Fit Futures

Outer Cape Health Services (OCHS)
Northern Cape Cod, MA

CAVU funding : $60,000 year 1, $50,000 year 2, and $40,000 year 3

Results: Impacted ~175 children grades k-5 and ~60 children grades 6 and up
Held Wellness Fair that showcased students' projects
Created partnership with school food service to prepare winning recipe from school wide healthy recipe contest
Had PSA in local paper to raise awareness of weight related problems and solutions

In June 2008 CAVU provided funding to launch the Fit Futures program, a community-centered pediatric obesity intervention whose mission is to affect policy, programs and services to reduce the incidence of pediatric overweight and obesity, and improve the health and wellbeing of youth who reside in the town of Provincetown and other communities on the outer Cape. Fit Futures' community-centered approach is uniquely tailored to the needs of an area with significant seasonal population changes, where the health center is not only a safety net provider for the underserved but also one of very few year-round healthcare providers, and as such is a key leader in the local community.

The program has accomplished much during its first year. For example, a "Kitchen Cabinet" advisory board has been formed from contacts within the local Board of Health, the Recreation Department, the Conservation Commission, the Provincetown school system, Outer Cape WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program, local businesses, and the student body of Provincetown. The Fit Futures program coordinator has engaged school nurses and the local superintendent to increase their awareness of the issue of pediatric obesity. Ongoing school-based programs have served to engage students around healthy living topics, with activities such as a Wellness Fair and healthy recipe contests to improve school lunch offerings.

In the community, the Provincetown Community Center has been identified as a venue for program activities. In addition, the Conservation Commission is planning to start an environmental stewardship program through which kids and families can be physically active by cutting trails, repairing fencing, and planting native vegetation. The owner/grower from a local organic farm has also committed to assist Fit Futures by hosting educational field trips and planting school based gardens. Fit Futures communicates with the community through columns in the local paper, information at the local library, and PSA's on local radio.

In addition to their community outreach efforts, Fit Futures clinical staff will implement the Healthy Weight Clinic model utilized in CAVU's Healthy Weight Initiative in July 2009. Staff has participated in HWI collaborative activities since 2008 in preparation for the launch of the clinical component. For more on the HWI clinical model, see the Healthy Weight Initiative section.