Health Education Department
by Mescalero Apache Tribe | October 20, 2015 11:26 am
The main focus at this time is to provide and staff a complete Fitness Facility. This facility is fully equipped with Cardio machines such as Treadmills, Cycles, and Elliptical Stepper. Complete circuit with Universal Stations and a Free Weight Room, very popular with the Male population.
There is a large open space area for Step Aerobics Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM and Zumba classes Mondays and Wednesdays 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM. Water exercise classes are conducted Mondays 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM and Wednesdays 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
The Fitness Facility is open to all Mescalero Community members ages 12 and up.
The Director, Barbie Johnson, is available for Personal Training instruction and works with IHS Physicians on Referrals. Mrs. Johnson also provides Massage Therapy by appointment.
Priority Areas of the Health Education Department are:
1. Disease Prevention
2. Nutrition/Obesity Education
3. Diabetes Education
4. Fitness & Weight Management Classes & Education
5. Community Fitness Center
6. Massage Therapy/Aesthetics
7. Other Continuing Health Education
8. General Administrative Duties
Goals & Objectives in relation to the “priority areas” of the Program listed above:
- Disease Prevention
GOAL: Raise community awareness of diseases that are prevalent throughout the Mescalero area while providing methods and tactics of prevention to community members.
OBJECTIVE: To assure that current, factual information about disease prevention is provided to community members and service providers.
ACTIVITIES: Provide education through literature, in-services, and provide physical fitness classes and assessments in the community Fitness Center and within the community.
2. Nutrition/Obesity Education
GOAL: To promote optimal health of the Mescalero Apache people by educating about and reducing the prevalence of obesity.
OBJECTIVE: To reduce the prevalence of obesity in pre-school aged children ages 1 – 5 by providing education on nutrition and health problems related to obesity.
ACTIVITIES: Identify risk factors for obesity in the Mescalero school aged children 1 – 5 years old. Identify areas of education and intervention to reduce obesity. Provide nutrition education to the children through school health demonstrations and establish a fitness program designed to reduce obesity.
3. Diabetes Education
GOAL: Raise community awareness of diabetes and its prevalence on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Educate community members on methods of diabetes treatment, prevention, and blood glucose level awareness.
OBJECTIVE: To assure that current and factual information about diabetes is provided to the community as a while, to individual community members, and to the staff of healthcare facilities.
ACTIVITES: Community awareness workshops, in-service on diabetes education and prevention, provide continuing exercise instruction and weight lifting classes, walking programs, weight management programs, and counseling sessions for all or any interested community member and fitness sessions for clientele who would like to lower their blood glucose levels.
4. Fitness & Weight Management Education
GOAL: Discuss with community members the benefits of fitness and weight management.
OBJECTIVE: Assure that proper exercise training and weight lifting techniques are instructed to community member who utilize the Community Fitness Center for weight management.
ACTIVITIES: Provide education to Mescalero community members who wish to control their fitness and weight management agendas.
5. Community Fitness Center
GOAL: Provide a safe and fully equipped Fitness Facility. This facility will provide cardiovascular and strength training equipment. This facility will be open to all women and men of this community.
OBJECTIVE: To provide at least 2 hours daily of instruction and personal training at the facility. To have a certified personal trainer available to community members that utilize the Fitness Facility.
ACTIVITIES: To provide one on one personal training sessions with interested Fitness Center clientele. Monitor Blood Pressure, Height, Weight, Girth measurement. Create incentive Physical Fitness or Weight Loss Program.
6. Massage Therapy/Aesthetics
ACTIVITIES: Conduct Massage Therapy/Medical Aesthetics for any community member or Physician referred patient from IHS Clinic. Massage Therapy would include massage, stretching exercises, and myofascial trigger point therapy for pain and mild discomfort. Medical aesthetics would include facial treatments for Rosecea, Acne scarring, facial massage for neurological disorders.
7. Other/Continuing Education
ACTIVITIES: Education in all areas of Health Promotions/Disease Prevention, Women’s Health Issues, Men’s Health Issues, Fitness Classes, Weight Management Classes, Seat Belt/Injury Prevention, Stress Management & Exercise Plans.
8. General Administrative Duties
GOAL: Maintain reports, plan upcoming events, projects, or fitness related classes. Health Education will be available for in-services for community agencies.
Source URL: https://mescaleroapachetribe.com/health-education-department/