{"id":1482,"date":"2016-06-13T13:28:43","date_gmt":"2016-06-13T20:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/?p=1482"},"modified":"2016-06-14T15:22:50","modified_gmt":"2016-06-14T22:22:50","slug":"teens-help-kids-embrace-healthier-lifestyle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/2016\/06\/13\/teens-help-kids-embrace-healthier-lifestyle\/","title":{"rendered":"Teens help kids embrace a healthier lifestyle"},"content":{"rendered":"<h5>Written by Ann Marie Murphy &#8212;<\/h5>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1483\" class=\"wp-caption thumbnail alignleft\" style=\"width: 146px;\">\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/files\/2016\/06\/Mayra-Senator-Merkley.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1483 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/files\/2016\/06\/Mayra-Senator-Merkley-146x300.jpg\" alt=\"Mayra Senator Merkley\" width=\"146\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/1270\/files\/2016\/06\/Mayra-Senator-Merkley-146x300.jpg 146w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/1270\/files\/2016\/06\/Mayra-Senator-Merkley-768x1581.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/1270\/files\/2016\/06\/Mayra-Senator-Merkley-497x1024.jpg 497w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 146px) 100vw, 146px\" \/><\/a>\n    <figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Senator Jeff Merkley with YA4-H! Malheur County teen teacher, Myra.<\/figcaption>\n    <\/figure>\n<p>Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley was impressed. So impressed, he bestowed an award on the Malheur County <a href=\"http:\/\/oregon.4h.oregonstate.edu\/projects\/ya4-h\">Youth Advocates for Health<\/a> (YA4-H!) program.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Recognizing its impact, Senator Jeff Merkley selected and recognized the Malheur County YA4-H! Teens as Teachers program and presented them with a Community Commendation Flag at the town hall in Ontario, Ore., for their work in Malheur County.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>YA4-H! is a statewide teen health ambassador program that began in Oregon in the fall of 2011 with the ultimate goal of leading positive health-related change in their communities. In the process, the teen ambassadors also learn healthy eating and active lifestyle behaviors.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a sample of the project\u2019s contribution to Malheur county:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Since 2013, the teens have helped plan, plant, and harvest over 6,482 pounds of produce in partnership with the Four Rivers Community Garden for the Next Chapter Food Pantry. In 2015 the teens held ten education field trips for youth in the community garden.<\/li>\n<li>They reached 500 youth in kindergarten through sixth grade with five hours of direct education related to physical activity, nutrition, plant science, and healthy living.<\/li>\n<li>They worked with community partners such as Alameda Elementary School to host a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.foodhero.org\">Food Hero<\/a> booth at a Fun Run.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;This project is an exceptional example of a true community partnership and the importance Extension plays in the community,\u201d noted Barbara Brody, Family &amp; Community Health and 4-H Youth Development, OSU Extension Service Malheur County. \u201cPartners include: Ontario School District; Adult Volunteers\/Advisors; Four Rivers Community Garden; St. Matthew\u2019s Episcopal Church; 4-H Alumni; and the teens who are currently enrolled.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The teens participating in the project have proof of their success: Evaluations show that over 90% of the youth that participated in the program delivered by the teens said they would stop drinking sugary drinks. They also tried new foods and learned how to grow their own foods. Another teen participant commented, \u201cI have become more aware of my health by teaching the kids about nutrition and physical activity. I no longer drink soda!\u201d Now that\u2019s a result with the potential for lifelong impact.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1484\" class=\"wp-caption thumbnail alignright\" style=\"width: 300px;\">\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/files\/2016\/06\/Teens-as-teachers-YA4H-training-028.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1484 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/files\/2016\/06\/Teens-as-teachers-YA4H-training-028-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"Teens as teachers YA4H training 028\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/1270\/files\/2016\/06\/Teens-as-teachers-YA4H-training-028-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/1270\/files\/2016\/06\/Teens-as-teachers-YA4H-training-028-768x574.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/1270\/files\/2016\/06\/Teens-as-teachers-YA4H-training-028-1024x765.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n    <figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Studying to be a YA4-H! teen teacher.<\/figcaption>\n    <\/figure>\n<p>To qualify as a YA4-H! teen teacher, teens make a substantial commitment in time \u2013 at least 10 hours of training is recommended as a minimum, but 30-40 hours of training is preferred \u2013 and \u00a0must be:<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Between the ages of 15 \u2013 17;<\/li>\n<li>Motivated to learn about healthy eating and the benefits of an active lifestyle; and<\/li>\n<li>Able to communicate the value of healthy eating and increased physical activity, and to help others make healthy choices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/files\/2016\/06\/YA4-H-logo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1485 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/files\/2016\/06\/YA4-H-logo-300x105.jpg\" alt=\"YA4-H logo\" width=\"300\" height=\"105\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/1270\/files\/2016\/06\/YA4-H-logo-300x105.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/1270\/files\/2016\/06\/YA4-H-logo.jpg 546w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Learn more about the program <a href=\"http:\/\/oregon.4h.oregonstate.edu\/projects\/ya4-h\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sources: <a href=\"http:\/\/oregon.4h.oregonstate.edu\/projects\/ya4-h\">YA4-H! Youth Advocates for Health website<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/morningclover\/2013\/07\/12\/mary-arnold-on-ya4-h\/\">, Mary Arnold on YA4-H!<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written by Ann Marie Murphy &#8212; Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley was impressed. So impressed, he bestowed an award on the Malheur County Youth Advocates for Health (YA4-H!) program. &nbsp; Recognizing its impact, Senator Jeff Merkley selected and recognized the Malheur County YA4-H! Teens as Teachers program and presented them with a Community Commendation Flag at&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/2016\/06\/13\/teens-help-kids-embrace-healthier-lifestyle\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7310,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1364840,1364836,2751],"tags":[133457,133456,133459,133455,133458],"class_list":["post-1482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community-outreach","category-extension","category-partnerships","tag-malheur-county","tag-senator-jeff-merkley","tag-teen-health-ambassadors","tag-ya4-h","tag-youth-advocates-for-health"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p72CNa-nU","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7310"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1482"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1496,"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1482\/revisions\/1496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/engage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}