Childhood obesity is a nationwide issue that can put children at risk for lifelong health problems. Native American children are at an increased risk of obesity, and that risk has increased over the past 30 years. The Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley is working to lower that risk for children in our community — and to lower the A1C of children with diabetes or prediabetes — with support from our Community Benefit Grant Program.
The Indian Health Center (IHC) has been serving the community since 1977 and is now a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), providing services to anyone in need of care. IHC offers medical care, counseling, nutrition, WIC, dental and wellness services. A Wellness Center in downtown San Jose houses a fitness center, nutrition counseling, diabetes case management, health education and cultural activities.
The IHC's Healthy Futures Youth Diabetes Prevention Program is for children and teens through age 17. The team-based approach includes parents, children, primary care physicians, registered dietitians, registered nurses, health educators, peer educators and fitness instructors. The program offers:
- Individual medical nutrition therapy
- Personal fitness training sessions, with parental consent
- Youth exercise groups
- Access to the fitness center
- Healthy Adventures Summer Program during school break, including lunch, nutrition education and outdoor physical activity
- Classes on nutrition, body image and fitness
- Periodic check-in with patient navigators
Through the Healthy Futures Program, IHC is empowering youth to avoid obesity and related health problems, including Type 2 diabetes and its complications. Decreasing diabetes and obesity is identified as an important health need in our 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment.
See the complete list of grantees.
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