Partner Agencies and Program Names:

Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department: Step ONE Eat Smart

Reading Education for Adult Development (READ) of Chattanooga, Inc.: Baby Basics

Ronald McDonald House Charities/T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital: Ronald McDonald Care Mobile and Smartmoovz

Timeline:
5 years (June 2007 through June 2012).

Volunteers:
50,000 hours of work by trained League volunteers.

Funding:
$1,000,000 pledged to the Chattanooga community.

Initiative Summary: The Junior League of Chattanooga’s Healthy Starts, an initiative in partnership with the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department, READ Chattanooga, and Ronald McDonald House Charities/T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital, responds to demonstrated challenges to children’s health in Hamilton County. Through trained volunteers and dedicated coalitions, the League is committed to leading change regarding choices made and habits formed early in life. Good choices and habits may prevent the health problems that plague Chattanooga’s children in alarmingly high rates: childhood obesity, low-birth weight, and preventable disease. Through Eat Smart, Baby Basics, and the Care Mobile/SmartMoovz, the League will have a positive impact on the health of children and the future of families. As part of the Healthy Starts initiative, support continues for League programs Kids in the Kitchen, Advocacy and Public Affairs, the Eating Disorder Awareness program, and Mini Grants for Hamilton County teachers. The Junior League intends for the programs and partnerships of the Healthy Starts initiative to have a powerful impact on the health of Chattanooga’s families.