Successful Program An Example For The State
Soulsbyville, CA — A member of Governor Jerry Brown’s cabinet had a lot of praise after seeing several schools involved in the county’s local fitness program. Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley toured Columbia, Curtis Creek and Jamestown Elementary Schools to observe the county’s Fit For the Future program.
Dooley says, “This fit for the future is an extrordinary program.” She says, “The special support that they have gotten from the Sonora Regional Medical Center linking health care with health fitness is really an example for the rest of California.”
The program is designed for 5th and 7th grader students to fight childhood obeisity and promote healthy living. Local fitness trainer and Registered Nurse, Brie Ferguson and PE instructor, Paul McIllroy, from Curtis Creek work with students at several local Elementary Schools. Together they inspire kids to eat healthy and evaluate them weekly to measure progress toward fitness goals. At Curtis Creek Dooley whitnessed six boys doing a pushup test, one student did 40 and another more than 40. Students are encouraged and challenged to do their personal best. Dooley noted a Jamestown Elementary student who had never done a pushup was celebrated with high-fives for completing her first pushup. According to Joe Silva’s blog, “Both Paul and Brie will be returning to their ‘day jobs’ in the fall, but the program will continue with two new staff.”
Dooley noted that Silva served on her task force two years ago as part of Governor Jerry Brown’s “Lets get healthy California”. The program set the ambitious goal for California to be the healthiest state in the union by 2022. Tuolumne’s Fit for the Future program is not funded by the state however. It receives funding from Sonora Regional Medical Center and Anthem Blue Cross. Dooley says, “The CEO of Anthem was also on the task force, so we are spreading the news far and wide, about the success of Tuolumne County. It can be done.” She adds, “Local effort, that’s what makes it so strong. Any community can do this and partnership with their own advocates within their own communities. It is really at the most basic level of community support.”
Details on what the 5th and 7th grade classes are tested on are on www.tcbeatsobesity.com.
