Finger Lakes Health – Choose Health Action Teen (CHAT) Program

What is it?

Finger Lakes Health’s Choose Health Action Teen (CHAT) program is a student education program in which high school and college-age students are trained as volunteers to teach younger students how to choose healthy foods and stay active. The evidence-based curriculum used for CHAT is supplied by Cornell University and Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program.

Who is it for?

Teens and college-age young people who become the trainers, and students from ages 6 to 12 who comprise the groups being trained.

Why do they do it?

In 2013, data collected by the Geneva City School District (using the CDC classifications of weight status according to BMI percentiles) identified 33.8 percent of male 7th- and 10th-graders as normal weight, 15.5 percent as overweight and 20.9 percent as obese; and 43.5 percent of male 2nd- and 4th-graders as normal weight, 15.7 percent overweight and 20 percent obese. For female students, the data showed 37 percent of female 7th- and 10th-graders as normal weight, 17.8 percent as overweight and 17 percent as obese; among 2nd- and 4th-grade girls, 47 percent were normal weight, 15.4 percent were overweight and 18.7 percent were classified as obese.

The desired outcome of the program is that school-age children will become more aware of healthy food choices each time a lesson is presented. Each lesson has learning objectives, and the CHAT mentors engage the learners in interactive play to assess their knowledge. The hope is that the students share their new knowledge with family members via the healthy newsletter each student is provided. The newsletter reiterates the lesson of the day, includes a healthy game and recipe, along with a checklist for the student, allowing them to set healthy goals for the future.

Impact

In the 2012-13 school year, 7 trained CHAT mentors reached 178 children through various programs. In the 2014-15 school year, 12 CHAT mentors reached 582 children and adults.

Contact: Christen Smith
Community Outreach Coordinator
Telephone: 315-787-4065
Email: christen.smith@flhealth.org