Youth Take Heart is a program designed to educate middle-school aged youth and the general public about cardiovascular disease, including how to prevent heart disease and live a heart healthy life.

It is a cutting edge science education program for 21st century classrooms, created by the Hope Heart Institute through a collaborative effort with The University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB), a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center, and MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement).

Washington State Education Science Learning Standards Alignment

What Teachers are saying about Youth Take Heart

General Contact Information:

Meagan Jepson
YTH Program Manager
The Hope Heart Institute
1380 112th Ave NE
Suite 200
Bellevue, WA 98
Office: (425) 456-8717
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What is Youth Take Heart?

Youth Take Heart has developed a curriculum to promote health among middle school-aged youth. The curriculum includes:

• Guy Simplant, an Internet-based/CD-ROM program (originally developed by UWEB) which focuses on exploring ways to repair or replace a heart.
• An educational program kit addressing the connections between cardiovascular health and other body systems.
• Career opportunities in science and medicine, and cardiovascular disease risk reduction in youth.
• Special focus is placed on reaching underrepresented minority and low-income youth who are at very high risk for cardiovascular diseases.

Youth Take Heart Curriculum

Developed by teachers and scientists, the 4-week comprehensive science curriculum teaches about:

• The structure and function of the heart.
• The role of diet and lifestyle factors on heart health.
• The role of science and technology on treating heart and vessel diseases.
• Science and technology careers.
• All lessons align with Washington State Essential Learning Requirements in Science, Math, and Health.

Why Youth Take Heart?

• 11% of children are obese today compared to 5% in the 1970's.
• In 2000 only 25% of kids are physically active compared to 45% in 1991.
• Health care costs attributed to cardiovascular health factors increased by 228% percent in 2000.
• Childhood is the optimal time to teach healthy habits that can prevent heart disease and stroke later in life. Youth Take Heart does just that.

 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) are dedicated to teaching future generations about cutting edge research in health and science. To this end, NIH's National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) initiated the Science Education Partnership Award Program (SEPA) in 1991. Through this competitive grants program, SEPA sponsors partnerships among researchers, educators, and community groups to share their knowledge, expertise, and enthusiasm about health and science research with K-12 students and the general public. Designed to improve science and health literacy, these grants have funded projects at health science centers, universities, K-12 schools, science museums, and community organizations across the country (NCRR, 2004).

 

The Hope Heart Institute is committed to serving humanity through cardiovascular research and education.

Our research and education programs improve the physical, emotional and spiritual quality of life for all at risk of - or affected by heart and blood vessel disease.

 

UWEB brings together a cross-disciplinary team of scientists, biologists, engineers, researchers and physicians, as well as industry leaders, to exploit specific biological mechanisms in the development of medical innovations.

 

Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement: Our mission is to provide enriching opportunities in mathematics, engineering and science for underrepresented students in grades K-12 using exemplary materials and instructional approaches. We will be a catalyst and model for educational excellence and equity. We will accomplish this through a partnership of higher education, school districts, industry and business, government, community organizations, families, and alumni.