The Youth Development Coalition and the Childhood Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee meet on the first Thursday of each month from 9:00-10:30 AM at the Allegany / Western Steuben Rural Health Network, Inc., 85 North Main Street, Suite 4, Wellsville, New York 14895. Youth, parents and youth serving organizations are always encouraged to share their expertise, time and ideas.

PROJECTS - click on link to move to that topic on this page
Sibshops
Childhood Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee
Parent Resource Committee
Youth Speak Out
Professional Development and Parent Workshops

Sibshops are a celebration of the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of kids with special needs. Based on the Arc of the United States’ curriculum, the workshops are a spirited mix of games designed to be fun and educational. Sibshops acknowledge that being the brother or sister of a person with special needs is for some a good thing, others a not-so-good thing.

Sibshops:

• Let the siblings of special needs kids play and express their feelings
• Incorporate fun activities siblings of special needs kids can relate to
• Give siblings some time away from the daily routine

In just two decades, the prevalence of children becoming overweight doubled for U.S. children ages 6 to 11, and tripled for American teenagers. The annual National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that about one-third of U.S. children are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. In total, about 25 million U.S. children and adolescents are overweight or nearly overweight.

The Childhood Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee is developing a plan to address this health concern. Proper nutrition and physical activity for the youth of Allegany and Western Steuben Counties is a priority for this committee.

Did you know that overweight children are at risk for developing:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome
• High blood pressure
• Asthma and other respiratory problems
• Sleep disorders
• Liver disease
• Early puberty or menarche
• Eating disorders
• Skin infections

No one said parenting is easy! There is no reason to feel alone! The Parent Resource Committee’s goal is to help parents discover supportive resources within their community and make parenting programs accessible.

Download a Parent Resource Pocket Guide - .pdf file ( 118 KB ) and print to refer to anytime.

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Over 400 hundred youth representing more than twenty school districts across Allegany and Western Steuben Counties are invited to participate in this annual day long conference. Students learn about valuable community resources while they become energized and learn from national, state and local presenters on current teen issues. Students are center stage when they take the microphone in the afternoon to share their feelings, thoughts and experiences in an open forum.