Existing Examples of Risk Communication
There are currently many organizations in existence which aim to reduce the incidents of childhood obesity in the United States. These provide great examples for me to look at throughout the semester in an effort to develop my own risk communication portfolio.
1. Rachael Ray’s non profit organization Yum-O! ™ works to empower children and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking. It focuses on three work areas: COOK, FEED, FUND. The purposes of these areas is as follows: COOK- Educate kids and their families about cooking; FEED- Feeding hungry children in America; FUND- Funding cooking education scholarships.
While the main focus of Yum-O! ™ is not primarily a fight against obesity, it certainly aids in encouraging families to adapt healthy eating habits. This is one of the main problem areas contributing to childhood obesity and Rachael Ray’s organization helps communicate the importance of a good diet.
2. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation is an organization whose mission is to eliminate childhood obesity and to inspire all young people in the US to develop lifelong, healthy habits. Their goal is to stop the nationwide increase in childhood obesity by 2010 and to empower kids nationwide to make healthy lifestyle choices.
They have several existing programs which work as risk communication including: Healthy Schools Program, Industry Program, Kids Movement and Healthcare Movement. These programs extend their efforts across the nation into many different aspects of people’s lives.
Both of these organizations use risk communication as a way of fighting childhood obesity. Throughout the semester, as I develop my project, I think these with provide me a great reference. They help by providing ways in which to reach the large target audience. It is important to reach out and encourage parents and children across the nation to adapt a more healthy lifestyle. Providing them ways to do so, which are both fun and simple, is going to be an effective way to begin the change.
