Community Programs

Park Ridge Health is committed to promoting wellness and has established several screening and prevention programs for children and adults to facilitate that mission. Programs include:

Kid Power ENERGIZE!

Kid Power ENERGIZE! is a free, multidisciplinary community outreach program designed to prevent and treat childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The objectives of the program include:

• Reducing overall body weight
• Increasing daily activity
• Developing healthy eating patterns

Launched in 2005, the program provides individual, intensive treatment and instruction for pediatrician-referred children, ages 8 to 18.

In 2008, Kid Power ENERGIZE! was enhanced with funding from the state of North Carolina through the Childhood Obesity Prevention Demonstration Project. Kid Power ENERGIZE! now meets at the Leila Patterson Center and allows more children to be served at once.

Participants and their families receive:

• A membership to the fitness facility for the duration of the 12-week program
• 36 hours of fitness training
• Weekly education from a registered dietician
• Special lectures on self esteem, self maintenance, field trips and guest speakers

In addition to the intensive treatment program, Kid Power ENERGIZE! staff also gives presentations in public schools and at community events about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and weight. All proceeds from events benefit Kid Power ENERGIZE!

Preschoolers Reaching Educational Potential (PREP)

This free screening program helps to diagnose and treat learning challenges (i.e., vision, hearing and developmental delays) in preschoolers so they are better prepared to begin kindergarten.

The Preschoolers Reaching Educational Potential (PREP) program provides this service for all Henderson County children ages 3 to 5 years old.

Follow-up treatment is provided, as needed, to ensure a successful kindergarten experience. More than 1,100 children are screened each year prior to entering school.

Wellness on Wheels (WOW)

Through the Wellness on Wheels (WOW) program, we operate a mobile medical unit that offers free and reduced cost health screenings, as well as a women’s heart health assessment program. In addition, numerous, free health presentations and support groups are offered throughout the year.

The WOW mobile unit is on the road three to four days a week. In 2008, 3,800 clients were provided with 6,000 screenings. Approximately 30 percent of all clients screened were identified as being at risk for developing heart disease, a stroke, prostate cancer, osteoporosis or diabetes.