Member Highlight: Lauren Pamas

Lauren Pamas
Hometown: Jacksonville, Fl
College: University of Central Florida
Major: Health Science
Favorite Local Restaurant: Orsay (French Bistro-Slow Food First Coast’s Snail of Approval)

Obesity is an epidemic in the United States. Obesity is not only affecting adults, but it is becoming prevalent in children. The number of overweight and obese children has tripled since the late 1970s. According to the latest results of the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey in 2009, 16.9% of U.S. children, ages 2-19, are obese. This is a problem because children who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop diabetes and other chronic disease risk factors like high cholesterol or high blood pressure leading to heart disease and stroke.

These conditions will affect children the rest of their lives. This epidemic can be prevented, though, with a positive outlook. Kids can get excited about eating fruits and vegetables. Children start forming habits at an early age. Their brains are sponges. They are ready and willing to learn so much about healthy behaviors. Right now, positive messages are being delivered to children about overly portioned, non-nutritious food items. Imagine if we all worked together to send out positive messages about healthy behaviors. Change will happen.  

Implementing CATCH Early Childhood in
Head Start at NE Springfield
Jacksonville, FL

The Florida Department of Health in Duval County has launched a program called CATCH: Coordinated Approach to Child Health in September 2012. The program focuses on nutrition, gardening, and physical activity for children. The point of CATCH is to create a fun, interactive environment at schools for the kids to learn how to make healthy choices. It creates a positive message about eating healthy and the importance of physical activity. The message is delivered in a school setting and is then driven into the home to parents so they can learn and reinforce healthy behaviors.

CATCH works. It is backed by 20 years of research and has shown obesity decreases in the schools after implementation. As an AmeriCorps member, I have been serving with the Florida Department of Health to execute the CATCH Early Childhood program in ten of the Head Start schools within Duval County. I teach 3-5 year old children the importance of nutrition and physical activity, where food comes from, and how children and their families can grow their own food.

The purpose of the CATCH program is to continue the teaching of healthy behaviors after the 15 weeks of implementation is complete. To do this, I train the teachers on how to keep healthy behaviors in school and to keep delivering the message to the parents. The teachers love using the CATCH lingo, “GO” foods and WHOA” foods, just as much as the kids love using the lingo (“GO” for healthy choices and “WHOA” for foods and beverages that should only be eaten once and awhile).  I use the lingo with other members, family, and friends, and it is starting to “catch” on. Pretty soon everyone will be doing it!