Healthy Hill Kids
continued. . .
 

The Asylum Hill Learning Zone partnered with the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Boys and Girls Club, and West Middle School to sponsor Healthy Hill Kids. The purpose of this initiative was to check children’s health, offer advice to improve overall health, and then take action to help children where it is needed. We also started the process of enrolling children who are not already members in the Husky Insurance program if they are eligible.

Some 300 children were screened by AHLZ volunteers. Parents made an appointment for their children, but walk-ins were also accommodated. One particular challenge was that only about a third of the families making appointments actually kept them. A parent or responsible adult over 18 had to accompany one or more children and first registered at the Sign-In station. A health privacy form was signed so that we could retain data about the children on file. We used data that did not include names to study relationships between health issues of the children. Next the parent and child visited four stations over 20 to 30 minutes. Children received prizes (school supplies) for visiting all four screening stations and participating in the process. Lunch and/or dinner were served and many parents received gift cards as an incentive for showing up. The four stations for active checking were:

• Say Yes to Good Food was the nutrition station where we checked weight, height, calculated the body mass index, measured hip-to-waist ratio, and discussed the dietary history. We provided a picture of the new US Nutritional Pyramid and discussed some simple guidelines. Exercise is an important component that we emphasized for all children.
   
• Easy Breathing was the station designed to spot signs of asthma. The Asthma Center at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center has found a high level of asthma in Hartford children surveyed and our preliminary data confirmed that diagnosis. We completed the Easy Breathing Survey, checked breath capacity with a peak flow meter, discussed asthma triggers if appropriate, and provided educational materials.
   
• Healthy Heart was the station at which we checked blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. A short survey provided insight into how to stay healthy and an information sheet gave both parent and child a better understanding of the importance of keeping our hearts healthy.
   
• Feeling Good gave parents and children guidelines about stress in our lives. A short set of questions helped the attendant create a Modified Perceived Stress Scale. We had a brief discussion about bullying and how to prevent it.

The Question Station existed to both check for any data that might cause a concern, and for participants to ask questions of a medical specialist (typically either a nurse or physician). At each of the four health stations, the parent and child received a single page survey that documented the results. The attendant at the final station reviewed this data and recommended that the participant provide this data to their child’s doctor. Children then received prizes, food, and balloons.

Our data show that 30 to 35% of children in Asylum Hill have asthma, much higher than the national average of about 6%. Also, among the children tested, overweight children exhibit higher than expected blood pressure at a relatively young age. We are starting nutrition education at West Middle School and slowly working to modify some eating habits. We also encouraged children and parents to have a “medical home”.