Tag Archives: YMCA

Area YMCAs use grant to develop Chronic Disease Departments

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YMCAThe Greater Scranton & Wilkes-Barre Family YMCAs recently received a three-year, $125,000 grant from the Moses Taylor Foundation to support the implementation of the nationally recognized Diabetes Prevention Program, as well as the Chronic Disease Programs Departments at both Ys. The Ys are proud to announce the funding has allowed for the hiring of Shadia Lahlou, Senior Director of Chronic Disease Prevention, as well as Chronic Disease Programs Departments at both Ys.

Shadia Lahlou recently completed a Master of Science in Social Work degree at The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Public Health degree at The University of Texas Health Science Center. Shadia believes that health is a human right for all. She aims to integrate her clinical and macro skills, and social and environmental perspectives to address health disparities and promote health equity. Shadia’s experience spans practice, policy, and research and includes aging adults, childhood chronic illness, nutrition and physical activity, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and mental and behavioral health.

“Health starts in communities – the spaces where we live, work and play throughout our life course,” said Shadia.

“The new Chronic Disease Programs Department is reflective of the YMCA’s partnership with the community to prevent illness and enhance wellness. We are excited to announce that joining the YMCA’s diverse health initiatives is the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program, which helps adults at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes reduce their chances of developing the disease through lifestyle change. I look forward to collaborating with community partners, and individuals and their support networks to foster a healthier community.”

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is a program that helps adults at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes reduce their risk for developing the disease by taking steps that will improve their overall health and well-being. The program joins existing Chronic Disease Programs, creating Chronic Disease Programs Departments at each Y in an effort to more efficiently and effectively serve more people. Additional programs include EnhanceFitness, a proven community-based senior fitness and arthritis management program; LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, a small-group program that helps adult cancer survivors reclaim their health and well-being following a cancer diagnosis; as well as additional cardiac and wellness initiatives at both facilities.

For more information on Chronic Disease Programming at the Greater Scranton and Wilkes-Barre Family YMCAs, contact Shadia Lahlou at shadia.lahlou@wbymca.org or 570-970-5052. Information can also be found at www.greaterscrantonymca.org or www.wbymca.org.

 

Greater Scranton YMCA renovation projects

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Maintaining a safe, clean and up-to-date facility is a priority at the Greater Scranton YMCA. Over the past several months, the Greater Scranton YMCA has embarked on major facility renovation projects to better serve its members and community.

Due to flooding in the gymnasiums from the storm that hit the Greater Scranton region on July 25, 2016, the Greater Scranton YMCA had to completely replace its gym floors. The Y also replaced the roof above the gymnasiums to ensure for no additional flooding for years to come. In September, 2016, the Y replaced the filtration system in Pool A, one of two pools housed in the facility. Additionally, the Y replaced its power cycling bikes and refurbished its weight room and hammer strength equipment.

“Although we lost our gym floor to flooding in late July, it has given us the opportunity to install a state of the art system,” said Trish Fisher, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Scranton YMCA. “We have also update several areas of the facility, many you cannot see, that will provide us to better service our community. Renovations will continue over the next few years, as the board puts together a master plan for the facility. I would personally like to thank each and every one of our members for their patience and commitment to the Greater Scranton YMCA”.For more information on membership and programs offered at the Greater Scranton YMCA, visit www.greaterscrantonymca.org or call (570) 342-8115.

Upstate Velo recently presented the Greater Scranton YMCA with a $500 donation representing proceeds from the organization’s “Pedal for Paula Memorial Bike Ride” held in memory of Paula Jones. Upstate Velo’s mission is to support cycling for all ages and interests, advocate for the rights of cyclists and promote greater public awareness of the life-long benefits of cycling.

Shown from left: Joseph Sabatini, treasurer, Upstate Velo; Meghan Carnevale, Mission Advancement & Marketing Director, Greater Scranton & Wilkes-Barre Family YMCAs; Trish Fisher, CEO, Greater Scranton YMCA, and Ken Balmer, President, Upstate Velo.

Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

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YMCASeptember is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and while the dangers of childhood obesity are well chronicled, many families need support changing their children’s habits with the ultimate goal of improving health. That’s why the Greater Scranton and Wilkes-Barre Family YMCAs — leading community-based organizations dedicated to improving health — want families to understand the dangers of childhood obesity and ways to reverse course through improved eating habits and increased physical activity.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood obesity has more than tripled in children and adolescents over the past 30 years. Today, obesity affects one in six children and one in three are overweight, which poses greater risks for a number of health problems such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and some cancers. In Pennsylvania, 29.7% of children ages 10-17 are considered overweight or obese.   

“A family that changes together gets healthy together—building a culture of health that helps families adopt healthy habits is key to reducing childhood obesity rates,” said Meghan Carnevale, Mission Advancement & Marketing Director, Greater Scranton & Wilkes-Barre Family YMCAs. “Once a family gets the proper education and support when it comes to weight-related risks, they can work together to incorporate healthy eating habits and more physical activity and into their daily routines.

Additionally, if families don’t know how to get started, reaching out to your health care provider or organizations like the Y that provide support are great first steps.”

The following tips are some great ways to incorporate healthier eating habits and more physical activity and into your daily family routine:

  • Eat & Drink Healthy: Make water the drink of choice (supplemented by age-appropriate servings of low-fat milk) and make it easy for everyone to fill half their plates with fruits and vegetables by offering two or three colorful options at every meal. Feel free to mix and match fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables to provide variety. Place a full pitcher of water on the table during meals, and allow children to pour their own water.
  • Play Every Day/Go Outside: Kids should have at least an hour a day of unstructured play outside (when possible) and break a sweat at least three times a week by getting 20 minutes or more of vigorous physical activity. Join your children in games that get your hearts pumping and bodies moving.
  • Get Together: Eat as a family as frequently as possible. Involve kids in meal planning, preparation and clean up. In addition, adults should take a break from electronics and spend one-to-one time each day with their kids, enjoying one another’s company.
  • Reduce Recreational Screen Time: Time spent in front of a television, computer, tablet, cell phone or video games should be limited to two hours or less per day. Make a family plan to reduce screen time at home (i.e. turn off screens during meals, keep a chart, go for a walk after a meal).
  • Sleep Well: Kids and adults need to keep a regular sleep schedule; go to bed and rise from bed within 1 hour of the same time every day. Kids are growing and need 10-12 hours of healthy sleep per night and seven to eight hours for adults.

In addition to being healthy at home, there is a need to maintain healthy habits while attending out-of-school programs. To create healthy environments for all children, the Greater Scranton and Wilkes-Barre Family YMCAs are implementing Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Standards in our before and after school programs, child care programs and summer camp programs. Our goal is to make the healthy choice the easy choice for your child while he or she is in our care.

To learn more about membership and family programming at the Greater Scranton and Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA’s, contact: Greater Scranton YMCA, 706 S. Blakely St., Dunmore, (570) 342-8115, http://www.greaterscrantonymca.org.