Health Without Barriers
Learn how to feel happier and healthier as a family.
What is Health Without Barriers?
Health Without Barriers is a 6-week family program aimed at helping youth, ages 11-19 years old, and their family members feel happier and healthier.
This program provides:
- Interactive health and wellness education
- A structured family support group
- Hands-on cooking and nutrition classes
- Resources for teens to better navigate stress and make healthy choices
About
Next Program Start Date:
Fall 2024
Be on the lookout for upcoming programs in 2024 and their respective locations!
Who can participate?
Families with teenagers ages 11-19 that live in La Plata, Montezuma, or Archuleta counties.
Who is putting on this program?
We are a team of community members, facilitators, and researchers from Extension and Colorado State University. Our goal is to work with communities to offer programs that support youth and families to feel less stressed and healthier. All families should have access to programs to decrease stress and improve health!
Mission Statement:
We want to help families living in Southwest Colorado lead healthier and happier lives by teaching skills that promote healthy habits and build on family strengths to improve well-being!
Ready to learn more?
If you would like to enroll, please contact us by phone or email:
Elvia, Program Coordinator 970-286-1866
Lyndsey, Program Coordinator 970-657-0141
equitablefamilywellness@colostate.edu
If you do not have time to send an email or make a call, you can also fill out this survey so we can contact you at a later date.
When we connect, we’ll talk with you about the program, availability and whether or not this would be a good fit for your family.
To learn about Health Without Barriers in Spanish, check out this page.
Program details
- The program meets twice a week and is split into two sessions- Family Night and Cooking Matters night.
- During Family Night parents/other adults, teens, and younger siblings will have their own separate classes and we come back at the end to have a healthy meal together.
- Teen Mindfulness (11-19 years old)
- Teens & Siblings (6-10 years old): Physical Activity
- Parents: Family Support
- In a group with other parents and a facilitator, parents will talk about different ways to help their family be happier and healthier. Parents can learn:
- How to encourage your family to try new foods and pick up healthier habits
- How to manage your family’s screen time and sleep routines
- How to keep track of and achieve your family’s personal health goals
- In a group with other parents and a facilitator, parents will talk about different ways to help their family be happier and healthier. Parents can learn:
- Teen Mindfulness
- Teens learn about and practice mindfulness. Mindfulness means paying attention to the present, on purpose, and with kindness.
- Practicing mindfulness helps with:
- Strengthening attention, focus, and performance
- Riding the ups and downs of emotions with inner strength and balance
- Managing with stress
- Helping parents and teens know best practices
- Teens & Siblings: Physical Activity
- Each week during the program, teens and their siblings take part in fun activities that encourage physical activity.
- The teens participate in physical activity focused on cardio, strength, and resistance training.
- Siblings ages 6-10 engage in game-based physical activity.
- There is a family fitness night in which all family members are invited to participate in a fun session of activities to engage in healthy activity and movement.
- Siblings (3-5 years old): Preschool curriculum
- The preschool curriculum involves siblings ages 3-5 years old who can participate in a class that teaches them about eating new foods while their parents and siblings are in their sessions.
- The curriculum teaches how plants grow and where food comes from, especially fruits, vegetables, dairy, milk, and protein.
- Each week, families will participate in a hands-on cooking class by Cooking Matters. Families come together to cook and eat a new healthy meal.
- Families learn how to identify nutritious foods through lessons aimed at skills-building.
- Lessons include label reading, taste testing, food preparation, and grocery shopping.
- Families are given a bag of groceries so that they can cook the same meal at home on another day!
Related Topics
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Health and Well-being
Staying active, eating nutritious foods, and focusing on your overall mental well-being are all important for quality of life. CSU offers a wealth of science-backed info related to health and lifestyle.
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Community and Business
CSU cares about building more resilient communities and supporting local Colorado businesses. Find a program, explore resources, or take a course.
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Youth Programs
Colorado State University remains committed to creating and supporting a variety of engaging, high-quality youth programs across Colorado, including 4-H, after-school programs, and youth summer camps. Find out how you can get involved!
Need help?
Please contact us with questions or for more information.