United Way of Weld County VISTA member, Annmarie Blodgett, moved to Greeley, Colorado from Maine, because she wanted to work with children and healthcare.

This spring, Annmarie helped implement the fourth BOUNCE program at the Kid’s Care Clinic. Now in its fourth year, BOUNCE is intended to help kids change their food and exercise habits, improve their self-esteem, and to maintain or improve their Body Mass Indexes. Approximately one third of children in the United States are overweight or at risk for being overweight. This statistic is concerning because of the numerous health and psychological issues related to overweight and obesity, including: diabetes, heart problems, arthritis, depression, bullying and more. Obesity and overweight are best addressed within the context of family, community and school. Because of the close relationship with the school, School-Based Health Centers are in a unique position to address childhood obesity. Acknowledging this opportunity, the Kids Care Clinic created the Bounce program to improve the health and well-being of the children and families in the Greeley/ Evans area.

Annmarie coordinated presenters and volunteers, searched and solicited resources and equipment, work with the providers to create the curriculum, and created a manual to ease the planning and implementation of future BOUNCE programs. She researched “best practices” in similar fitness and nutrition programs across the country to improve the curriculum and implementation of this program. She used parent surveys and focus groups with the children to make recommendations for improvements. Some basic improvements, such as providing child care to the younger siblings, are easy fixes that allow more families to attend the classes.

Annmarie has worked with the physical education teacher to share resources and information to enhance the program such as using the gym and cafeteria on Wednesday afternoons for the class, including their extensive exercise and activity equipment supply. This allows BOUNCE to expand the activities and lessons facilitated with children and families. The BOUNCE kids are also allowed to have an afterschool snack before class with the other students participating in afterschool clubs and activities.

While research and utilizing the clinic’s resources are essential to Bounce, the program would certainly not be as successful without important community partnerships. Annmarie partnered with the University of Northern Colorado Exercise Science and Dietetics departments to recruit volunteers. Additionally, she sought out the help of Healthy Kids Club to enhance the Bounce program. HKC attended Bounce every week to teach the kids fitness tips and leads games with the kids. They have also gave the kids water bottles, exercise bands, jump ropes and prizes. Having HKC attend each week gave our staff ideas and knowledge for how to lead the exercise portion of Bounce in the future.