This policy outlines CRH’s approach to ensuring environments and opportunities for all youth to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors throughout CRH day while minimizing commercial distractions.
The Medical Clinic – Health and Wellness Program is designed to provide or arrange for all aspects of care regarding the health needs of our youth. The CRH Medical Clinic is managed by the Medical Clinic Supervisor, a Licensed Registered Nurse (RN) who provides oversight of our medical and nutritional programs. Upon entry to CRH youth are seen within 72 hours for a complete, initial assessment by Medical Clinic staff in order to determine their need for medical care.
Recognizing the important connection between a healthy diet and a youth’s ability to learn and achieve, CRH has implemented an active Nutrition Program which includes nutritional education, nutritional menu choices and a campus garden. CRH nutrition program is based off of national nutritional guidelines for all school aged Children.
To a child in crisis food can not only be comforting; food can be healing. Children’s Receiving Home serves up to 210 meals a day seven days a week to children and youth affected by trauma so at CRH our cafeteria menu is a top priority. Recently under the direction of our new chef, the CRH kitchen has made the commitment to serve food made fresh daily, with fresh ingredients; the term used by one boy (age 10) to describe the changes was “kinda like homemade”.
Most shelter kitchens of this size rely heavily on “pre-packaged” food and frozen food; many times serving highly processed and refined foods that have lost their nutritional value. (And their flavor) CRH children and youth are now served food to represent a variety in taste and culture. Yet always keeping young palettes in mind we know nothing can replace homemade Mac and Cheese to warm the hearts of children.
