DEFEATING OBESITY AND DIABETES
WITH HEALTHY HEROES
In 1997, the Social & Health Research Center, through its Bienestar Health Program, asked esd to create one book, aimed at one school district, which would focus on curbing diabetes in Hispanic youth.
The one-book project evolved into a 13-year journey that boosted the Bienestar Health Program into the national limelight after esd created 14 Spanish-English books that teach students in thousands of school districts across the nation. The Bienestar Health Program was established to improve the well being of Hispanic and African-American children who are at risk for diabetes. The program was designed to communicate to children and their families the importance of maintaining healthy eating habits and exercising.
creating heroes
Working with content experts in the Bienestar Program, esd created a series of bilingual (Spanish-English) educational books using “Healthy Heroes” mascots to guide children through the program. esd also designed and programmed an educational interactive website providing children, parents and teachers additional diabetes resources. esd also integrated an online Bienestar store for school districts to order materials nationally. The innovative site includes a secure purchasing ecommerce utility that allows parents and teachers around the country to order the program.
the journey continues
Bienestar’s Healthy Heroes were picked up by MacMillan-McGraw/Hill Publishing and are currently being used in classrooms and home kitchens across the nation, helping children and parents make good decisions about nutrition and fitness.