What we do:
Inside Health Institute’s Fun With Friends (previously known as Get Fit Club) is a 12-week health education program that offers a series of classes for 30+ adults with intellectual and developmental disparities in a fun, community-building environment. Participants learn skills to better manage their physical and mental health with a focus on nutrition and exercise.
Why we do it:
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more likely to live with chronic health conditions including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, digestive disorders, asthma, dental disease, arthritis, epilepsy, sensory impairments, osteoporosis, and mental health problems. They are also less likely to adequately manage these conditions and have a median age of death 20+ years younger than the general population.
Due to the global pandemic, this population is also experiencing profound isolation and mental health challenges. In addition to offering health and nutrition programming, we also offer fun, community, connection, and help with feelings and emotions.
Goals:
- Reduce negative health impacts for adults with disabilities that may arise from social isolation and life challenges.
- Improve health outcomes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the greater King and Snohomish County regions.
- Engage care providers of adults with disabilities in a health promotion training program and give support so that they can in turn support those that they care for.
- Our long-term goals: are to bring health, nutrition, and mental health conversations into all aspects of the lives of adults with disabilities in our region.
- Our short-term goals: weekly sessions of Fun With Friends (virtually, and in-person options will be available) through weekly educational and fun videos and weekly in-person "Fun with Friends" Zoom sessions. We will have 3-month sessions with 2-week breaks, throughout the year. We strive to serve as many interested individuals as possible.
Who are we supporting?
- Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live independently, within a community-based program, or with their families. These individuals need a healthy support system and don’t have one in place or are interested in building up their social, health, nutrition, and recreation skills.
- We are enrolling up to 50 participants per session, 200 participants per year. Depending on the popularity of this program and the health outcomes of the participants, this program could be scalable for growth.
- The cost to cover enrollment per participant for a 3-month program is $300.
How you can help:
- It costs Inside Health Institute $300 per participant to run the program for 3 months. Any additional funds raised will be earmarked for our next Fun With Friends enrollment cycle, so you can be certain your donation is going to the right place.
Questions? Please email our director, Christine Bowen, ND for more information christine@insidehealthinstitute.org. We believe in financial transparency and are happy to share our program budget with potential donors.
