Benefits

The program has worked with over 7,000 children in 30 schools. In addition, the program director has worked with over 100 health care professionals such as pediatricians, family physicians, child psychiatrists, nurses, practitioners, nutritionists, public health professionals, social workers and parents. Future benefits for introducing and reinforcing social skills will help participants gain respect for authority, incorporate nonviolent problem solving and the avoidance of substance abuse.

Based on a review of several comprehensive health studies it has been concluded that inactive children and youth are at risk:
Over 22 % of the fourth and fifth graders had excessive cholesterol levels; 32% are obese; 37% are in poor physical condition and 40% of Charlotte-Mecklenburg children ages 8-12 show one or more risk factors of heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and low cardiovascular endurance. National statistics show in comparison that over twenty million children are overweight by an average of 8.3 pounds and childhood obesity is up 54% in children 6-11 and 39% in children 12-17.

According to the NC Children’s Index 2002, www.ncchild.org, U.S. Department of Justice and Delinquency Prevention, “despite decreasing juvenile crime rates, increasing emphasis on prevention and early intervention in juvenile justice arenas requires increased awareness among local decision-makers and greater program effectiveness by …youth serving organizations to insure public safety, support positive youth development and prevent juvenile crime”.