Community Outreach

At TMC, we take pride in our Community Outreach initiatives. We have integrated specific strategies in recognizing and meeting the issues in our community.

- We look to gather community perspectives on health and social issues, barriers and changes needed to improve community lifestyle.
- We also look to identify external forces and trends

that affect the well being of the community.

- Developing local comprehensive prevention plans

to ensure higher quality of life.

Campaigns

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What we do for our Community

Why we do for our Community

-To create community awareness and involvement
-To educate community residents
-Build on recognized community strengths
-Bring in community resources by building strong collaborations and partnerships with other community organizations, elected official, schools, churches, and corporations

Never Too Late To Lose Some Weight

The Miracle Center, in partnership with the Heathy Hermosa Collaboration, is dedicated to helping prevent obesity and Type 2 diabetes in the Hermosa/Belmont-Cragin communities. We look forward to encouraging your kids to live a healthier and more active lifestyle!
There are 9 million obese American children
-Nearly 30% do not exercise regularly.
50% of Latino children are obese.
Hispanics are 2-3 times more likely than non-Hispanic whites to have Type 2 diabetes.
Another study published in 2006 reported that 34% of all Humboldt Park adult respondents were obese compared to 22% nationwide.
The data suggests that by 10th grade, the average Hermosa area youth is overweight and on his or her way to eventual obesity.

Stay Fresh, Stay Sober

To prevent the issue of underage alcohol drinking in Hermosa, The Miracle Center decided to engage in a social norms marketing campaign. With the slogan “Stay Fresh, Stay Sober” in 2008 the campaign was launched.

TMC selected to focus on preventing alcohol usage among teens after the community needs assessment and the Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) data indicated that alcohol consumption among underage youth in Hermosa was alarming.

by: Jonathan Rock

Anti-Tobacco Campaign

In 1998, the tobacco companies made a settlement to all states to use for anti-smoking programs. From 1999 to 2002, as a result of the wise use of this funding, there was a significant decrease in the numbers of teen smokers. Since 2003, some states began using the tobacco company funds for other state budget needs. Consequently there is again a rise in the number of teen smokers. The Miracle Center is committed to informing youth of the negative effects of smoking and encouraging them never to start. TMC youth participated in an Anti-Tobacco Teen Summit last summer. For more information about the summit, click here to access our Events Blog.

SPF/

Healthy Hermosa Coalition

Outreach Partners & Sponsors

SAPP

The program looks to adopt and work on a new environmental strategy that influences public policies addressing alcohol advertisement restrictions on billboards and public places in the Hermosa community. According to the U.S. Dept of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Office, Americans are bombarded with $4 billion of alcohol marketing each year, especially where minority groups live. This study showed that young people who are consistently exposed to alcohol advertisements have more favorable attitudes toward drinking, are more likely to be underage drinkers and intend to drink more when adults. The data collected through SPF Community Needs Assessment in the Hermosa community (where 83% are Latino) indicated that despite the small size of the Hermosa community, the amount of alcohol messages seen on billboards, bus stops, media and events were much bigger. Also, the Illinois Youth Survey pointed out that the Hermosa youth were not being exposed to alcohol prevention messages as much as other youth in the state (Hermosa: 71% of youth exposed. State: 93% of youth exposed).

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The focus of the grant is on Substance Abuse Problems: Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs. These are some statistics that address the problem the Hermosa community faces concerning underage drinking:

•The 30- day use rates for Hermosa exceed the state average by 4.8% for 8th graders and 3.2% for 10th graders.

•Although 8th grade drinking rates for Hermosa came down 1.8% from 2006 to 2008, 10th graders rates for Hermosa went up to 45.8%, a dangerous 11.8% increase from 2006 to 2008.

•Campaign focus groups showed that our social norm campaign was well received by the community members and the youth. The material created (posters, postcards, YouTube video, public radio spots, resource guide, etc.) encouraged youth to think about the negative influence of alcohol and consider alternatives. The campaign marketing focus groups analysis suggested that posters and postcards were empowering, and can be successful in stopping underage drinking, since 69% students were exposed to these materials.