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Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health collaborates with Treasure Valley YMCA

July 2010

After school programs provide a great opportunity to teach children and families about healthy behaviors. However, many programs have struggled with the ability to actively engage parents in health promotion activities. Parents are an integral component in changing children’s health behaviors. The current partnership with the Treasure Valley YMCA’s after school program will investigate methods for engaging parents in nutrition and physical activity programs.

The first step in this two-year partnership will be conducting focus groups with parents, children, and teachers. Based on feedback from the focus groups, materials and interactive activities promoting healthy behaviors will be developed for families in after school programs. The goal is not only to develop activities for the YMCA after school sites but create a manual that can be used in after school programs throughout Idaho.