The Salvation Army Newfoundland and Labrador East Division has received $17,000 to bring community kitchen programs to high-need areas in the community. The program will build capacity for ongoing programs that provide basic skills for cooking, budgeting and nutrition. The program also links several organizations which are involved in providing programs and services to low income areas and is an excellent example of community capacity building.

The Mount Pearl Sport Alliance�s program Community Action on Child Health and Wellness received $15,000 to build on the program of healthy eating and physical activity to include "Living Smoke Free" and "Playing Safe" through the Active Kids Club.

The Boys and Girls Club of St. John�s received $20,000 to implement Phase II of its wellness program. The program builds on last year�s funded program by adding four new program components: 1) Back to Basics for Play, 2) Play for Life, 3) Family Fun, and 4) the Healthy Image Community and family-focused project. The program will be linked with the Wabana Boys and Girls Club. The program is designed to serve as a template for other clubs and organizations.

The Wabana Boys and Girls Club received $30,000 for Healthy Living for a Long Existence. The program focuses on exercise through low impact programs, games and outings, plus healthy snacks and nutrition education. Obesity and diabetes are identified health concerns in this particular area. A junior mentor will be hired and Eastern Health will provide program support and link with the St. John�s Boys and Girls Club.

The Healthy Living Partnership Program of the Lower Trinity South Regional Development Association provides a unique and fun way to promote positive attitudes towards healthy eating through production and consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables at the greenhouse attached to St. Francis School in Harbour Grace. Internet and webcam technology will be used to share information and experience with other schools and build on the school health curriculum. This program received $29,000.

The Marystown Recreation Committee received $25,000 for the Marystown Healthy Seniors Club. This project will conduct focus group sessions to identify seniors� needs and then work with professionals to assist in developing programs.

The Clarenville "Gather" Program (Generating Awareness Through Healthy Environments and Recreation) received $25,000 to promote and provide wellness and leisure opportunities to all aging residents, with a focus on physical activity.

Gambo Community Youth Center received $35,000 for Operation Wellness and Recreation. The centre will organize sports activities and wellness seminars for youth in order to raise awareness of health issues. Central Health and the Nova Central School District will also work with the group to provide advice and resources to assist with the development and implementation of the project.

Change Islands Youth Association received $27,000 for the Change Islands Health, Fitness and Nutrition Program to develop and implement a program to promote healthy lifestyles and good citizenship to the youth in this area. The association will include youth in the planning of the program and consult with Central Health and the Nova Central School District.

James Hornell Boys and Girls Club in Buchans received $25,000 for Smarter Choices: Healthier Happy Families. The program will introduce fitness activities, promote healthy living and offer healthy after-school snacks to youth in the community. The program resources and results will be shared with other clubs and youth organizations in the province. Central Health and the Nova Central School District will provide guidance and support to the project.

The Active Living Committee in Western Newfoundland received $40,000 to assist with the pilot project Active Schools Western, coordinated with members from the Western School District, Western Health, Humber YMCA, Coleman�s, the City of Corner Brook, Service Canada and local recreation partners. Daily physical activity will be introduced for elementary students in five or six selected pilot schools and training will be undertaken in both the Corner Brook and Stephenville areas. In addition to the $40,000 allocated through the Wellness Grants Program, financial support has been committed from the Western School District, Western Health and the Department of Education.

Humber Community YMCA received $20,000 for the program Moving Towards Strong Kids, Strong Families, Strong Communities! Through this initiative, several programs are planned to address physical activity and healthy eating with parents and children, young girls and residents age 50+ years. The program recognizes all determinants of health and will contain measures to reduce financial barriers to participation in programs.

The Organization for Community Action, Fun, Food & Fitness received $14,000 to implement a common focus of healthy eating and physical activity in programs such as cooking sessions, group fitness and education for families in receipt of low incomes. Western Health will facilitate the collaboration with the Corner Brook Status of Women for the project.

The Corner Brook Status of Women received $6,000 for the Cooking with Confidence program. This program will focus on healthy eating and physical activity programs in coordination with the Organization for Community Action proposal.

Port au Port East Twilight 50+ Club will receive $5,000 for Seniors Teaching Traditional Dances in Port au Port. This project will see seniors teaching traditional square and step-dancing to Grade 3 pupils and teachers, and country line dancing to adults and students to promote physical activity through dancing. This also provides an opportunity for intergenerational learning and has potential for implementation in other areas.

The Municipality of Cape St. George received $5,000 for the project Walk and Enjoy to build capacity for physical activity. There are numerous opportunities which may be created to engage people. Western Health will work with the group to further develop ideas.

The Community Action Committee for southwestern Newfoundland received $10,000 to implement the Child Restraint Systems Training Plan to train 10 to 12 child restraint systems technician instructors and recertify 14 to 16 technicians throughout the coast including southwestern Newfoundland, Corner Brook, Deer Lake, Bonne Bay, Port Saunders, St. Anthony and Labrador Straits. This will increase community capacity to ensure infants and young children are properly restrained in vehicles and provide sustainability for the program.

The Northern Peninsula Family Resource Centre and the Labrador Straits Family Resource Centre received $30,000 for the Active Kids Club and Skipping for Active Living. These are two separate programs which have a common focus of active healthy living. The programs target school-age children and young adults by teaching them lifelong skills that will keep them fit, healthy and capable of reaching their maximum potential. Labrador-Grenfell Health will facilitate collaboration between the organizations. This joint project has strong potential to be used as a template for other regions.

The St. Anthony and Area Advisory Committee received $20,000 for Walking Towards Wellness. This project targets seniors and promotes walking as a fun, affordable and efficient way to get active. The committee plans to utilize the existing walking trails and other infrastructure available in their region. In addition to the walking component, information sessions and workshops will be held around falls prevention, home safety, diabetes prevention, healthy eating, low impact exercises and other topics. This project will be implemented in partnership with the walking clubs in the area and the St. Anthony Recreation Committee.

In partnership with Labrador School Board and Labrador-Grenfell Health, the Drop the Pop Working Group received $10,000 to establish the Drop the Pop Aborginal Lead Working Group to address issues around diabetes prevention. As part of the action plan, they plan to deliver a prevention program to students in Labrador�s Aboriginal communities to encourage healthy beverage choices, as soft drinks provide large amounts of empty calories. The program will be linked to the school curriculum and has a parent component. The program was developed by the Nunavut Department of Health and Social Services as a means to address issues around diabetes prevention, and has since expanded to other provinces and territories.

The Labrador Friendship Centre received $25,000 for the 2008 Regional Labrador Sexual Health Conference. Given the importance of sexual health as an indicator of people�s overall health status, including their physical, emotional and mental well- being, the centre is focusing on the compound use of alcohol, drugs and substance abuse, as well as the historic abuse of Aboriginal people as factors contributing to the high rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections. As there is a great need to explore ways to deal with this type of injury to their young people, a three-day conference will bring people together from all areas of Labrador and some areas of the island to discuss issues surrounding sexual health.

The Mokami Status of Women Council received $15,000 for the Empowerment Project: Personal Safety for Women and Girls. The project will provide women and teen girls with an opportunity to learn about personal safety options through the Learning Circles Program. Respected community elders will engage the community in a dialogue about violence against women and girls. Training will be provided for women throughout Labrador to facilitate sessions

The Body Image Network received $40,000 for its project, Promoting Healthy Living, Self Esteem and Positive Body Image. The network was established to promote positive body image through education, awareness, research, information, advocacy and collaboration. It advocates for "healthy living in healthy bodies." Its project plan is to expand across the province and partner with professionals in health and education and involve communities. Components of the plan will include development of a tool kit, events such as Family Feel Good Day and research.

2007 11 02                                                  10:50 a.m.