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Healthy Schools Healthy Families/ Turn 2Us

Healthy Schools Healthy Families/Turn 2Us is a school-based comprehensive wellness program administered by the New York-Presbyterian Hospital Ambulatory Care Network, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian and the Community Pediatrics of Columbia University.

The physical health component, Healthy Schools Healthy Families (HSHF), began in PS 128M in 1999 and in 2004 expanded to four schools in Washington Heights (PS 4, 132, and 180) and West Harlem (PS 180), adding two East Harlem schools (PS 102 and PS 206) in 2005.

Turn 2US, the mental health component of the comprehensive wellness program, began in 2001 at PS 128 and at PS 4 in 2007. HSHF and Turn 2 Us formally merged in 2007. Together, the programs serve some 5,000 children and their families, as well as the staff and community of the seven elementary schools.

Program Goals

• To cultivate a school culture which values physical activity and nutrition and uses environment and policy change to promote healthy habit development and behavior change in these areas.
• To facilitate access to services for children with identified health needs, particularly for children with asthma
• To identify and facilitate insurance enrollment for children and families.
• To ensure that 100% of children have completed their required immunizations.
• To promote mental wellness for students, parents and school staff utilizing physical, psychoeducational and therapeutic activities to ensure optimal academic and social performance. (Due to resource limitations, this goal is only being actively pursued at PS 4 and PS 128.)

Program Outreach & Accomplishments

• Over 99% of students up to date with immunizations at HSHF schools.
• Body Mass Index measured for all students and results reported to families.
• Over 200 students and family members have been referred for insurance enrollment.
• Wellness/Fitness and Nutrition Committees meet monthly in all 7 schools.
• Each school has a Healthy Snack Policy.
• The 2006-2007 HSHF Social Marketing Campaign featured 35 school-specific health promotion events as well as monthly school bulletin boards and staff newsletters.
• Fresh Food Fresh Start farmers market at PS 180 has been providing access to affordable, organic produce to the West Harlem community for three growing seasons.
• Multiple new physical activity programs for children were implemented in our 5 schools, including: Tai Chi, Mighty Milers/Jeter Meter running program, Capoeira, Transitional Exercise and double dutch/jump rope programs.
• Parent, student and Staff wellness programs were established at each school.
• Sports and dance teams as well as arts, drama and music clubs were created and utilized for mental health prevention.
• School wide in-class mindfulness trainings at PS 4 and PS128M.
• Creative Arts Therapeutic Summer Program at PS 128M.
• Conflict Resolution assemblies for upper grades at PS 128M and PS 4.
• Support programs provided for parents, including Father/Child Night Events, Parent Empowerment through Theater, Family Fun Day, monthly mental health workshops and English as a Second Language programs.