The next generation is where our society holds hope. We want to see the generations that follow us lead better lives, to learn that which we cannot fathom, and to experience opportunities never …
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The next generation is where our society holds hope. We want to see the generations that follow us lead better lives, to learn that which we cannot fathom, and to experience opportunities never allotted to us. We hope to provide that for them. In turn, we hope for them to do the same for the subsequent generations.
With our youth we hope for betterment of our society and ourselves, but this hope is contingent on the health of those generations here and yet to come.
Now two local organizations have just received grants to help ensure that not only is the future generation healthy but prosperous.
Westbay Community Action was just awarded $200,000 by the National WIC (Women Infants and Children) Association to help new mothers for children up to 5 and expecting mothers better understand their families’ nutrition in the Kent County area.
Pregnant women require important diets to see good outcomes both for themselves and their children. The target is low-income women without the financial standing to afford many of the prenatal vitamins, high quality food and information necessary to best prepare. WIC tries to ensure these families have at least the basics for healthy pregnancies, labors and early childhood.
Similarly, The Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership (RIMP) just received a $38,000 grant from the CVS Health Foundation to implement tobacco-free initiatives throughout the mentoring network. RIMP is now developing training to educate mentors on how to bring up and talk about issues of tobacco prevention with their mentees.
This grant comes out of a nationwide initiative on the part of CVS to work towards the first tobacco-free generation.
Although the youth smoking rate has declined drastically over the last decade, there remains an uncomfortable rate of youth trying smoking and making a habit of it. Eight percent of high school students smoke regularly and 15 percent of middle school students have tried tobacco according to a 2014 Youth Tobacco Use Report by the Department of Health.
Without these two programs we are actively putting children at risk, either through malnutrition or by letting our youth embrace a substance known for its major health effects such as cancer and heart disease.
If we are to expect the next generation to be their best we have to provide for them in the best possible way, ensuring that in their earliest development they are fed and as they age they understand the dangers and don’t embrace risky habits such as smoking.
With our youth we store our hope, but only if we can protect their health.
3 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Justanidiot
If we are investing in the future by helping the next generation, then the "greatest" generation failed miserably. Look at the state of our world and you can point the blame squarely on the past. It is not our fault.
Friday, March 25, 2016 Report this
davebarry109
Let's refocus. Only 8% of kids smoke vs. 60-70% years ago. Yet almost 50% are overweight or morbidly obese. Let's get our priorities straight. They are couch potatoes who need exercise and a good diet. Their diet and weight will cost them and us millions or billions nationwide. Way worse than smoking. At least smokers go to live 60-80yrs.
Friday, March 25, 2016 Report this
davebarry109
Let's refocus. Only 8% of kids smoke vs. 60-70% years ago. Yet almost 50% are overweight or morbidly obese. Let's get our priorities straight. They are couch potatoes who need exercise and a good diet. Their diet and weight will cost them and us millions or billions nationwide. Way worse than smoking. At least smokers go to live 60-80yrs.
Friday, March 25, 2016 Report this