Child Health Week 2015
The Knox County Health Department (KCHD), TennCare Kids and a host of community partners are once again planning activities to observe Child Health Week, Oct. 5-9, 2015. In honor of Child Health Day, first proclaimed by President Calvin Coolidge in 1928, the State of Tennessee designates a week in October every year to focus on the health of its children.
Everyone can have a positive impact on the health and well-being of our children. Whether that means role modeling healthy behaviors, promoting healthy habits, or supporting observances like International Walk to School Day, we can all have a positive influence on the children in our community.
Some of the week’s activities include:
Monday, Oct. 5
- It’s Fun To Be One – a celebration of the Welcome Baby Initiative’s first birthday. More than 200 babies and parents, who participated in the Knox County initiative, have been invited to help us celebrate at the Fun To Be One event on Monday, Oct. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at John Tarleton Gym, 2455 Sutherland Ave. This event is by invitation only.
Tuesday, Oct. 6
- Healthy Smiles – KCHD will partner with the Blue Grass YMCA’s after-school program to provide a special dental health educational activity for the students at 3:15 p.m. This event is for the after-school program participants only.
Wednesday, Oct. 7
- International Walk to School Day – a great way to promote family involvement in regular physical activity. In Knox County, more than 20 elementary and middle schools are taking part in this event. Parents should contact their child’s school to see if it is participating.
Thursday, Oct. 8
- Health and Wellness All Lifelong – KCHD staff will join SEEED (Socially Equally Energy Efficiency Development) Knox, to encourage healthy living. Presenters hope to arm participants with a better understanding of how their lifestyle can impact their future. This event is for SEEED participants only.
- My Body My Future Club Open House – an opportunity for the community to learn more about a health-focused initiative for girls at the Walter P. Taylor Boys and Girls Club. On Thursday, the group will hold an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. at their “clubhouse,” 317 McConnell Street. The space is an apartment within Walter P. Taylor Homes that was donated by Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation. Spearheaded by KCHD, the My Body My Future Club promotes youth empowerment through role modeling and normalizing healthy decision making. Participants meet weekly to discuss healthy relationships, body image, bullying and physical health.
Friday, Oct. 9
- “Darkness to Light – Stewards of Children” – a child sexual abuse prevention training, which is an evidence-based and recognized by the National Children’s Alliance as the most effective tool to stop child sexual abuse. KCHD’s Violence Prevention Educator Amy Rowling will co-present the lunch and learn with Children’s Advocacy Centers of Tennessee’s Prevention Specialist Ambler Brown. The training is presented by the East Tennessee Council on Children and Youth and takes place on Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Family Justice Center Auditorium. The lunch and learn is sponsored by Home Federal Bank. Registration is available online.
Special Weeklong Activities
- Healthy Storytimes – a fun way to help children learn about healthy habits. The Knox County Public Library will incorporate health-related books into regular storytimes, one of the library’s initiatives to help children develop literacy skills. For more information contact Erin Nyugen at 865-215-8761 or click on the Kid Zone section of the library’s website: www.knoxlib.org.
- Teaching, educating and advocating the entire week by working with our community partners: WIC, HUGS, East Tennessee Children's Hospital, daycare centers, local pediatric provider's, Knox County Schools, Knox County Public Library and many more.
Child Health Week in Knox County is made possible by partnerships with TennCare Kids, Knox County Schools, Knox County Health Department, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, BlueCare TN, AmeriGroup, DentaQuest, Safe Kids Greater Knox Area and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.
For more information about any of these events, please call 865-215-5296.
