Children's Auction funds to support program aimed at improving health

LACONIA – Genesis Behavioral Health was one of several local non-profit organizations to receive a grant from the Greater Lakes Region Children's Auction for programs that work to eliminate or mitigate the need for basic and extended services for children. The funding will support Genesis' implementation of a new youth program, SPORT Prevention Plus Wellness, which will launch later this spring.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that American youth are at risk for a multitude of behaviors that are harmful to their health and well-being. These include alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drug use, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, lack of sleep, and uncontrolled stress. The 2014 LRGHealthcare Community Health Needs Assessment and the 2014 Central NH Health Partnership Community Health Assessment both report that alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment and access to behavioral healthcare are two of the top five most important health issues facing our community. In New Hampshire and nationally, significant attention is placed on early prevention of substance abuse problems through youth education to instill understanding of risks and skill building to promote risk reduction and resiliency strategies and abilities.

"The staff is excited to be able to utilize the proceeds from this generous grant towards providing evidence-based services that integrate substance misuse education with the promotion of health awareness and self-care. This community is acutely aware of the current substance use crisis. The need for additional interventions and resources to create positive change for youth is evident," said Charlotte Hassan, director of Child and Family Services at Genesis Behavioral Health.

SPORT Prevention Plus Wellness is a motivational intervention and evidence-based practice designed for youth ages 8 to 18. This model integrates substance abuse education and prevention with health promotion to help children and adolescents minimize and avoid substance use while increasing physical activity and other health-enhancing habits, including eating well and getting adequate sleep. The intervention promotes the benefits of an active lifestyle with positive images of youth as active and fit, and emphasizes that substance use is counterproductive in achieving positive image and behavior goals. SPORT PPW was developed with funding from the National Institutes of Health, and is listed as an evidence-based program on the federal government's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices.

GBH will leverage its current partnerships with area school districts, Plymouth State University, Lakes Region Community College, and public health programs such as Healthy Eating Active Living, Partners in Prevention and Stand Up Laconia to provide trained staff who can offer this program to youth in our community. Staff will screen youth for their health habits, provide tailored feedback and positive image messages, help youth set and monitor multiple health behavior goals, and follow up with youth. The program includes parent resources so the message is reinforced at home, as well as resources for the participants. SPORT teaches youth how risk behaviors and wellness behaviors are connected and influence each other, and offers a unique educational and motivational strategy for improving the whole health and well-being of young people in our region. By bringing this program to the Lakes Region, Genesis Behavioral Health hopes to reduce the need for both mental health and substance use disorder treatment services for youth in our community.

Genesis Behavioral Health recently was awarded a grant to implement a program aimed at improving the health of local young people. Accepting the grant award are Maggie Pritchard, executive director of Genesis Behavioral Health, and Charlotte Hasson, Director of Child and Family Services at Genesis. Also shown, representing the Children's Auction, are Sandra Marshall, Mike Seymour and Tony Felch. (Courtesy photo)