Get Healthy, Get Smart

Get Healthy, Get Smart! (GHGS) is a comprehensive holistic wellness program developed by Urban Tech that is being implemented in New York City middle and high schools to increase the awareness of childhood obesity, a leading cause of diabetes, hypertension and cancer. We teach students how to make healthy choices and adopt new behaviors that will eliminate the root causes. Download the e-flyer here.

Development of healthy habits are accomplished through the integration of Urban Tech’s multimedia Youth Leadership Academy’s (YLA) Get Healthy, Get Smart! series into the NY City Department of Education’s core science curriculum for each participating grade. The series includes lessons in:

Identify the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the consequences of an unhealthy one.
Develop goal-setting skills, identify learning preferences, and build confidence, resilience and perseverance in ability to succeed.
Foster healthy relationships that contribute to feelings of self-worth and provide approaches to navigate teen-dating and prevent sexual harassment and gender bias.
Build skills in anger management, perspective-taking, and problem-solving strategies.
Learn how to identify the different types of STDs and discuss the difference between HIV and AIDS.
Learn that dress and presentation convey a message about self-concept.
Understand the physical, emotional and psychological effects of drugs and alcohol.

Learning Components

Computer learning activities are fully integrated with the animated life skills curriculum acting as a central medium for education and skill-building. Students communicate their ideas using web design and PowerPoint; collect and analyze data using spreadsheets; and access the vast resources of the Internet for research using browsers and search engines.