UnitedHealthcare, 4-H to launch new nutrition and wellness program for young people

Texas 4-H and UnitedHealthcare joined together today to launch a new partnership - Youth Voice: Youth Choice - a program to help young people in the state improve their health and well-being through exercise, proper nutrition and attention to personal safety.

Nearly 200 parents and kids joined 4-H youth leaders for a daylong Healthy Lifestyles Family Fun and Fitness Day as UnitedHealthcare presented Texas 4-H with a $65,000 check to mark the beginning of the partnership.

To officially kick-off the partnership, UnitedHealthcare's Dr. Health E. Hound mascot joined Houston-acclaimed "Strictly Street Salsa" instructor Raul Edwards in leading participating families, community leaders and 4-Hers for a group "Lose It to Salsa" dance exercise, learning fun and easy ways to stay fit.

"Texas 4-H is proud to partner with UnitedHealthcare to help educate young people, their families and community youth about the importance of proper nutrition and exercise in leading a healthy life," said Dr. Chris Boleman, 4-H program leader for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. "Today's event with healthy workshops and fitness exercises are an excellent way to demonstrate how 4-H, together with UnitedHealthcare, are playing an important role in the communities we serve."

The Family Fun and Fitness Day, organized by 4-H, Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension and UnitedHealthcare, included healthy workshops, family physical activities and a healthy lunch with food-preparation tips. UnitedHealthcare provided a certified health educator who answered questions and provided information about health topics such as diabetes, weight control and fitness.

The event focused on the importance of diet and exercise in people's daily lives and how to apply that knowledge with their families and friends in their communities. It is one of several events targeting underserved communities in Texas with nutrition and wellness messages. The Texas Department of Agriculture also participated in the event by providing information on Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples' 3E's initiative.

"With obesity rates at alarming levels in our country, it is more important than ever that educators, health care professionals and parents work together to emphasize the importance for our children of the 3 Es of Healthy Living: Education, Exercise and Eating right," Commissioner Staples said. "Positive lifestyle choices are not only beneficial to individuals and future generations, but also to the health of our economy. A healthy population is more productive, more competitive and far less likely to burden our health care resources. I commend Texas 4-H and UnitedHealthcare for bringing this positive message to our youth.

"This partnership with 4-H and UnitedHealthcare is an excellent example of how communities are working together to promote healthy living," Staples added. "4-H is uniquely positioned to be leaders in helping educate youth and families about exercise and eating right and we are proud to do our part in supporting their efforts."

Highlighting today's event was a special "Lose It to Salsa" group dance and exercise led by Houston acclaimed salsa dance and exercise instructor Raul Edwards. He taught the families and kids fun and easy ways to stay fit through salsa, meringue and other Latin genres that focus on cardiovascular conditioning, muscle toning and flexibility. Edwards stressed the benefits of the dance-exercise include weight loss, physical endurance, muscle gain and increased range of motion while learning to dance.

Hempstead Mayor Michael Wolfe participated in the activities, along with other community leaders who attended the announcement. Attendees were also provided a healthy lunch with healthy tips for nutrition and wellness.

"Bringing families together through salsa is a fun and easy way to be more fit and healthy," said Edwards. "This group of kids and their parents had an amazing energy and enthusiasm about this program and the partnership between 4-H and UnitedHealthcare."

The announcement is part of a national partnership between the National 4-H Council and UnitedHealthcare. Texas 4-H is one of three states receiving funding from UnitedHealthcare for the pilot program. The grant will support events and activities designed to develop and enhance healthy living through afterschool programs, health fairs, camps, clubs, workshops and educational forums. 4-H youth leaders will serve as ambassadors, helping to lead programs that encourage young people to take action for themselves and their families, and to promote healthy living in their communities through nutrition literacy, physical fitness and personal safety.

Texas, along with Mississippi and Florida, were selected for the UnitedHealthcare pilot due to high incidences of obesity among children living in these states' underserved communities. As part of the partnership, each state 4-H program is developing action plans with targeted goals and outcomes to provide innovative, hands-on learning approaches that target specific community needs. The results will be measured and shared with community leaders, providing other organizations the opportunity to learn and implement similar programs in at-risk communities.

As part of the Youth Voice: Youth Choice partnership, 4-H will sponsor events and activities in targeted counties in Texas. For example, additional family fun and fitness days are being planned in Waller and Bell counties, and healthy cooking events in Fort Bend and Waller counties. Harris County is organizing a young girls' leadership conference with healthy workshops. Additional events include nutrition education at youth camps, youth fitness activities at county fairs, student workshops, and other events at community health fairs and schools.

The partnership is being managed jointly between the Texas AgriLife Extension Service (Contact: Courtney Dodd, 979.845.6533) and the Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University (Contact: Gail Long, 936.261.5119) in coordination with UnitedHealthcare-Texas.

"This partnership is an important community service to help ensure children, particularly those in underserved communities, learn skills to enhance their health and well-being," said Norine Yukon, president of UnitedHealthcare Community & State in Texas. "UnitedHealthcare is partnering with 4-H to help inspire thousands of young people to take action to lead healthier lives."

Source: Texas 4‐H