IT’S HIP TO BE HEALTHY!
The HIP–Health in Perspective Program is a
fun, activity-filled smoking prevention and
cessation program which helps young
females aged between 10 and 15 make their
own lifestyle choices while participating in
peer-lead sessions. The HIP Program adopts a
comprehensive approach that does not
strictly address the harmful effects of
tobacco, but rather tackles some of the
underlying reasons why young females begin
and continue to smoke.
The main concern that lead to the development
of this resource kit was that young
females at pre-adolescence do not generally
express great self-esteem and satisfaction
with their bodies. An active lifestyle can
potentially bring solutions to both of these
issues, allowing young women to be fit and
healthy, take on challenging activities, form
new friendships and have fun!
Just as the title of the program suggests, we
are putting health in perspective, looking at
different aspects that have an impact on the
well being of young females. Through
information, games and activities, the HIP
Program addresses the following topics:
communication, body image and self esteem,
physical activity and active living, stress
management techniques, health and
environmental issues, media's influence on
smoking and smoking cessation. HIP keeps
participants active and uses very little of
what could be called "pen and paper
activities", but rather tries to maximize every
possible opportunity to initiate group
discussions.
The "for youth by youth" delivery method of
the HIP Program creates opportunities for
participants and peer leaders to discuss
shared concerns in an understanding
atmosphere. This is done through the
involvement of an adult facilitator who
introduces the program to the youth and
provides ongoing support to the peer leaders
and the participants, and the key
participation of young women who take on
the implementation of the program. Also, we
believe that by encouraging youth leadership
on the topic of smoking prevention and
cessation among young females, the message
will have a more powerful impact and
possibly better results.
The program is intended to be implemented
in settings such as recreation, intramural or
after school programs or within existing
community programming for young females
aged between 10 and 15. The flexibility of
the HIP Program allows us to reach as many
participants as possible in a variety of
settings for such and approach since they
offer great opportunities for youth
involvement and leadership, positive role
models and represent natural mediums to
encourage healthy and active lifestyles as a
short and long term alternative to tobacco
use.
To help raise the profile of this initiative
among young females, we have enlisted the
assistance of two young women who have
recently been recognized for their athletic
achievements. Marianne Limpert, member of
the Canadian Olympic Swimming Team and
a Silver Medalist at the '96 Olympics in
Atlanta and Cassie Campbell, member of the
Canada's National Women's Hockey Team
have endorsed the HIP program and are
prepared to act as spokespersons for this
initiative.
The HIP–Health in Perspective Program is a
joint project which hasbeen developed by
the Canadian Intramural Recreation
Association with funding assistance from
Health Canada's Tobacco Demand Reduction
Strategy. For further information please
contact the Canadian Intramural Recreation
Association at (613) 748-5639.