November 5, 2008
The South Dakota Discovery Center—a brand new We Can! site in Pierre, South Dakota—represented the We Can! program at a local round table conducted by Acting U.S. Surgeon General Rear Admiral Steven Galson on October 16.
Galson stopped in South Dakota on a coast-to-coast tour highlighting his efforts to help children maintain a healthy weight. Members of the Healthy South Dakota Initiative, including the Secretaries of Social Services, Health, Education, and Game Fish and Parks, as well as the Watertown Boys and Girls Club, described strategies that they're using to help kids live healthier, longer lives at the roundtable.
"Committed citizens from various agencies across the state had time to share their thoughts and ideas with the group," said Sue Douglas, education director at the South Dakota Discovery Center. "For me, it was beneficial to hear that everyone is on the same page when it comes to this epidemic, and know that there are so many resources that I can turn to."
It's no surprise that the Acting Surgeon General's message that preventive measures are critical in coping with the epidemic of childhood weight problems resonated with Douglas. It should have, because it is the foundation of the We Can! program—and We Can! is one of the Acting Surgeon General Galson's top programs to prevent childhood overweight.
We Can! and the We Can! logo are trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
Are you planning a We Can! event in your community?
Please send us an email so we can add your event to the We Can! Calendar of Events.
Send an email to wecan@aed.org with all the details.
You can read the latest We Can! news in our newsletter - We Can! In Action.
If you haven't subscribed to receive the We Can! newsletter, sign up today.
Read past issues of We Can! In Action.