Women’s Leadership Council Implements Healthy Lifestyles Workshop

The Arrowhead United Way Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) recently implemented a free all-day workshop featuring presentations by public health, nutrition, and public safety experts for young women between the ages of 16 and 24. The objective of the Healthy Lifestyles workshops is to help young women identify risky behaviors and to replace them with new insights and knowledge regarding their sexual behavior, drug and alcohol use, and diet. The overarching goal of the program is to reduce obesity, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), domestic violence, and drug/alcohol addictions, and guide women to better choices that lead to living a longer, more productive life. Marci Atkins, Healthy Lifestyles Committee Chair and City of San Bernardino police officer, commented, “So many young women don’t realize that choices they make today will affect them for the rest of their lives. We hope that by making this information available and giving young women the support and encouragement they need, they will be more inclined to think twice before drinking and driving and/or having unprotected sex.” WLC Programs include: Winter and Summer College Cruises, Healthy Lifestyles workshops, and Interview for Success workshops. Each program targets young women between the ages of 16 and 24 who are at risk of dropping out of high school, not considering post-secondary education, becoming prematurely pregnant, susceptible to STDs, victims of domestic violence, and/or predisposed to chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. The programs are aimed at increasing high school graduation rates, preparing young women for successful employment, and helping them to achieve long-term health and financial stability.