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Active Families
Active Families is a physical activity and healthy eating programme aimed at Maori, Pacific and low-income children aged 7-12 years old.
At least one caregiver / family member must also agree to participate in the programme. A referral for the child can be sent to Otara Health Inc by a GP or a Public Health Nurse. The programme runs in 3 different locations:
- Mangere
- Otara
- Manurewa
Active Families consists of 20 physical activity sessions and 5 weeks of the Wise Kai healthy eating course, running over a six month period. The programme has been carefully developed to respond to the cultural and social needs of the whole family / whanau, so that they can support each other to learn and make changes together. Active Families works closely with the family members / caregivers on the Wise Kai component to focus on healthy eating and healthy lifestyles.
Key nutritional messages are delivered to the children during their activities and games where healthy eating ‘sound bites’ are built in and repeated to improve knowledge in appropriate ways. Children take part in the following activities at each Active Families site:
- Swimming
- Body combat & boxing moves
- Egg & spoon races, sack races & tug of war
- Volleyball, basket ball & soccer
- Sports drills
On completion of the programme, the children are supported by linking them into community and sporting activities of their choice.
Entry onto the programme is via a referral from ETHC Public Health Nurses and self referral.