Wellness Volunteers | Local Wellness Coaching

Master Wellness Volunteer Initiatve of Texas

Posted by admin | Wellness Volunteers | Sunday 1 March 2009 6:35 pm

Finding reliable resources of local health and wellness information can be a challenge for many local authorities and communities across the United States. The situation is substantiallly better in the US State of Texas, thanks to the longstanding tradition instituted since 1906 by the Texas AgriLife Extension to provide Texans with guidance in various health areas. This model US Wellness Hub is now planning to train volunteer master local wellness coaches to provide more Texan communities with the education and tools needed for healthy living through the Master Wellness Volunteer Initiative. The Master Wellness Volunteer Initiative is an Extension program that will provide volunteers with training in health and nutrition education and in return, the volunteers agree to give back 40 hours of service. The volunteer opportunities are diverse — giving presentations for local community groups, assisting with periodic cooking schools given by the Extension, passing out information at health fairs and much more. Previous health or wellness training is not required, but an interest in living healthfully and helping others do the same is. This initiative to strengthen local wellness capacities will certainly contribute to enlarge the available pool of local wellness coaches in the state of Texas to help implement the state wide local wellness policies.

The graduates of the Master Wellness Volunteer Initiatve can lead activities, teach lessons, answer questions, and organize events. And along the way, they gain new skills, make new friends, and have fun too! Volunteers help adults and kids learn about: staying healthy, building strong families and relationships, managing money, getting ready for a job, reducing stress, keeping food safe to eat, smart shopping, and much more. Volunteers also work with young people in the 4-H program. They can be leaders and teachers for subject-matter lessons or coach special skills activities.

The Master Wellness Volunteers are the real heart and hands of many different Extension programs, extending our reach into every community and every neighborhood in Angelina County. Extension volunteers help people to gain knowledge and skills that will benefit them for life.

Volunteer training for the program will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30. The training will focus on physical activity, nutrition, food safety and food demonstrations, child health, various Extension health programs, and more. Those interested in participating may call the Angelina Extension Office at (936)634-6414 ext. 101 or e-mail amble@ag.tamu.edu for more information.

Texas AgriLife Extension is a partnership between Angelina County Government, the Texas A&M University System, and the United States Department of Agriculture. The mission of Texas AgriLife Extension is to provide quality, relevant outreach education to the people of Texas.

By Anna Boles Lee (First Published on Saturday, February 28, 2009 in the Lufkin Daily News)

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