Brattleboro Memorial Hospital - "Jumpstart" Toward Healthy Kids

What is it?

With the help of a grant from the Fanny Holt Ames and Edna Louise Holt Fund, Cornerstone Pediatrics in rural Vermont set up "Jumpstart for a Healthy Life," a three-year project that developed tools to help prevent and treat childhood obesity. Jumpstart is the joint project of Pediatrician Susan Slowinski, MD, and Nutrition Educator Luise Light, MS, EdD.

Located in a quintessential historic Vermont village, Cornerstone Pediatrics is not isolated from the realities of poverty. Almost half of the patients in the practice are on Medicaid. Poverty has been linked to obesity due to lack of access to good nutrition and education about nutrition, and lack of access to recreational facilities. Obesity at Cornerstone Pediatrics is a common problem.

Who is it for?

It was decided not to limit the efforts of Jumpstart to just the most at-risk children. Children exist in families and families exist in community. Jumpstart offers health, nutrition and fitness resources to families throughout the community. Our most intensive service, free one-on-one nutrition counseling was used mostly by families struggling with obesity.

Why do they do it?

Part of Jumpstart is "Cooking for Life," a program for youth ages 11-14. But physical activity is at least as important as good nutrition. Enter just about any store in town and you will find a Jumpstart Walking Map of Bellows Falls and a Physical Activities Options booklet. The idea that a community can celebrate fitness together led to "Moving and Grooving in Bellows Falls," an annual day of outdoor fun, including a 5K walk and a bike rodeo.

Winters are long in Vermont. Finding ways to help children – especially low-income children – keep physically active during the cold months remains Jumpstart's biggest challenge. The Jumpstart grant helped buy skates and pay rink fees for a winter sports program for elementary school students. The upshot is that we've got kids movin' and groovin' in Bellows Falls, Vermont.

Contact: Dawn Weening
Adult Outreach and Education Coordinator
Telephone: 802-847-1624
E-mail: dawn.weening@vtmednet.org