Healthy Children, Strong Families is uniquely designed for young American Indian children and their families. Children growing up in Native communities benefit from a culture where families are still very important, and include several generations, where traditions are still respected, and where the community itself still matters.
But they often face challenges. Families are stressed by a lack of resources. Caregivers work at multiple jobs, on multiple shifts, and there is never enough time. Distances to sources of healthy food and safe recreation are often long. And communities, while working hard for the best needs of members, are stretched thin, also, with many competing priorities.
Healthy Children, Strong Families, is designed to work with these strengths and challenges. It brings education dand activities for healthier lifestyles right to the doorstep of families. It targets children between the ages of 2 and 5. Children at this age are still learning what they like to eat and how they like to play, and caregivers still hold a very important place in their daily lives.