One of the most successful health education and personal development youth programs in North Omaha, the 10th annual Youth Expression of Health (YEOH) will be held July 24-26 at Omaha North High School, 4410 N. 36th St.
The workshop is a free service for 40 youth between ages 12-19 and runs eight hours per day. It is sponsored by the University Of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health Center for Reducing Health Disparities.
YEOH is coordinated by Ira Combs, R.N., community liaison and nurse coordinator-North for the UNMC College of Public Health.
Topics covered during YEOH include health and fitness, teen smoking, teen pregnancy, drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, health disparities, medical research, leadership skills, CPR/first aid, personal finances, job interview skills, and review of a wide variety of health professional careers.
The unique YEOH format provides education for young people to draw out their own knowledge and to supplement this knowledge with honest information to enable them to make better informed life choices. The participants engage in role play and other dynamic activities, so that they leave the workshops with not just text book knowledge, but with the experience of how to act upon that knowledge.
The workshop ends with a recognition ceremony on July 26 featuring presentations by YEOH participants and a display of other works created during the week.
One day after the workshop – from noon to 3 p.m. on July 27 — there will be a teen health fair in the Viking Center at North High School. The health fair will feature free screenings for sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, diabetes and hypertension.
For more information about the YEOH program, flash mob and health fair, or the final ceremony, contact Combs at 402-595-1458, icombs@unmc.edu or Joslyn Metcalf, student intern, at 402-595-2033, Joslyn.Metcalf@unmc.edu.
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu.