Youth Take Heart is a program designed to educate school aged youth and the general public about cardiovascular disease, including how to prevent heart disease and live a heart healthy life.
It is a cutting edge science education program for 21st century classrooms, created by the Hope Heart Institute through a collaborative effort with The University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB), a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center, and MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement).
What is Youth Take Heart?
Youth Take Heart has developed a curriculum to promote health among middle school-aged youth. The curriculum includes:
- Guy Simplant, an Internet-based/CD-ROM program (originally developed by UWEB) which focuses on exploring ways to repair or replace a heart.
- An educational program kit addressing the connections between cardiovascular health and other body systems.
- Ethics, career opportunities in science and medicine, and cardiovascular disease risk reduction in youth.
Special focus is placed on reaching underrepresented minority and low-income youth who are at very high risk for cardiovascular diseases. Youth Take Heart will extend even further into local communities and eventually grow as a nationally sponsored program.
Youth Take Heart Curriculum
Developed by teachers and scientists through the Youth Take Heart Teacher's Institute, the 2-week, comprehensive unit is an activity-driven middle school science curriculum that teaches about:
- The structure and function of the heart.
- The role of diet and lifestyle factors on heart health.
- The role of science and technology on treating heart and vessel diseases.
- Science and technology careers.
All lessons align with Washington State Essential Learning Requirements in Science, Math, and Health.
Youth Take Heart Teacher Institute
Youth Take Heart holds a 3-day intensive institute to provide a more through background in cardiovascular disease as well as to train them to use the kit.
Download Teacher Institute Registration Form
Youth Take Heart Community Outreach
Youth Take Heart produces informational tools and participates in community outreach events to provide the general public with information about cardiovascular disease, as well as strategies for adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Why Youth Take Heart?
- 11% of children are obese today compared to 5% in the 1970's.
- 17% of teenage heart donors had significant coronary blockage in at least one coronary artery.
- In 2000 only 25% of kids are physically active compared to 45% in 1991.
- The cost of treating cardiovascular disease in 2000 was 326.6 billion dollars.
- Health care costs attributed to cardiovascular health factors increased by 228% percent in 2000.
CHILDHOOD IS THE OPTIMAL TIME TO TEACH HEALTHY HABITS THAT CAN PREVENT HEART DISEASE AND STROKE LATER IN LIFE, AND YOUTH TAKE HEART IS THE WAY!
Youth Take Heart is a partnership funded by a National Institutes of Health award granted to the University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials, The Hope Heart Institute, and Washington State Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA).
For more information on Youth Take Heart, please contact Chris Wieland at 425-456-8741 or cwieland@hopeheart.org or visit www.youthtakeheart.org.
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January 31,
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