For Immediate Release
Contact: Karen Johnson
703-362-7582
July 14, 2023 - Cleveland, Ohio — HealthCorps, a national non-profit committed to eliminating health inequity in at-risk communities by educating and empowering students to improve their physical and mental health, has received a grant from AmeriCorps’ ServeOhio, Ohio’s commission on service and volunteerism, to bring its Teens Make Health Happen program (TMHH) to up to 15 school sites throughout Cuyahoga County.
Beginning in the fall of 2023 and continuing through the school year, AmeriCorps members will deliver HealthCorps health and wellness-promoting activities in Cleveland area middle and high schools.
In Cuyahoga County, 33.3% of students are overweight or obese (Prevention Research Center, 2017), increasing their risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes and mental health factors leading to depression and risky behaviors.
TMHH is HealthCorps’ flagship program and is delivered through an in school or after school student club setting, school wide events and classroom lessons.
HealthCorps’ TMHH is grounded in five foundational pillars:
Providing Teen-Relevant Health & Wellness Curriculum, developed specifically to help teens take charge of their health to maximize their chances at a long and healthy life;
Activating Teens as Change-makers: HealthCorps activates teens as change-makers on their campuses by supporting monthly student-led health-promoting activities that foster an understanding of health and empower them to imagine a healthier future for themselves and their community;
Creating Meaningful Connections using a multi-layered mentoring approach including peer-connection, near-peer connection, and aspirational connection;
Cultivating a National Network of Change-makers; and
Creating an Inclusive Culture of Health and Wellness to meet students where they are, and where they want to be related to their health and wellness.
“Ohio’s high-impact AmeriCorps members work tirelessly year-round to address critical needs in our state,” said ServeOhio Executive Director William Hall. “The 2023-2024 grant recipients are comprised of exceptional nonprofits, public agencies and community organizations that grow and empower AmeriCorps members who are committed to service and making an impact throughout Ohio.”
“Being recognized by ServeOhio for our work and supporting our expansion in Ohio is significant to our organization’s growth,” said Anna Herrmann Regional Program Manager for HealthCorps, who will oversee the program in Cleveland. “But of greater importance is the impact it will have on the lives of teens in need across Cuyahoga County.”
Cleveland schools currently confirmed to receive this program in the fall include Alfred A. Benesch Elementary School and Castle High School - East Campus. For more information about HealthCorps and its work in Cuyahoga County, please visit www.healthcorps.org.
About HealthCorps
HealthCorps is a national 501(c)(3) organization working to eliminate health inequity and improve lives by educating and empowering teens — encouraging them to become change-agents within their families, schools, and neighborhoods.
