Member Highlight: Kristine Ferrer

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.

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.