Mississippi continues to make progress toward a healthier future, and the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is facilitating this progress by providing the resources, funding and leadership needed to continue in our commitment to a healthier Mississippi.
Through the Sunflower County Freedom Garden, 30 middle and high school students who attend after-school and summer programs in Sunflower County participated in the planning and building phases of a garden. Students received lessons in health and science, performed hands-on gardening activities, and learned to prepare healthy snacks using produce from the garden. Daily lessons also included outdoor physical fitness activities.
Through support from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, Mississippi Food Network is helping selected agencies become self-sufficient in production of most of their produce. In addition to learning lessons about gardening and enjoying healthy foods, clients served by the member agencies also receive nutrition education and participate in healthy cooking demonstrations. This initiative began with the development of three pilot community gardens at MadCAAP (Madison Countians Allied Against Poverty), Midtown Partners in Jackson, and Edwards Street Fellowship in Hattiesburg. The Mississippi Food Network is working to keep these three pilot sites sustainable and adding five additional gardens.
Boy Scouts of America, Andrew Jackson Council is implementing a project entitled "BSA Fit Challenge Course," which will help Scouts and non-Scouts, including youth 13 and above, as well as adults, become healthier. A challenge course at Hood Scout Reservation in Hazlehurst challenges participants mentally and physically. The project includes BMI education and measurement, education about the importance of healthy eating and exercise, implementation of the BSA SCOUTStrong Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Initiative, and active lifestyle events that include a bike race and opportunities to participate in 5K walk/run events.
School health councils play an important role in encouraging students and their families, as well as staff members to be healthy. Through HealthWorks!, the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is providing assistance to schools in North Mississippi with development and enhancement of their school health councils.
The "Wolfpack Wellness Initiative" at Copiah-Lincoln Community College is increasing the wellness options on the Wesson Campus. A lunchtime walking program, stretching and circuit training stations on the college nature trail, and a resurfaced college track are helping students, faculty, staff, and members of the surrounding community become healthier. Baseline health assessments and development of personal action plans provide tools for individuals to take accountability for their own health. Healthy dining options are being promoted, and health and wellness seminars offer opportunities to learn about healthy habits for life.
With funding from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, elementary students throughout Mississippi have an opportunity to participate in Body Walk, an interactive health exhibit that teaches children about the importance of healthy eating and exercise.
A magnet school located in Boyle, Mississippi near Cleveland, Bell Academy received a Project Fit America grant from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation in 2009. The school receives physical education and training on good nutrition from Delta State University students and dietician, an effort that resulted in a Governor's Award from the Mississippi Association for Partners in Education. Thanks to continued support from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, Bell Academy has a walking trail to help students, faculty, and members of the surrounding community become healthier.
A total of 188 elementary and middle schools across Mississippi have received funding from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation to implement the Project Fit America program. The program includes indoor and outdoor exercise equipment, physical education curricula, and onsite training for PE teachers. Schools receiving the Project Fit America program record BMI and fitness data, along with data related to absenteeism and disciplinary occurrences at the start and end of the school year for two years. Through support from the Foundation, the Social Science Research Center is analyzing the data to understand the positive impact that the Project Fit America program is having on Mississippi's school children.
Raymond Elementary School is helping their students, faculty, and members of the surrounding community become healthier through their project entitled, "Get on the Right TRACK - Be Healthy!" The project includes a walking trail with goals to create an awareness of the importance of exercising daily and eating healthy foods. Raymond Elementary School's goal is to obtain healthy BMI levels in more than 70% of their students.
Luther Branson Elementary School in Flora received a Project Fit America grant from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation in 2009. The school continues their focus on health and wellness by implementing a walking trail project that includes promoting physical activity not only to improve students health and fitness, but also the health of the staff and members of the surrounding community. Pre and post measurements of BMI and time to run a 1/2 mile or a mile and improving students academic performance are additional goals of the project.
In 2012, the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation provided grants to implement a fitness equipment and health curricula program from the Project Fit America organization in an additional 24 schools in Mississippi. The fitness equipment and health curricula program includes indoor and outdoor exercise equipment, physical education curricula, and onsite training for PE teachers. Schools receiving the program record BMI and fitness data, along with data related to absenteeism and disciplinary occurrences at the start and end of the school year for two years.
The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation hosted its 4th Annual Physical Education Conference in November, bringing together 20 P.E. teachers from around the state. The teachers participated in an educational session and shared best practices for engaging students and making P.E. classes both exciting and effective. Participants also received indoor fitness equipment and curricula to enhance their schools P.E. programs.
