HEALTHY Armstrong Awarded ACMH Grant
Trisha Brice, HEALTHY Armstrong Project Coordinator Tricia Brice accepts the $4,000 grant from Dr. Fred Doerfler, Chairman of the Medical Executive Community Grant Committee. (submitted)
by Jonathan Weaver
Children that attend Head Start across Armstrong County will have a new, healthy way to play this Spring.
With a $4,000 grant from the ACMH Hospital Medical Staff Fund, HEALTHY Armstrong hopes to implement SPARK Physical Education (PE) in the classroom.
HEALTHY Armstrong Project Coordinator Tricia Brice said the school-based curriculum has already proven impactful in local elementary schools.
“We’ve been using (SPARK PE) in Armstrong School District at the elementary schools for several years, and we are going to be providing the training for that curriculum for Armstrong County Head Start in March,” Brice said. “Our goal is to increase physical activity in the classroom and increase the children’s exposure to topics increased activity and good nutrition as well.”
In addition to the training, Head Start centers will also receive curriculum and equipment necessary, even if there is no gymnasium available.
“SPARK PE is geared toward fitness-integrated learning, so a lot of (the equipment) is not your typical sports (items) –it’s also geared toward physical activity for children who don’t necessarily like sports but incorporates other aspects to make it fun and interesting,” Brice said.
Nearly a dozen Head Start classrooms currently exist in Apollo, Dayton, Ford City and Rural Valley.
Brice, of Manor Township, expects Head Start to continue using the “I am Moving, I am Learning” curriculum,” but also integrate SPARK PE as another resource.
“Head Start does a great job already of including physical activity and nutrition into their curriculum, and this is just helping them continue to move forward and give them new ideas,” Brice said.
Brice anticipates applying for more funding in the future since more students are entering kindergarten with an elevated Body Mass Index and becoming overweight earlier in life.
Penn State New Kensington’s Continuing Education department also was awarded a grant last week.
Co-Director Patricia Hollinger and Nursing Program Coordinator Dr. Janet Knott received $2,000 for “Fruits and Vegetables Community Education Project.”
Funding from this grant will be used to support educational sessions at five local food banks and five faith based organizations strategically located in Armstrong County. Fruit and vegetable vouchers will be given to individuals who participate in the programs.
ACMH Hospital medical staff provides grants annually for new community initiatives that promote community education and awareness of health issues.
About a half-dozen ACMH physicians chose the grant recipients before the November 10 presentation.
Grant requests were due by mid-September
ACMH Foundation Executive Director Jodi Beers said the Medical Staff Fund has awarded grants in the community since 2007.
Local News | jweaver November 20, 2015
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