Positive impact
Living healthier is easier with a little guidance, especially at a young age. And HealthCorps is empowering teens by helping them incorporate healthy habits into their lives.
To reach teens in high-need communities where health education is underserved, Dr. Mehmet Oz (cardiothoracic surgeon and TV personality) and Lisa Oz (TV producer and Dr. Oz’s wife), founded HealthCorps in 2003. They teach practical, hands-on ways to eat better, exercise, and practice positive thought and stress management.
That knowledge gives students the tools to make everyday wellness decisions that can improve their academic performance and quality of life. HealthCorps works with schools throughout the country to offer training and support.
The students served report positive results—with students boosting their health, wellness, mental health, and self confidence. These skills are ones that will benefit them and their communities for a lifetime.
Michelle
Hello, my name is Michelle Bouchard and I’m the President of HealthCorps. HealthCorps is a national non-profit organization that gives teens tools to improve physical and mental health so they can learn to live more productive and happier lives. HealthCorps students exercise more, eat better and practice positive thought. This year, we will be impacting the lives of one million teens. I’m grateful to be able to share our story on The Grommet and invite you to join our corps.
Cynthia
12/29/2015 11:55 AMHealthCorps programs focus on teaching healthy habits such as healthier eating and exercising but also mental resilience? Why was it important to incorporate into the program?
Michelle – Special Guest
12/29/2015 12:03 PMIn order to address the crisis of health and wellness, you need to assess the needs of the whole child. HealthCorps started with a mission to end the childhood obesity epidemic, and we focused our efforts on high need high schools across America. We created nutrition and fitness lessons to give students the tools they need to make healthy choices. At the same time, we developed lessons in mental resilience give them the tools to make the tough personal decisions they face in their daily lives. The combination of lessons in nutrition, physical and mental resilience allows our students to live happier, healthier lives.
As Rob Gasparello, a principal at Sharpstown high school says “If we don’t take care of the physical, social and emotional needs of our kids, the academics will fall off the table.”
Cynthia
12/29/2015 11:56 AMHow have you seen the programs resonating with students?
Michelle – Special Guest
12/29/2015 12:03 PMStudents report being happier with HealthCorps programming. From helping a freshman deal with bullying, to mentoring a senior through college applications, HealthCorps Coordinators serve the students of their assigned high school in any way they can.
Cynthia
12/29/2015 11:57 AMHealthCorps programs benefit the students, but how do they have a larger impact on their communities?
Michelle – Special Guest
12/29/2015 12:04 PMHealthCorps Coordinators have two main objectives – to mentor students and to change the culture of health and wellness within their assigned school. Each Coordinator will set up a community-wide health fair, putting students in leadership positions where they are responsible for teaching community members what they have learned. Coordinators also routinely get faculty together for fun health initiatives like “Biggest Loser” style weight loss games and daily morning meditations. As one teacher wrote about the HealthCorps Coordinator at her school, “As a result of this health/nutritional awareness, my job-performance has improved by having more energy and an upbeat positive attitude to help guide my students towards learning the content and becoming happy, productive citizens in our ever-changing world.”