POTSDAM -- St. Lawrence Health System’s (SLHS) Child and Family Wellness Task Force launched the Health Buddy Program in partnership with the SUNY Potsdam Department of Community Health.

Health Buddies are interns enrolled in the Department of Community Health at SUNY Potsdam and work closely with clinical and non-clinical staff of Canton-Potsdam Hospital (CPH) to conduct in-person home visits.

Nicole E. Wright and Jessica L. Cranch, two of the Health Buddies in the program, recently completed a seven-week internship working with six families located throughout St. Lawrence County, including Waddington, Norwood, and Winthrop. Many of the families were identified for participation in the program by Kathleen Terrence, a pediatrician at CPH who practices in Canton. Terrence is a founding member of the Child and Family Wellness Task Force.

“Nicole and Jessica have done a fantastic job as our first Health Buddies,” said Terrence. “I have heard from the children that they loved the home visits from the interns and the parents felt that the entire family learned more about proper nutrition. As a primary care provider it is great to have someone in the home to identify potential barriers to finding a healthy lifestyle and to provide support and encouragement to these children. I hope this program will continue and expand to include more families in our community,” said Dr. Terrence.

CPH nutrition specialist Martha V. Palmer and academic program coordinator Upama A. Aktaruzzaman worked closely with the students to create activities tailored to each family and child.

“The time our interns spend with children and families is centered on play-based learning,” said Palmer. “Interns model healthy lifestyle habits and introduce fun activities to encourage the family or child to create those habits for themselves,” she said.

During their internship, the SUNY Potsdam community health interns conducted more than 36 home visits and provided multiple nutrition education activities for children aged seven through fifteen and their families.

"The Health Buddy Program at Canton Potsdam Hospital provides a great opportunity for students in the Community Health major at SUNY Potsdam to gain practical experience in the health education field,” said Ada Santaferra, internship coordinator in the Community Health Department at SUNY Potsdam.

To become interns in the Health Buddies Program, individuals should be college students with an interest in working with children and families. Interns should have an academic background in community health, nutrition, early childhood development, physical fitness or outdoor education. Orientation and on-going training will be provided during the internship. Families may become involved by contacting Martha Palmer at mvpalmer@cphospital.org.