Fun for Many at Children’s Activity Day

September 23, 2011, EAST BOSTON, MA—On Saturday, September 17, 2011, the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC) hosted the annual Children’s Activity Day at LoPresti Park in East Boston. Children of all ages took part in fun physical activities including an obstacle course, bean-bag toss, jump rope, tug-of-war and water-balloon toss. The event was coordinated by EBNHC’s Let’s Get Movin’ program. Far left in the accompanying photo is a participant in EBNHC’s CATCH program along with Lourdes Snyder, CATCH Program Resource Coordinator, and Dan Hatfield, Fitness Coordinator for the Let’s Get Movin’ program.

Let’s Get Movin’ is a healthy lifestyle program for children and their families that provides exercise, nutritional education, and medical monitoring to encourage fitness and well-being. Let’s Get Movin’ offers afterschool and summer programs, as well as educational seminars for adults who want to learn more about supporting a healthier lifestyle for their children. Participation is based on a diagnosis of overweight or obesity by a child’s physician. Parents from East Boston, Chelsea, Winthrop, or Revere who are interested in learning more about the Let’s Get Movin’ program can contact Cristina Weddle, Program Coordinator, at 617-568-4071 or weddlec@ebnhc.org.

The CATCH (Children’s Access to Coordinated Healthcare) program focuses on children with complex medical needs. Caring for children with multiple needs requires communication and coordination among care providers, medical specialists, social services, schools, local agencies, care centers, and families. Using a team approach to early intervention and overall health and development, CATCH manages each child’s care among all of these specialists, keeping families informed and involved every step of the way. Eligibility is open to children who live in East Boston, Chelsea, Revere, Everett, Winthrop, and other Boston areas who have significant, complex needs and require adaptive equipment and/or advanced therapies. For more information about the CATCH program, contact Lourdes Snyder, CATCH Program Resource Coordinator, at snyderl@ebnhc.org.

The East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC) has been a vital part of its community for over 40 years, providing easily accessible, high-quality health care to all who live and work in East Boston and the surrounding communities of Chelsea, Revere, Everett, and Winthrop. EBNHC handles 300,000 patient visits per year—more than any other ambulatory care center in New England.