Healthy Lifestyles

The Youth Health Corps members have taken leadership roles at their clubs. The Health Corps pass on their knowledge of health related topics to younger members by conducting programs themselves. The Youth Health Corps are involved in the community by becoming involved in health fairs and outreach programs.

This program focuses on the importance of good oral hygiene. Cavity-Free Zone program materials feature fun, engaging sessions and activities for club members ages 6-9, 10-12 and 13-15. Crest sponsors the Cavity-Free Zone program.

Date Smart is a supplement to SMART Girls and Passport to Manhood, and is an exciting new resource for club members ages 13-18. Through fun and easy to use sessions, members learn to achieve mutually supportive relationships free of violence and abuse. The program also encourages youth to become community advocates for relationships that promote equality and respect while combating the attitudes and behavior that lead to dating, sexual, and domestic violence.

The Boys & Girls Clubs work cooperatively with numerous non-profit and for profit health and human services organizations to enhance the knowledge of the club youth. They include, but are not limited to, the Palm Beach County Health Department, American Red Cross, local hospitals, mental health groups, the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Amber Watch and numerous others.

The Tobacco Control Program based in Tallahassee is administered locally in Palm Beach County through the local Health Department’s Health Education and Promotion Divisions SWAT program. There are two main components of the program, SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) and the Tobacco-Free Partnership of  Palm Beach County.

SWAT is the youth advocacy component of the program. The activities of SWAT are supported through the work plan and budget allocations of the Tobacco Free Partnership.

Five goal areas comprise this work plan:

1. Changing  Attitudes About Tobacco
2. Increasing Youth Empowerment Through Community Involvement
3. Reducing Accessibility and Availability of Tobacco to Youth
4. Reducing Youth Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke
5. Reducing The Prevalence of  Tobacco Use Among High Risk Youth Populations.

SWAT is Florida’s statewide youth organization working to mobilize, educate and equip Florida youth to revolt against and de-glamorize Big Tobacco. The goals of SWAT are to prevent and reduce tobacco use among youth and to protect youth from secondhand smoke. Youth in SWAT are engaged in activities that educate their peers and policy makers about the need to change social norms related to tobacco. SWAT is committed to developing leadership skills in youth through training in tobacco issues, media literacy, policy development process, presentation skills, and evaluation. Through empowering the youth of SWAT and providing leadership opportunities on the state and local levels, it builds the capacity of its advocates to enable environmental and policy change.

Too many girls and young women develop low self-esteem from hang-ups about looks and consequently fail to reach their full potential in later life. The Dove Self-Esteem Fund (DSEF) was established as an agent of change to inspire and educate girls and young women about a wider definition of beauty.  The DSEF is committed to help girls build positive self-esteem and a healthy body image.

The Dove Self-Esteem Fund is part of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, a global effort designed to widen today’s stereotypical view of beauty.  In the U.S., the DSEF supports the Boys and Girls Club of America to help build confidence in girls 8-17 with after-school programs, self-esteem building events and educational resources.