Community After School Program Essay

More parents than ever these days are working outside of the home. This means that when the school bell rings, many children are left unsupervised and with no where to go but an empty house with no supervision. Not only that, but some parents are also struggling to provide adequate after-school care. Either they cannot afford the monthly payments of a daycare, or the programs are just simply not available to them. (Ansell, 2004).

“The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake” a quote made by the First Lady, Michelle Obama, as she launches her comprehensive initiative to change the way children think about nutrition and physical fitness (“Learn the Facts,” 2010). Three decades ago, children lived active lives that kept them healthier. They walked to and from school, ate home cooked, reasonable portion meals with vegetables and played outdoors most of the time. Today, children ride the bus instead of walk, eat more fast food and snacks throughout the day because parents are busier, and watch more television or play video games rather than be active outside with peers (“Learn the Facts,” 2010). Young children are becoming overweight and obese along with being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes more frequently. They are making poor dietary choices, inadequate physical activity, and spending too much screen time all contributing to the obesity crisis. One of the effective solutions to reversing the trend of childhood obesity is to provide safe, affordable and accessible after-school health and physical fitness educational programs for all school ages across the nation.

With factors such as cost and proximity to local grocery stores can contribute to the low nutrition of children. Fast food consumption has also become a link to the increase consumption of unhealthy foods (Sahoo, et al., 2015). Many fast food restaurants are found to locate in low-income areas, so convenience and low cost contribute to the increase in unhealthy foods (Hilmers, et al., 2012). Another risk factor that can lead to the increase of childhood obesity is the increase in sedentary activities such as television watching and also the decrease of opportunities for physical activities. A resent study done on the opportunities for children physical activity show that “53% of parents drove their children to school” (Sahoo, et al,. 2015). The reason for this high number is a cause of “unsafe walking routes, fear of predators, and out of convenience” (Sahoo, et al., 2015). These risk factors have contributed to the increase in childhood obesity in the United States. It is shown that fixing these problems in the community can reduce obesity rates. One assessment done in 2016 took the liberty of tackling risk factors in the community in hopes of reducing obesity. CentraCare Health, a nonprofit

Childhood obesity is a consequential medical condition that effects the youth and adolescence of society. This disorder creates health problems that were once only seen in adults, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Although childhood obesity is a world wide issue, the percentage of overweight children differs, especially throughout the United States. Today, the greatest population suffering from this disease are African American children who reside in the southern part of the country. Parents, as well as children, continue to support unhealthy lifestyles even though they are well aware of the life-threatening diseases caused by obesity.

As stated in the Encyclopedia of Science’s article, obesity is affecting any child from any ethnicity or race, age, economic backing, or region. Hispanic children, African American children, native American children, and any other children with bad quality eating habits, especially in the south, are at an exceptionally higher risk. The southern part of America is known for their ‘comfort’ food, which is extremely fattening, and is the reason why children living in the south have an exceptionally higher chance of becoming obese. In the African American communities, as well as the Hispanic communities, nearly 40% of the children are overweight or obese. Children who are at a lower economic standing may have a higher chance of developing obesity, but that doesn’t mean wealthier children are immune. The site, Let’s Move states that without solving this issue, 1/3 of all children born after 2000 will suffer from diabetes at one point in their lives. Statistics from the Encyclopedia of Life Science show that this number is still growing and is being compared to the 7% of obese children and 5% obese teens in the 1980 's, to show the changes needed to be done in society. More action, now more than ever, needs to be taken against obesity.

Obesity is the #1 threat in America,not only affecting adults,but children too.In the Article( “Fast Food not A Weighty Problem”),”A new study shows that children who live near recreational amenities lowers their weight.Children should know they are being victimized,and it could threaten their lives.Furthermore,Obesity is a bigger

Childhood obesity has expanded tremendously within the past thirty years (CDC, 2015). It is not only a state, but also a nationwide issue. For many children, they depend on their school lunches to provide them the nutritious meals they cannot afford to have at home. As a community, we need to get our children into better shape. Not only will they become more astute, but they will also live healthier lifestyles, and have less health complications as they age. When you are overweight or obese, you are much more likely to develop health problems like heart disease, diabetes, or even a stroke. It is our responsibility as a community, state, and nation to offer nutritious meals and activities for our youth and future.

Los Angeles County, the second largest city in the United States with a county population 10,441,089 in 2010 has been reported to have the highest levels of economic hardship (Dunn et al., 2013). According to County of Los Angeles Public Health (2013, January), “poverty in childhood has long-lasting effects limiting life expectancy and worsening health for the child’s life, even if social conditions subsequently improve” (p.3). A recent study in Los Angeles County showed that adolescents living in low-income neighborhood were nine times as likely to be overweight as those living in well-off neighborhoods (“Policy Priorities: Childhood Obesity,” 2012). These residents, like those

The continued concern over childhood obesity is a major topic across the United States and continues to be a newsworthy topic. The Public Health Research, Practice, and Policy published a study that looked at the associations between a family's income in comparison to the physical fitness and obesity of children in California schools between 2010 through 2012. (Jin Y., Jones-Smith JC., 2012)

Chicago children are faced with an epidemic, an epidemic that most communities are faced with today. The epidemic is childhood obesity and it’s only getting worse. According to Dr. Richard Jackson, this is the first generation not expected to live longer than their parents (Jackson R. 2012). Obese children run the risk of having many health problems. These health problems include Asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type-2 diabetes. In fact, a study done by Blank Children’s Hospital located in Des Moines, IA shows that “45 percent of children diagnosed with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes due to being obese or overweight” (10 surprising facts 2014). As a society we need to become more aware of the issues that contribute to

There have been many studies done in trying to find the root cause for childhood obesity and all stem back to bad dietary patterns, physical inactivity, and genetics. Additionally, factors in society that contribute to this detrimental disease is the education and skills that are taught to children at a young age along with food marketing and promotion for unhealthy foods. There isn’t a demographic group in the United States that has been unaffected by the childhood obesity epidemic, but there is evidence that supports that some subgroups of the U.S. population are more prone to the onset of this epidemic and that have been more affected than others. Certain ethnic minority populations, children from low income families, and children from the southern region in the United States display the trend of having a higher percentage of overweight

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, “approximately 12.7 million of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese.” (Childhood Obesity Facts 2011, para.1) There are many factors that cause this outrageous number of obese children. Family history, genetics, community environment, and lifestyle are a few factors. We have also become very complacent and made ourselves too busy to perform a

Obesity among city dwellers is becoming one of the major national health concerns. In fact, it became a crisis. Nationally, “$147 billion is spent yearly for obesity-related care, including 77% greater spending on medications for the obese than for non-obese individuals” (Marchiondo 2014, P. 156). According to the CDC, among Maryland adults over 18 years old 65.4% were overweight, with a Body Mass Index of 25 or greater. Also, 27.1% were obese, with a Body Mass Index of 30 or greater (CDC - Obesity - Facts - Adolescent and School Health, 2012). Among Maryland’s adolescents between grade 9 and 12, 15.6 percent are overweight and 12.2 percent are obese (Obesity and Overweight for Professionals: State Programs: Funded States: Maryland - DNPAO - CDC, 2012). This problem places residents on a critical risk for several co-morbidities especial cardiovascular issues. Community health assessment about the problem of obesity in the city of Greenbelt is performed. The city of Greenbelt is found in PG County. According to the US census 2010, the city is home for 23, 068 people. It is a diverse city with African Americans being the majority of the population. The purpose of this paper is to make a detailed community assessment and recommendations to reduce the risk and incidence of obesity in this community.

The South Carolina Afterschool Alliance program strives to reach the community and explain the importance of after-school programs. They provide information and guidelines to organizations and groups on how to have effective after-school programs. The program

After- school programs have been around for long time. However, their initial purpose was different than what is demanded in today’s society. The after school program was originally developed in urban communities in response to the decline in child labor and the rise in mandatory schooling. This combination altered the day of an urban child. The child would go to school, and come home with nothing to do. They could not work anymore because of child labor laws. With this being a new law, parents did not know what to do with their children because they had to work into the late hours of the evening. Also, urban housing had unkempt, undesirable conditions for living. This caused many