Partners

Working in the community

The Highmark Healthy High 5 nonprofit partners work in the community to advance children's health promotion. Each is a valuable resource and has provided expertise and programs in our five issues of concern. The following will provide you information on our partners and links to their Web sites* for more information on their Highmark Healthy High 5 programs.

Signature Partners

PANA (Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity)
NRG — Powered by Choice
PANA is a communication clearinghouse and statewide resource for improving nutrition and physical activity and preventing obesity in school-aged children throughout Pennsylvania. Highmark Healthy High 5 will be the official sponsor of PANA's NRG-Powered by Choice program, an initiative to empower teens to take an active role in developing and disseminating messages to their peers about the importance of nutrition and physical activity.
(www.poweredbychoice.org)

Susan P. Byrnes Health Education Center
Learn to be Healthy
The Susan P. Byrnes Health Education Center promotes healthy lifestyles through four educational platforms: teaching theaters, outreach programs, e-learning and lunch and learns for adults. The Highmark Foundation will use the center's expertise to develop educational materials for use in creating awareness among parents, teachers and others in the community about the importance of children's health promotion. In addition, the Foundation will provide grants for children to attend the center's programs.
(www.byrneshec.com or www.learntobehealthy.org)

SPARK
Highmark Healthy High 5 SPARK Active Recreation
Highmark Healthy High 5 SPARK Active Recreation is a nationally recognized program that provides quality recreational experiences for children. SPARK Active Recreation engages all children despite skill level or athletic ability. Through noncompetitive, fun games and activities, SPARK Active Recreation promotes lifelong appreciation for an active lifestyle. The Highmark Foundation provides training opportunities to those providing after-school or recreational program for children ages 6 through 13. For information on how to receive SPARK Active Recreation training or the nearest program, call 1-800-652-9420.
(www.paspark.org)

Highmark Caring Place
The Highmark Caring Place currently has centers in Pittsburgh, Erie and Central Pennsylvania that provide assistance to grieving families through family sessions, group talks, peer support groups and community outreach. The Highmark Foundation will provide funding to expand outreach into the broader community.
(www.highmarkcaringplace.com)

InnerLink, Inc.
Highmark Healthy High 5 Health eTools for Schools
Highmark Healthy High 5 Health eTools for Schools is a Web-based portal developed by InnerLink, Inc. Health eTools for Schools is structured around a coordinated school health model that is endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and has the capacity to support the school nurse and other personnel responsible for meeting the Federal Food Reauthorization Act, which requires schools to create a wellness policy. Health eTools also supports the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s growth screening program through one of its most critical components — a secure, password-protected electronic health record that calculates BMI as a percentile based on a child’s age and sex, now a requirement throughout the state for students in kindergarten through the fourth grade.
(www.healthetoolsforschools.com)

Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge
Since schools are widely viewed as the focal point for obesity prevention, Highmark has created a corporate obesity initiative called the Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge. The School Challenge is a grant program designed to offer funding to schools and districts to help provide quality physical activities and improve nutrition choices and education.

Heartwood Institute
T.R.U.E. Cards: Life Lessons
Heartwood Institute promotes understanding and practice of universal ethical concepts and good character through materials that explore the ethical content of stories, helping children develop a basic moral framework, live by it and appreciate its value. The Highmark Foundation, in partnership with Heartwood, will distribute its T.R.U.E. Cards throughout the Highmark Foundation 49-county service area.
(www.heartwoodethics.org or www.hhh5truecards.org)

KidShape
The KidShape program is geared for children ages 6 to 14. They are referred into the program — based on weight criteria — by a physician, school nurse or other health care provider. The curriculum, intended to help families adopt better nutrition habits and engage in more frequent physical activity, includes nutrition education, physical activity and group and peer support. A registered dietitian, mental health professional and physical activity specialist work as a team to conduct the sessions held once a week for nine weeks. A parent must attend sessions with the child, and together they enjoy hands-on activities that are educational but fun. An incentive program motivates students to stay with the program. Based on attendance and completed “assignments,” students have an opportunity to earn prizes. For more information about the program and how your kids can enroll, please visit our KidShape page or www.kidshape.com.

Windber Research Institute
Windber Research Institute (WRI) has received a grant to implement Highmark Healthy High 5 HALT! A Bullying Prevention Program through its Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. HALT! is based on the nationally recognized, evidence-based Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. It aims to help decrease bullying behaviors, enhance effectiveness of intervention efforts school-wide and improve response and reaction to bullying in the school environment. The Highmark Foundation has partnered with WRI to make this program available to up to 47 school districts in the Highmark Foundation's 49-county service area.

PA Cares
Funded by Highmark Healthy High 5, PA CARES (Creating an Atmosphere of Respect and Environment for Success), will provide support, resources and materials to 118 school districts across the service region. Additionally, it will support professional development for existing Olweus trainers and provide for new ones. More than 40 grants will be awarded in the 2007-08 school year, with additional grants awarded through 2009-10. For details, go to www.safeschools.info.

* The links provided on this site are for information only. The views of the linked organizations do not necessarily reflect the views of Highmark Healthy High 5, the Highmark Foundation or Highmark Inc.