The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) is excited to kick off another year of service! On June 1, the JLC began its five-year focus on children’s mental and physical health. As the 2023-2024 League year ramps up, we are dedicating time to explore the various ways childhood health impacts communities locally and nationally so the League can better support our focus area and community partners.
Health is defined as the “complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or illness,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Genetics, characteristics and behaviors, environment, health services and social conditions determine the health outcomes of individuals. Social drivers of health include social and economic factors such as economic stability, access and quality of education, access and quality of healthcare, neighborhood and the built community and social community, the organization reports.
For children, health is monumental for reaching the developmental milestones that can impact their quality of life and function at home, school and in their communities. Early experiences have a cumulative effect on health and are built into our bodies as we develop. Childhood health is the foundation for lifelong health because developing healthy behaviors is easier in children and has lifelong impacts on preventing chronic illness and disease.
The JLC is partnering with five local organizations to help children in kindergarten to fifth grade -5 in priority zip codes: 28205, 28206, 28208, 28212, 28216, and 28217 in Mecklenburg County based on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force Report by promoting healthy physical and mental living and providing access to nutritional food and quality healthcare. The League’s partners include Promising Pages, Thompson Child and Family Focus, Families Forward, Los Angeles de Charlotte and Renaissance West Community Initiative/Kids in the Kitchen. Additionally, the JLC will complete event-based, one-time community enrichment projects through its Done-in-a-Day (DIAD) program. The JLC adapted DIAD, an Association of Junior Leagues International-wide initiative, to fit the Charlotte area’s needs.
For more informations, visit the League’s Community Projects page.
