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Mission for Nutrition is a community outreach program that offers wellness screenings to Head Start students and 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders at Caddo Parish schools. Students are screened for obesity, diabetes, & hypertension. The Odyssey Foundation provides the health screenings free of charge.
Mission for Nutrition benefits:
- Tracks body mass index
- Provides physician services
- Teaches healthy eating habits
- Encourages participation in physical fitness activities
- Builds self-esteem
- Each child receives a Mission for Nutrition kit to keep
The Child Health Screening Process
Health screenings are held during the school year. Two pediatricians and a medical assistant administer the screenings. The screenings take about an hour and fifteen minutes per twenty students.
Smart Bodies Program
Students watch an animated video featuring the "Organ Wise Guys" sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield. Students learn about the role & function of their organs, and the importance of good nutrition. They learn the Ten for Ten Concept - ten minutes of exercise to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Requirements
Permission slips must be signed by a parent or legal guardian in order for the child to participate. A parent or legal guardian is welcome to attend the screenings. The school or child center must provide a seperate room for the screenings.
Follow-up
A letter is sent to the parent or legal guardian if any abnormalities are discovered in the screening. Parents may contact the screening pediatrician for a free consultation, or to seek a pediatrician of their choice.
The overall process is designed to be fun and educational.
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