Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contacts: Andy Crocker, 806-677-5600, abcrocker@ag.tamu.edu
AMARILLO – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will begin a new series of Master Wellness volunteer training programs across the state in January, and anyone interested in promoting health and wellness is welcome to join the effort, said Andy Crocker, AgriLife Extension statewide program specialist in gerontology and health, Amarillo.
“In the U.S., 86 percent of all health spending is related to chronic conditions – things like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and many others,” Crocker said. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these costs can be managed and potentially reduced through education and lifestyle modification.”
Master Wellness volunteers undergo 40 hours of training on health, nutrition and food safety and commit to providing an equal number of hours toward outreach and education, helping reduce the burden of chronic conditions in Texans and Texas’ communities, he said.
Once trained, Master Wellness volunteers will have the opportunity to serve by giving presentations for local community groups, assisting with healthy cooking demonstrations, participating in health fairs and much more.
“It doesn’t matter that you are not a health professional,” Crocker said. “We welcome participation from anyone interested in promoting health and wellness: college students, employees, retirees – anyone.”
Because each community is different, he said, Master Wellness volunteers work with AgriLife Extension county agents and other stakeholders to identify needs and opportunities to help make a difference locally.
“We also know that all our volunteers come from diverse backgrounds, so they’re often able to identify novel topics, audiences and resources in the area,” Crocker said.
He said in January, the agency will convene a statewide training for Master Wellness Volunteers, but those interested do not have to leave their county. Two of the in-person sessions will be held at the county office; the rest of the training will be conducted online.
“It’s never been easier to give back to your community,” Crocker said.
For more information about the Master Wellness Volunteer Program, visit http://agrilife.org/mwv. For more information regarding the statewide training, send an email to mwv@ag.tamu.edu with contact information and the county name.
“We’ll connect you with the county agent in your county to provide more details about the training,” he said.
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