Purpose:
Cabarrus Health Alliance’s Healthy Lives Healthy Future Program is a train-the-trainer wellness program funded by
the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. This program is designed to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as
diabetes, heart disease, and stroke among low income communities in Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and Rowan Counties
through positive lifestyle changes in physical activity and nutrition. Volunteers from local churches are
identified and trained to lead group fitness classes with the goal of creating sustainable fitness programs within
the community. Specialty nutrition programs including grocery store tours and healthy cooking classes are also
offered at HLHF churches and community sites.
How the Community Benefits:
Community members have access to free fitness classes at local churches, affording them the opportunity to become
healthier through increased physical activity. In addition, nutrition classes and weight loss programs are also
offered periodically throughout the year at various locations.
Program Information:
The HLHF program focuses on the following areas:
Partnering with local churches to train lay health advocates to lead safe and effective group exercise
classes.
Offering free fitness and nutrition education classes such as grocery store tours to assist program
participants in eating healthier and moving more.
Administering comprehensive physical assessments including, but not limited to, blood pressure, body mass
index, circumference measurements, and body fat as well as a variety of fitness tests to assess muscular strength,
endurance, and flexibility.
Leading continuing education workshops and trainings for program volunteers to promote new exercise class formats
and special topics in exercise class instruction.
Contact:
Jennifer West, MS, CHES, ACSM
HLHF Program Coordinator
704-920-1337
jlwest@cabarrushealth.org
Additional Information:
The HLHF program has over 25 free exercise classes throughout the counties of Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and Rowan.
Class times and days vary per location. For a complete list of participating locations, go to
www.hlhf.org, the
official homepage of the HLHF program.
