Name: Kristine
Ferrer
Position: Wellness Coordinator at The Arc Jacksonville Westside
Undergraduate Degree: BA Sociology at the University of South Florida
in Tampa, FL
Graduate Degree: Master of
Public Health (MPH) with a concentration on Global Health Practice and a
graduate certificate in Water, Health, and Sustainability at the University of
South Florida in Tampa, FL Hometown: Kissimmee, FL
If you could pick a super power, what would it be? Healing
and reading minds
The Arc Jacksonville is an adult
day program that provides services, support, and advocacy to people with
developmental and intellectual disabilities (DD/ID). Services such as job
training and independent life skills are offered so that people with DD/ID can
achieve their full potential, enhance their quality of life, and be active
participants in their communities.
According to the CDC, there is a health disparity between individuals with DD/ID and
individuals who do not have disabilities; 22% of DD/ID Americans are
physically inactive and 38% are obese compared to 10% and 24% of Americans without
disabilities respectively. This data proves that the
need for my service as a Wellness Coordinator is crucial at facilities such as
The Arc because the DD/ID population is dangerously under served in terms of
health.
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| Teaching cooking class |
Though I have never served this
population, I do not regret choosing to serve at The Arc. I love coming into
service and applying what I learned in school to the real world in a unique
way. I have the freedom to creatively present health materials in a manner
where it is understandable to my participants; this makes for a fun learning
experience! I teach nutrition and exercise to my participants. In addition to
nutrition, I also cover stress management, personal hygiene, and oral health. We
are not limited to the “classroom” or the gym—we also go out to community
outings such as cooking classes, aerobics classes, nature learning walks, and
guest speakers. And of course they love our weekly outside walks on Wesconnett Blvd. I
also have the freedom to put on events at The Arc such as this past February’s National
Wear Red Day where I screened over 50 participants and staff through blood
pressure, weight, and BMI measurements in commemoration of Heart Health Month.
 |
| Teaching exercise |
In the beginning of my service
term I sometimes felt that some of my participants did not understand the
material I presented, I was pleasantly surprised when they answered my
nutrition questions correctly at the daily Morning Trivia Workshop. I never
underestimated them since then! I also see a difference in some of their lunch
options and they never fail to come up to me and say “Kristine, is this
healthy?” I feel that I am making a difference in my participants whether big
or small.
My AmeriCorps service allowed me to have the passion
for the ID/DD population that I never thought I would have.
My future plans are to land a job
in the employee wellness realm or HIV prevention and eventually work for the
UN.
