Turn 2 Us/Healthy School Healthy Families
Comprehensive Wellness Program

"TURN 2 US"

In June of 2001, Turn 2 Us was created as a collaborative effort between Public School 128M of Washington Heights, Morgan Stanley's Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, and Derek Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation. Mr. Jeter chose to demonstrate his commitment to the community by supporting the implementation of a program that would promote healthy lifestyles and leadership among its elementary age children and their families.

Through this collaborative effort the Healthy Schools Healthy Families Initiative evolved. In 2007, the program expanded to include Public School 4M. Today, both programs have merged to form the Turn 2 US/HSHF Comprehensive Wellness Program. The promotion of overall well being is achieved via a holistic approach that encompasses mental health, educational support, physical activity, nutrition which leads to the development of healthier minds and bodies.

On-Site School Based Health Initiatives
Turn 2 Us/HSHF is a school-based collaboration where health professionals partner with school staff and community organizations to assess the needs of children, families and staff and to mobilize resources to address those needs for two elementary schools in Northern Manhattan.

The goals are to:

• Cultivate a culture of physical fitness, good nutrition, and healthy lifestyle behaviors;
• Facilitate insurance enrollment;
• Make sure 100% of children have completed their required immunizations;
• Facilitate access to services for children with identified health needs, particularly asthma;
• Integrate mental health promotion with healthy lifestyles interventions to realize a holistic view of optimal health and wellness.

Turn 2 US/HSHF Comprehensive Wellness Program Mission
Our mission is to enable our youth to internalize different methods which encourage healthy lifestyles through a variety of physical and psycho-educational awareness activities. These activities are aimed to prevent at-risk behaviors that research indicates may lead to health and mental health related issues, i.e. early on-set diabetes, obesity, use of drugs or alcohol, truancy and drop out.

We realize that prevention is vital at an early age as this will contribute to the future success and development of our children. By working together with the entire PS 128M and PS 4M community we, as a whole, will serve as role models to create a positive message that fosters healthy minds and bodies; leading to healthier lives and success.

Our comprehensive program involves children, parents and teachers in a variety of strategies and techniques. This contributes to our youth's heightened health consciousness, self confidence, self-esteem, perseverance and positive decision making processes.

On-Site School Based Mental Health
The School Based Mental Health Program is also an integral partner. It is part of the Pediatric Psychiatry Service at MS-CHONY and is collaboration with the NYC Department of Education and Health and Mental Hygiene. It provides a comprehensive range of services, i.e. psychiatric, psychosocial and psychological evaluation; individual, group and family therapy; teacher consultation and crisis intervention.

Healthy Lifestyles and Wellness
The Healthy Lifestyles Program encompasses a myriad of activities for children, parents and staff that promote healthy lifestyles, mental wellness and academic support. This program also encourages the involvement of parents and children in local community activities which strengthen family structure and improves community awareness.

Ongoing Activities that focus on Healthy Lifestyles include, but are not limited to:

• Physical Fitness Activities - During School
• In-Class Relaxation and Self-Efficacy Building Exercises
• School wide Nutrition Campaign
• Jeter Meter Mileage Program
• Special Education Psycho-Educational Developmental Program
• Boys & Girls Baseball Team
• Boys Basketball Clinic & Team
• Girls Basketball Clinic & Team
• Co-Ed Dance Teams
• Parents & Teachers Mental Wellness Seminars
• Parents & Teachers Fitness Sessions & Activities
• Parent & Teachers Health/Nutrition Workshops
• Parent ESL & Empowerment through Theatre
• Father/Child Night Events
• Healthy Lifestyles' Awareness Week
• School Community Jamborees, Walk-a-thons and 5K Marathons
• 'Family Fun Day'- Wellness Program
• Creative Art's Summer Program
• School Enrollment in Coogan's Marathon
• School Enrollment in City Sports for Kids
• School Enrollment in Turn 2 Foundation Baseball Clinic

Community Partners
Turn 2 US/HSHF is affiliated with a wide range of community programs ranging from government agencies to grass roots community organizations and other health care institutions. These groups collaborate to bring needed services to children, families and staff in our partner schools.