Wellness

Healthy food choices and adequate exercise are just two of a wide range of factors — personal, social, economic, and environmental — that contribute to the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. To ensure health and wellness, people must have access to health information, healthcare, and public safety services. 

Importance of Wellness Programs

Community-based wellness programs can produce dramatic results and utilize creative approaches to address an array of factors that affect health and well-being.  By using innovative strategies, programs provide individuals and families with access to services, support, and information to meet their health and wellness needs. For example, both rural and urban communities may have large populations of seniors who struggle with age-related conditions and chronic diseases such as diabetes, and they may find it difficult to obtain the information or the care they need.  Local classes provided in senior centers, dedicated advice lines, and online resources can provide targeted health education to give seniors the resources they need to self-manage and monitor their conditions.

NIFA’s Impact  

NIFA is committed to fostering innovative solutions that allow Americans to gain access to the health and wellness resources they need.  Our initiatives support health educators to do community outreach and build networks that increase access to health information, healthcare, and public safety resources. 

NIFA programs provide:

• Community-based health promotion information and resources that help individuals, families, and communities make informed lifestyle choices
• Spanish-language resources to improve health literacy skills in ESL (English as a Second Language) populations
• Supportive resources for veterans and their families as they cope with traumatic brain injury
• Health life skills interventions for youth so they learn the tools for decreasing risky behaviors while increasing their sense of belonging and purpose
• Physical activity, strength training, and nutrition guidance to seniors in rural counties
• Monitored individual and competitive walking programs