C.H.E.F.® and University of Washington Partner to Address Heart Disease Among Native American Youth

Comprehensive Health Education Foundation (C.H.E.F.®), developer of the most widely used prevention curricula in the United States, has partnered with the University of Washington to develop an innovative, new, school-based curriculum that will help reduce cardiovascular disease among Native American youth. Modeled after the Youth Matters® program that was developed by C.H.E.F. and is now owned by Discovery Education, the culturally relevant "In Our Voice" curriculum will address heart disease prevention for students in grades 7-12, with an emphasis on preventive lifestyle changes.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) August 24, 2006 –- Comprehensive Health Education Foundation (C.H.E.F.®), developer of the most widely used prevention curricula in the United States, announced that it has formed a partnership with the University of Washington to develop an innovative, new, school-based curriculum that will help reduce cardiovascular disease among Native American youth. Modeled after the research-validated Youth Matters® program that was developed by C.H.E.F. and is now owned by Discovery Education, the culturally relevant In Our Voice curriculum will address heart disease prevention for students in grades 7-12, with an emphasis on preventive lifestyle changes.

According to recent medical statistics, Native Americans experience a significantly higher incidence of heart disease than the total U.S. population. Recognizing the need to address this critically important issue, C.H.E.F. and the University of Washington determined that Native American youth could benefit from early, preventive lifestyle changes, and set out to develop a teacher- and student-friendly health education curriculum. Funding for the In Our Voice curriculum is being provided through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“C.H.E.F. is honored to partner with the University of Washington and tribal leaders in an effort to promote optimal health among Native American youth,” said C.H.E.F. Research and Evaluation Manager Kathy Burgoyne, Ph.D. “As a nonprofit organization whose mission is focused on improving the health of our nation’s youth, C.H.E.F. recognizes that a critical first step to prevention of this disease is to help Native American children and adolescents begin to make healthy choices today, thereby reducing their risk of heart disease as adults.”

This research-based curriculum is being developed for introduction during the 2006-07 school year, and will be piloted in a variety of schools both on and off reservations in South Dakota, Montana, and Washington state. Each module in the In Our Voice series will explore a health topic in a user-friendly, culturally relevant way: tobacco prevention, body image, exercise, weight and nutrition, cardiovascular disease, and staying healthy for life. Teachers and students who participate in the pilot will have an opportunity to provide feedback and evaluate it.

According to Dedra Buchwald, M.D., Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington, “We’re delighted to be working with C.H.E.F. because we are able to combine our collective strengths in research, evaluation, and curriculum development. With an engaging format that combines substantive content with contemporary, interactive, multi-media, teaching modules, educators, kids, and parents will have a way to begin taking action against heart disease.”

About Comprehensive Health Education Foundation

Founded in 1974, Seattle-based Comprehensive Health Education Foundation (C.H.E.F.®) is dedicated to promoting health and quality of life through education, addressing such important topics as childhood obesity, stress, and other unhealthy behaviors. As a nationally known nonprofit organization, C.H.E.F. develops a variety of health promotion and prevention education programs and products targeted to the early childhood, school-aged youth, and healthy aging markets. For information about C.H.E.F.’s products and programs, please visit www.chef.org or call 1.800.323.2433.

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