Let's Move! 

Did you know that over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese?  Doctors and scientists are gravely concerned about this rise in childhood obesity because it can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, and social discrimination. 

The statistics are staggering...according to the Let's Move website, '8-18 year olds devote an average of 7 ½ hours to using entertainment media including TV, computers, video games, cell phones and movies in a atypical day'.   

First Lady Michelle Obama speaks frequently about the issues surrounding kids' health, nutrition, and fitness.  She has spearheaded the Let's Move campaign as part of her ambitious plan to eliminate childhood obesity in one generation.  This campaign is reaching out to parents, schools, communities, medical professionals, retailers, and manufacturers to join forces to fight childhood obesity.  The Let's Move campaign focuses on eating healthier and increasing physical activity in our daily lives.  Parents and caregivers can significantly impact children's lives by instilling healthy habits that will last a lifetime.     

"We are living in a time where we just don't have enough time. People are rushed. They're over worked, over scheduled. Not enough resources. ...But the thing that I want people to understand in this campaign is that families can make small manageable changes in their lives that can have pretty significant impacts." -Let's Move live web chat, 7/13/2010

Please visit the following websites to learn more about how you can start making a difference in the health of our next generation:   www.letsmove.gov and www.mypyramid.gov  

Christy George-Tottenham, LMFT
IPPI

     Due to situations beyond his control, a young man by the name of Rafael has been involved in the foster care system and has relocated to a number of homes for the past eight years of his life.  However, regardless of the adversity and number of times Rafael has had to pack his bags and change foster homes, he has remained optimistic about his outlook on life and being reunited with his siblings and family. 
     Rafael is the second eldest of five siblings who have been separated and placed in foster care due to a variety of family issues.  Since being at CJR, Rafael has learned to turn to positive role models, such as his oldest brother and counselors at Connecticut Junior Republic (CJR), for advice and support.  Rafael is a senior in high school and has managed to successfully maintain a 3.2 GPA.  He is involved in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), is a youth counselor in the community, and is a role model in his Positive Behavior Support group.  After completing high school, Rafael plans to pursue a B.S in Social Work. 

     Rafael admits that maintaining a positive outlook on life can be difficult, but he has learned to recognize that his life choices impact not only himself but also the lives of his younger siblings.  Rafael's accomplishments and positive attitude have made all those involved in his life extremely proud and supportive of him, therefore, making him CJR's STAR for the month!

By:  Shane James.

It's not too late for your faith community to participate!  Bells of Hope has now spread to over 130 diverse congregations across CT. Please check the FAM website for the service near you or for information on how to become a Bells of Hope partner.

Shine a Light on Adoption