The document summarizes a health promotion project aimed at educating youth in the East Waco community about heart health. The project was implemented at the Doris Miller YMCA through an interactive heart education session for students. Students learned about the heart, coronary artery disease, nutrition labels, and healthier lifestyle habits through a heart module, blocked artery experiment, and poster game. An evaluation found that students' understanding of these topics improved and they were engaged. To further health in the community, the proposal suggests continuing similar projects for both children and parents to educate families and encourage healthy changes together.

1. HEALTH PROMOTION
BY MARSHAE DAVIS, ERIKA FERNANDEZ, & MARIA PEREZ
Of East Waco

2. • Majority suffers from Heart Disease aka Cardiovascular disease.
Coronary artery disease affects all in the community.
Healthy Community Vs East Waco Community
“A healthier community is a stronger
community, leading not only to improved
chronic disease and obesity rates, but often
an improved economy.”
YMCA. (2012). Healthy choices require healthy options. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in McLennan county”
http://www.waco-texas.com/cms-healthdepartment/
If not addressed, can lead to more deaths in the
community related to heart attack and stroke
WRITING GROUP MEMBERS, Benjamin, E. J., Blaha, M. J., Chiuve, S. E., Cushman, M., Das, S. R., … Muntner, P. (2017). Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2017
Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation, 135(10), e146–e603. http://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000485
• Contributing factors for East Waco : socioeconomic positions such as lack
of education & environmental exposures to healthy choices; low income
and assets; Genetics-African-American race; lack of social support from
its neighboring communities
• Causes of CAD: Plaque buildup in blood vessels and
arteries due to smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes,&
sedentary lifestyle.

3. Strengths
• Healthier Kids
• Increasing the knowledge of
the younger generation
• Aid in economic development
Opportunities
• Deeper connections & new
leadership opportunities in the
community
• Involvement of Nursing in the
community
• To increase health & wellness
programs in East Waco
Weaknesses
• Partnering in the community
takes time.
• Parents are not willing to
continue the teaching & healthy
practice at home due to lack of
time and funds
•
Threats
• Low economy of East Waco
provides
SWOT
Youth Education
“East Waco residents frustrated by use of health grant funds.”
Waco Tribune-Herald
Butts, S. (2014, January 17). East Waco residents frustrated by use of health grant funds. Waco Tribune-Herald.
▪ County residents want the incoming state money
through the Community Transformation Grant to
be used for bike lanes, weekday farmer’s
markets, smoke-free ordinances and community
gardens. Waco-McLennan County Public Health
District wanted to use the grant to produce Live
Well Waco, to encourage healthier lifestyles & to
influence ordinances and policies to encourage
healthier living. The Health District touched on
the major health concern of East Waco which is
tobacco use, obesity and death through chronic
disease. Citizens concerns for their community
differ.
Market Research
Leadership vs Residents

4. REACHING THE YOUTH (10-17) THROUGH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PREVENT,
PROMOTE, & INCREASE HEALTHY HEART
EATING HABITS/PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
“I THINK KIDS MAKE GREAT RESEARCHERS BECAUSE THEY ARE YET TO
LEARN AS THEY GROW. THEY ARE CURIOUS OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS AND
WANT TO KNOW BY DOING. HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS ARE MORE
EFFECTIVE WITH OUR YOUTH.”
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020: OBJECTIVES:
 SCHOOLS PROVIDING ACCESS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FACILITIES DURING
NON-SCHOOL TIME
 INCREASE THE PROPORTION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT REQUIRE
SCHOOLS TO MAKE FRUITS OR VEGETABLES AVAILABLE WHENEVER
OTHER FOOD IS OFFERED OR SOLD
 INCREASE THE PROPORTION OF ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND SENIOR
HIGH SCHOOLS THAT PROVIDE SCHOOL HEALTH EDUCATION TO
PROMOTE PERSONAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN THE FOLLOWING
AREAS: HAND WASHING; ORAL HEALTH; NUTRITION; GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT; BENEFITS OF REST AND SLEEP; WAYS TO PREVENT VISION
AND HEARING LOSS; AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH SCREENINGS
AND CHECKUPS
 SCHOOLS PROVIDING HEALTH EDUCATION GOALS THAT ADDRESS SKILLS
IN ADVOCATING FOR HEALTH
www.healthypeople.gov
Woodgate and Sigurdson Public Health (2015) 15:4
0 50 100 150 200
Physical Fitness Outside…
Advocating for Health
Measurable Objectives (HP 2020)
2012 2014 2020
Marketing strategy

5. Objectives:
 Identify healthy heart habits and unhealthy
behaviors
 Increase health awareness by educating the
youth
 Demonstrate an understanding & the
importance of health prevention, healthy
nutrition, and physical activity
 Fostering the development of life skills such
as advocacy that promote long-term health
INTERVENTION
Improve Knowledge & Awareness of Health Promotion
www.waco-texas.com
www.healthypeople.gov
“This community coalition is dedicated to
improving the health and wellbeing of
McLennan County citizens through collaborative
community action, education, and prevention.
The coalition works to provide wellness
resources to improve overall wellness and to
help people make healthier lifestyle choices.”
Plan & Roles:
 Group effort to collaborate with YMCA director,
teach at the YMCA, & make a proposal for
collaboration between Tarleton & YMCA

6. NOW IT’S TIME TO THINK
& GET TO MOVING!

7. IMPLEMENTATION
▪ The Delayed Gratification Project at Doris Miller YMCA is being presented by Melvin Carter, who is the Branch Executive Director. Mr.
Carter’s intentions for this project is to educate and encourage youth and parents to a healthier lifestyle within the home. To further assist
this project to success, we educated in health related topics such as: the heart primary role, Coronary Artery Disease, understanding
nutrition labels, and how to choose healthier habits to prevent cardiac disease.
▪ According to Abdi and Simbar, the role of peers is essential to educational approach in adolescents (2013). For teenage students to become
engaged in this health education, we will provide them with a heart module and a hands on experiment. This will give students the ability to
comprehend the cardiac system better and the disease process in relation to physical exercise and eating choices, and discuss with their
peers as they go through the learning process together.
▪ At the end, students learning evaluation will be based in the ability to complete the poster game sentences within the group, in addition to
answering the following questions:
▪ What do you think happens to the blood flow of someone who has clogged arteries?
▪ On the food label, which 4 nutrients do you need to limit?
EXPERIMENT GAMEHEART EDUCATION NUTRITION
Abdi, F., & Simbar, M. (2013). The Peer Education Approach in Adolescents- Narrative Review Article. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 42(11), 1200–1206.

8. EVALUATION
• Our health education proposal to the Delayed Gratification project became a
success. Students were engaged and asked several questions throughout the
teaching session.
• The evaluation of this health promotion indicated that:
• The heart module and blocked artery experiment helped students visualize the
difference in the blood flow between a healthy unclogged artery vs a artery filled with
plaque.
• Students correctly answered questions regarding the heart function and how high
cholesterol can impact heart disease.
• By reflecting to the my plate food categories and nutrition labels, students understood
healthier food choices to reduce high cholesterol.
• Students understood what 4 nutrients to limit in the food label.
• Students demonstrated an effective learning experience by participating in the poster
game and completing the three fill in the blank sentences as a group.
• The YMCA community needs continuation of projects similar to the one we
presented. It is our understanding that East Waco community has limited community
health education. To extend this health education further, it will be important to
implement a session with children and parents. This will give families an opportunity
to get health education and work together to make healthier lifestyle changes.
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9. OUR PROPOSAL TO YOU