Earlier this year, as part of our commitment to support the prevention and management of chronic conditions, The Health Trust awarded a grant to YMCA of San Benito County to launch their Healthy Family Home program: a 12-month program designed to support child health through family-centered care. The program supports families to learn and create healthy habits, lowering their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes through long-term family lifestyle changes. Developed in partnership with Hollister Pediatrics, the program is offered to any Hollister Pediatrics patient with a BMI above the 80th percentile.
Since its launch, 78 families are taking part in Healthy Family Home. Grounding the program in family-centered care, the child meets with their pediatrician bi-monthly and all families participate in events and activities hosted regularly by the YMCA. Through their participation, families deepen their knowledge of nutrition and exercise, get moving together, and learn alongside other families in a healthy, safe, clean, and welcoming environment where they can be social and active as a community.
Healthy Family Home families have reported significant shifts in their habits, including:
- 58% more fruit and vegetable intake
- 62% less screen time
- 70% more physical activity together
- The average number of fast-food meals dropped from 3-4 times to 1-2 times weekly.
In addition, some children are seeing improved blood pressure, weight, and BMI, with some children no longer considered pre-diabetic.
The Health Trust is a proud supporter of the Healthy Family Home Program that strives to build health equity by equipping families with tools to make long-term lifestyle changes to improve health outcomes through family-centered care.
Q&A with Mayra Zendejas,
Vice President of Central Coast YMCA – San Benito Branch
Why did you decide to launch this program?
During the development of the Healthy Family Home program, my primary motivation was my own family. My father was a type 2 diabetic, mother is a type 2 diabetic, and my younger brother received his diagnosis 5 years ago, at the very young age of 16. Witnessing their struggles with finding support outside of the home in managing my brother’s weight inspired me to put together a program that could support all families. At the YMCA, we’re committed to serving our communities, and after speaking with our local public health department and a local pediatric provider, I realized that childhood obesity was a widespread issue among our youngest San Benito County residents – this program aims to address this growing concern.
Having witnessed firsthand my parents’ struggles, I was clearly aware of the lack of resources available for families with children suffering from pre-diabetes and other chronic diseases related to obesity. My team shared my vision and was enthusiastic about creating a program that could benefit children. Our goal was to provide families and children with a safe space to learn and become more active, as there is currently no local gym facility catering to children under 15. We were confident that the YMCA could provide a sense of community and support for families. We believed that the YMCA could play a pivotal role in providing families a place to learn and receive the support they need to combat childhood obesity. We were fortunate to have partners in Hollister Pediatrics and the San Benito County Public Health department who were quick to join us and offer their support and resources.
Hollister Pediatrics community
Tell us more about the YMCA’s partnership with Hollister Pediatrics. Why is a clinic partner important for the success of the project?
The success of the Healthy Family Home program is largely attributed to Hollister Pediatrics’ involvement. Their unwavering dedication to providing optimal care for their patients is evident in their active participation in the program. Physician Assistant Nicole and her team are responsible for offering references to the program, conducting pre-surveys, and bi-monthly check-ins with program enrollees. They also provide data and serve as an additional source of support throughout the 12-month duration. Whenever a family needs additional support or outreach, we collaborate with Hollister Pediatrics to make sure they are on track and remain successful. The significance of a reliable pediatric partner cannot be overstated in ensuring the success of the Healthy Family Home program. Their commitment to the well-being of children is commendable and aligns perfectly with the YMCA’s mission to support the full potential of every child. We are grateful to have such a reliable pediatric partner like Hollister Pediatrics in San Benito County. The collaboration between the YMCA and Hollister Pediatrics has been invaluable, and we look forward to continuing our partnership to support the health and well-being of our community’s youth.
What inspires you? Please share a success story from the Healthy Family Home program.
I am continually inspired by the families’ unwavering dedication to improving their children’s health. Witnessing their hard work and commitment is a gift that keeps on giving.
With guidance from YMCA San Benito staff, participants learn new techniques for improving circulation, and building strength
One of the most inspiring success stories I’ve come across is that of a single mother and her daughter who have been in the program for approximately eight months. They consistently attend the YMCA gym at least four times a week and actively participate in all family workshops and events. The daughter’s self-confidence and self-esteem have visibly improved as evidenced by her demeanor upon entering our facility. Her transformation, both in terms of physical appearance and attitude, serves as a testament to the efficacy of the program. During their gym sessions, they walk side by side on the treadmill, chatting, laughing, and engaging with one another. It’s encouraging to see them enjoy their time together while together engaging in healthy behaviors. I’ve observed the mother encouraging her daughter to continue while the daughter challenges her mother to keep up, creating an environment where they both build lifelong healthy and positive habits.
What is your vision for the future of Healthy Family Home?
My aspirations for the Healthy Family Home program are to maintain the financial backing required to welcome 50-75 additional families annually. It is our desire to expand our reach and establish partnerships with other local pediatric providers and clinics to enable us to continue supporting low-income families in San Benito County.
Over the next 12-18 months, we aim to extend our program to the two remaining counties in our association, Santa Cruz and Monterey, to provide support and impact even more families.
We also aim to offer more resources and workshops to equip families with the knowledge and skills needed to make healthy choices and continue to educate. We want to create a community of support and encouragement, where families can share their successes and challenges with others who understand their journey well beyond the 12 months that they are a part of the program.
Ultimately, our vision for the Healthy Family Home program is to empower families to take control of their health and well-being. We believe that by providing the necessary tools and support, we can help families break the cycle of chronic illness and build a brighter future for themselves and their children. Our objective is to create a meaningful impact that will benefit the entire family.
