PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Aroostook Medical Center is supporting the Boys and Girls Club of Presque Isle by sponsoring some evenings combining fun and important information. These healthy family engagement nights are designed to raise awareness for several societal issues.
The first of these events was held April 12, 2016 and similar evenings are planned on Thursday, June 16, and Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016 from 4-6 p.m., both at the new Micmac Community Wellness building.
According to Nichole Francis, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Presque Isle, getting a family dialogue started about these issues is a first step toward tackling them as a community. The childhood obesity epidemic is a topic that has far-reaching implications and subtopics that include promoting physical fitness and diabetes prevention. Other topics include suicide prevention and awareness of methamphetamine use.
“There will be a lot of hands-on activities for the family,” said Francis, adding that April’s function was “the first official event in our beautiful new Community Wellness building.”
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension was on hand with a healthy cooking demonstration. “This is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for most people. They want to eat right but they don’t necessarily know what to eat and what not to eat,” said Francis.
In addition, representatives from the TRAIL program presented information on diabetes prevention and the Indian Health Services partner had activities related to physical fitness and ways to stem childhood obesity.
“TAMC is proud to sponsor this event,” said Jamie Guerrette, community health specialist at the hospital. “We are committed to making an impact in four key areas that are affecting the health of our community, and one of those areas is childhood obesity. Anytime we can be a part of something that encourages physical fitness, particularly in children, and raises awareness, we are happy to be a part of it.”
Shaina Hood, Boys and Girls Club of Presque Isle methamphetamine and suicide prevention coordinator, spoke about the increasing drug problem and how to approach discussing it as a family.
“A lot of times the problems that we’ll be covering are all interrelated, so the aim is to shed some light and discuss them as families but in an open and fun kind of atmosphere,” Hood said.
The nights in June and August will feature similar presentations with even more activities to choose from.
“We’re hoping to build from here,” said Francis. “This is not something that is going away overnight so the longer we can keep the dialogue going within the community the better off we will be.”
For more information, contact Hood at (207) 764-1972.
