbia.edu
Stephanie Pitsirilos-Boquín, MPH, Program Manager
VC4-402
Phone (212) 305-2771 Cell (646) 305-4121 Fax (212) 305-8819
Email snp7002@nyp.org
Visit the CHALK website at
CHALK
