The Irvington Health Coalition Continued to Promote Youth and Senior Interaction By Organizing a Kings and Queens Social and 5K Run and Walk Event
After launching its Youth and Senior Companion Program in February 2017, the Irvington Health Coalition has been steadily gaining momentum. On Friday March 31, 2017, six students enrolled in the Irvington High School’s Cosmetology Program, under the leadership of Ms. C. Tripp, visited the Irvington Senior Citizen Center to assist members in preparing for the social event. After being pampered with manicures, makeup and hair styling, the seniors were ready to receive members of the Irvington Baseball Team who arrived with their coach, Troy Bowers, and Young Men Striving for Greatness.
The Irvington Health Coalition’s collaboration with the Irvington Public School District and Board of Education continued the following morning when students, teachers, and coaches assembled for Irvington’s first 5K Run and Walk event. Joined by Mayor Tony Vauss, Dr. Neely Hackett, the Superintendent of Schools, members of the Municipal Council, municipal administration, staff, and local seniors, participants completed a route through the heart of the Township. “Intergenerational programs that foster civic engagement have been shown to improve health and functional outcomes for aging individuals and youth. We have already observed an increase in the rapport between the participating youth and the seniors, which we believe will create the foundation for sustainability, and societal improvement,” said Dr. Monique S. Griffith, the Director of the Irvington Health Department and Irvington Health Coalition.
The Youth and Senior Companion Program is a unique initiative geared towards increasing the social support and engagement among youth and seniors by facilitating interactions between these groups.
For more information about the Irvington Health Coalition, please contact Dr. Monique S. Griffith, Director of the Irvington Department of Health: (973) 416-7760 or mgriffith@irvingtonnj.org. Support for the Irvington Health Coalition was provided by a grant from New Jersey Health Initiatives, the statewide grantmaking program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.