The I'm iN Charge (INC) Program, part of the Adolescent Services Program at the Martha Eliot Health Center, is a youth diabetes prevention and healthy lifestyle promotion program.
Our program is multidisciplinary and family-centered and we encourage behavior change in overweight youth of color, 10 to 19, who are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Our team believes that youth can effectively change their diet and exercise habits if they are educated, motivated, supported and empowered.
The goals of the INC Program are three-fold:
- To establish a community-based service that is culturally adapted to the needs of Latino and African-American youth and their families.
- To develop the knowledge and resources of pediatric and adolescent primary care physicians related to overweight management.
- To forge partnerships with other community organizations interested in promoting healthy eating and fitness and creating opportunities for youth to participate.
Our approach
Program participants receive both individual counseling and group support. They participate in fun physical activity through exercises and games that are provided two to three times per week.
Although our main focus is on diet and physical activity, our team also includes professionals from a variety of disciplines, such as:
- Primary medical care
- Nutrition
- Mental health
- Endocrinology
- Nursing/case management
In addition to our efforts in community mentoring, youth development, self-esteem promotion and mental health intervention, we are also involved in a variety of research projects and community initiatives.
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