Community Health Education
St. Joseph Community Health offers free community health education workshops on topics focusing on family wellness issues. A team of trained and experienced community health educators provide information on common illnesses, self-care, stress, nutrition, fitness and positive affirmation to a variety of local community partners including schools, community centers, child development programs, and the general public. Most programs are currently offered in English and Spanish.

Participants receive medical reference and resource materials that are aimed at self-care, reduction in unnecessary hospital and emergency room visits and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Specifically, the Healthwise Handbook, an encyclopedia of health related information ranging from infant and child health, self-care, common illnesses, and emergencies to other health topics are utilized in the program. Other materials such as community resources and an “Ask the Dr. Checklist,” are available. Registered participants receive a free Healthwise Handbook.

These free community health education workshops are ideal for schools, community centers, child development center staff in-service, employee wellness program, support groups, religious organizations and other community organizations that have at least 10 interested participants attending. Please call 924-8014 to schedule any of the following free workshops:

FOR ADULTS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN
“Solutions for Stress & Anger Management”
This interactive 2 hour workshop will teach you how to recognize stress by utilizing a stress test questionnaire. Effectively manage tension, anger and stress by learning a variety of helpful tips including information on nutrition, anger triggers and relaxation techniques. Small group discussion and activities. Available in English and Spanish.

FOR FAMILIES
“Healthy Families” designed to be taught concurrently as a 4-part series of classes. Each workshop is 1 hour and 30 minutes long. Available in English and Spanish.

1) Staying Healthy- An introduction to the purpose and principles of the Healthwise Handbook. Discussion includes: goals, achieving individual health changes, and common health and wellness issues. Specific health information on first aid, emergencies, chronic disease and self-care for common health problems, as well as preparation tips, a checklist and role play for a doctor’s appointment. Participants are taught how to get better health care at lower costs and how to avoid unnecessary trips to the ER.

2) Nutrition: The Path to Wellness- Information on nutrition and making healthier food choices, reading labels, healthy shopping and food preparation, basic food pyramid information, and the connection between food choices and chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Includes healthy snack ideas and recipes for kids.

3) Body, Mind & Spirit - focusing on the connection between better health and wellness through exercise, stress reduction, and spiritual/ positive affirmation. Emphasizes the mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of a healthy person. Workshops are interactive and focus on achieving individual health changes and common health and wellness issues relevant to healthy families. Role-playing and small group discussion included.

4) Next Steps: Lifelong Health- incorporating all the elements of the previous three workshops, participants gain an understanding of how to achieve lifelong health and wellness through exercises such as role-play, small group discussion, and by using the Healthwise Handbook.