A good shot of funding filtering into a program to help area kids stay fit both mentally and physically.
The Grey Bruce Friends and Neighbours Club – also known as FAN – is a childrens mental health program that involves puppets helping children cope and learn about mental health.
They have recently partnered with the public health unit – the heart and stroke foundation – the Grey and Bruce Eat and Learn as well as the United Way of Grey Bruce.
Jackie Ralph is the program coordinator and says the partnership resulted in the approval of a grant from the Healthy Communities Fund.
The partnership was formed after startling statistics about childhood obesity – low rates of physical activity and high rates of chronic illness in the area were released.
Ralph says the cheque has recently arrived for 23-thousand dollars.
Ralph says a program is now being developed to hit local schools and organizations in the new year to combine their program of mental health with a program to teach children to be physically active and healthy.
The program will show kids – with the help of the organizations nine puppets – how one leads to the other.
The kids will then be sent home with games and litterature so that the physical activity can continue at home.
Right now the program is in the dress rehearsal stages but they are planning to launch the program in the schools in January.
She says officials from the ministry will see the production and will also look at filed reports on the progress of the program.
If the program is seen as successful by ministry officials Ralph says they have the possibility of receiving more government funding.