Commissioner Johnson link seniors with youths to fight childhood obesity

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson is calling on residents who are 50+ to teach children in grades K – 5 healthy habits for life through the Coordinated Approach to Child Health, or CATCH program.

“I am very pleased to have this initiative at the Intergenerational Center here in DeKalb,” said Johnson, who represents District 3. “This program lines up with what we have been working on—raising the awareness of childhood obesity and developing strategies to help combat the high incidence of childhood obesity.”

The CATCH program allows senior volunteers to make a difference in the life of a child, and improve health, too. Johnson says both, the children and adults, have a lot of fun as they learn together how to stay healthy and fit. Volunteers work together in teams.

CATCH classes are one-hour and are conducted once a week for a period of eight weeks at the Exchange Park Intergenerational Center, 2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur. The classes meet on Thursdays, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., starting June 6—Aug. 1.

Volunteer training will be held May 22 and May 23 at the Villages at Carver YMCA, in southwest Atlanta. All training and class materials are provided free of charge.

“This is a great opportunity for the community to lend a hand and CATCH healthy eating habits,” said Commissioner Johnson. “CATCH is a wonderful way to improve your health and celebrate healthy living in our community.”

To learn more about the CATCH program, attend an outreach event at the DeKalb Exchange/Intergenerational Center on June 13, 10:30 a.m. – noon. Get more information about the CATCH Healthy Habits Program at www.oasisnet.org or contact Mary Newton at 404-463-3119 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Health and Wellness Calendar

Saint Joseph’s offers jewelry making to cancer survivors

Saint Joseph’s Hospital, 5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, N.E., Atlanta, will offer cancer survivors a free lunch and learn, “Interactive Jewelry Making,” on May 17, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Hosted by Look Beautiful Today, the free workshop will encourage cancer survivors and teach them how to make jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets. Teachers can take special requests as they help survivors make beautiful, unique creations.

Reservations are required for lunch. Register by calling 678-843-5051 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

DeKalb Medical offers ‘Puberty Rocks’ girls’ workshop

DeKalb Medical at Hillandale, 2801 DeKalb Medical Parkway, Lithonia, will host “Puberty Rocks,” for girls on May 17, 6 – 8 p.m.

Is it time to address your daughter’s journey into adolescence? Learn how to open the lines of communication with Caryn Johnson, MD. The  fun girls’ night out will cover body changes, mood swings, peer pressure and more. Learn how to help your daughter navigate the turbulent “tween” and teen years. Please note that this evening is not appropriate for males.

The workshop is free to attend. For more information or to register, visit www.dekalbmedical.org or call 404-501-8000.

Count carbs with Emory Healthcare

Emory Healthcare, 1525 Clifton Road, Atlanta, will host a free workshop, “Advanced Carbohydrate Counting,” on May 20, 12 p.m.

You’ve mastered basic carb counting and portion sizes, and you monitor your blood glucose, keep accurate records, and take multiple daily injections of insulin. You may be ready for the next step: advanced carb counting. Advanced carb counting, as the name suggests, is a more detailed way of counting carbohydrate to maintain good glucose control. It works by matching mealtime insulin doses to the amount of carbohydrate you eat.

Registration is suggested. Participants meet in the hospital’s fifth floor conference room. For more information or to register, visit www.emoryhealthcare.org or call 404-778-7777 and 1-800-75-EMORY.

Gwinnett Medical offers ‘Healthy Beginnings’

Gwinnett Medical Center, 550 Medical Center Blvd., Lawrenceville, will host a free workshop, “Healthy Beginnings, 1^st Trimester,” on May 21, 7 p.m.

This class is for women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Topics include: fetal development; prenatal care; healthy lifestyle choices; nutrition and current body changes.

Registration is required. Participants meet at the hospital’s Gwinnett Women’s Pavilion. For more information or to register, visit www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org or call 678-312-1000.

Piedmont offers lunch and learn meditation for cancer patients

Piedmont Healthcare’s Cancer Center, 1800 Howell Road, will host “The Body as Sacred Ground,” for cancer patients and their caregivers on May 31, 10:30 a.m.

Organizers say living with cancer and its treatments can create inner conflict and a feeling that our bodies have betrayed us. In this workshop, participants can do some honest, self-inquiry and then do healing meditation practices to integrate feeling safe in our bodies. Wear comfortable clothes and bring a journal. A healthy lunch will be provided.

Registration is suggested. To register, call 404-425-7944.