United Way Wednesday
This Week's Featured UWCCMC Funded Agency:
The National Trails Parks and Recreation District's (NTPRD) Get Up and Go program is an after-school program offered to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at the Tecumseh Local School District. This free program provides quality and evidence-based programming with fun fitness games, and activities along with nutrition education in a manner that recognizes the unique strengths, abilities and differences in each student. Field trips are taken to local destinations, such as hiking at local parks, Wittenberg University or the NTPRD Chiller. Special guests provide a wide range of fitness activities such as martial arts, yoga, Zumba and more. Healthy snacks are provided each week.

Childhood obesity rates have skyrocketed in Clark County and are one of our most concerning health related issues. The percentage of students who are overweight or obese is significantly higher in Clark County (43.2%) than the state and national levels (28.9% and 30.3%, respectively) as reported by the Clark County 2015 Community Health Assessment. The lack of physical activity, sedentary lifestyles and poor nutrition habits contribute to this problem. Long term health effects of being overweight or obese can contribute to long term health problems such as Type II Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, the risk of low self-esteem, depression and lowered life expectancy. Among children today, obesity is causing a broad range of health problems that previously weren't seen until adulthood. Youth who have been overweight or obese; stigma and discrimination can add to their health problems and harm their quality of life.
Exercise is an essential part of a well-balanced lifestyle and increasing attention has been placed on the link between exercise and disease prevention, according to the Clark County Combined Health District Community Health Assessment. The issue is that 38.9% of the students assessed are physically active for 60 minutes per day on less than 5 days and 60.8% of students do not attend physical education classes; there is no physical education requirement in Clark County Schools. This is why the Get Up and Go program is essential to our community. The Food Research and Action Council have identified after-school programs as effective venues for improving physical activity and nutrition education and studies have proven these programs help to combat childhood obesity. After school programs are well positioned to address physical activity and nutrition issues. It offers a supportive, safe environment in which students feel comfortable trying new activities.

This program was created as a premier program solely funded by National Trails Parks and Recreation District and United Way of Clark, Champaign and and Madison Counties, making it possible for NTPRD to be able to provide The Get Up and Go After School program for free to 150 students on average. NTPRD partners with the OSU Extensions SNAP- Ed program to provide fun, interactive nutrition education for Get Up and Go. Staff from OSU Extension provide weekly lessons and activities on nutrition topics such as setting health goals. The Get Up and Go program has also partnered with the Clark County Combined Health Department to provide Body Mass Index (BMI) for the youth, with permission, on the first and last day of each session.

The goal of the Get Up and Go After School program is to improve the quality of life of youth residing in Western Clark County by increasing access to and promotion of physical fitness opportunities, provide nutrition education and positive experiences to help in reducing overweight and obesity rates and associated health risks. This program partners with and helps to educate families in adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Fitness journals are provided to the participants to set healthy goals and log their daily physical activities. The goal is for each participant to accomplish 60 minutes of daily physical activity. The staff reviews the journals, tracking daily increased in minutes logged.

United Way is proud to fund an agency that is making such an impact in the community of Clark County. Registration forms for the Get Up and Go After School program are available at New Carlisle Elementary and Donnelsville Elementary beginning in August. If you’re interested to learn more or get involved with the NTPRD programs then check out their website National Trails Parks and Recreation District or call 937-328-7275.
Calling All Donnelsville Elementary 3rd Graders!
The application deadline for the winter session of the Get Up and Go After School program is January 11, 2019. Applications are available at Donnelsville Elementary School and should be returned back to the school. The Get Up and Go program will be held on Wednesdays, January 23 - February 27 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at Donnelsville Elementary School.

United Way of Clark, Champaign and Madison Counties
120 S. Center Street Springfield, OH 45502
Main Office Clark County (937) 324-5551