We’re Helping Our Guests Meet Their 2019 Health Goals

Part of restoring a healthy body is having access to a healthy diet. The City Mission is working hard to adapt its menus to smart meals that follow the latest research in nutrition and individual needs.

Every daily menu contains a calorie count and nutrition report so that clients can determine what exactly needs to go on their plate. At both Laura’s Home and Crossroads, the kitchen staff incorporates fruits, vegetables, protein and grains into every meal, a challenge all Cleveland residents experience and from which they could benefit.

The City Mission also works with clients to meet their individual food plans, especially when certain foods can be dangerous to a person’s health.

“We’ve been seeing a lot of gluten intolerance in clients, so we incorporate gluten free items into our daily menu,” explains Carla Maneage, Food Service Supervisor at Laura’s Home.

When a food allergy is made known or discovered, the client, caseworker, and the food service department work together to ensure there will be no food allergy incidents.

Beyond simply serving food, Maneage and her team also empower clients with education on how to make healthy food choices. During the Lenten season, they offer the Daniel Plan diet, which consists of plant-based proteins and clean eating.

“The clients are educated on what the diet is about, what it consists of, and are given a ‘good food list,’ of what’s allowed on the plan,” Maneage said. “The foods that are incorporated into the meals are not much different than what we already serve, but more so educates the individual on making better choices that consist of eating a healthier diet.”

Healthy Minds

Over the past few years, much attention has been brought to the critical need for individuals to focus on not just physical health, but also their mental health. The City Mission has acknowledged this reality for decades, and they continue to adapt their methods to what is most helpful to clients in the short and long-term.

“We see a variety of mental and physical health issues, from ADHD, depression, anxiety, and even some more serious mental disorders like schizophrenia,” shares Mark Ballenger, Crossroads Program Manager.

Crossroads and Laura’s Home offer classes such as Anger Management, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and parenting classes in order to help clients cope with past trauma and learn how to set healthy boundaries for themselves and others.

Amanda, a former Laura’s Home client and aspiring nurse, understands how DBT impacts her relationship with both her son and her work. Before taking the class, she struggled to have empathy for her son when he was hurt physically or emotionally.

She laughs now saying, “How did I ever think I was going to be a nurse when I wouldn’t validate my son’s feelings? What about when I’m in a hospital setting and I’m supposed to be a comforter, and I’m helping the doctor — but how can I help the patient? And my son, if he falls off his bike, he just wants comfort and love, and I wasn’t giving that.  And I realize how can I do that all, even in a career. I learned all this through DBT.”

For clients who need more consistent long-term care, the Mission connects men, women, and children to various mental health agencies in the area to services that will be able to offer them care past the length of the program. Empowered with skills to manage emotions and actions, as well as a support network in place for enduring care, graduates of the Mission’s programs are able to move forward in life with a restored perspective.

Healthy Children

Improving the health of children who have experienced trauma and homelessness is also a high priority for The City Mission, which is why Laura’s Home ensures that children from infants to high schoolers have the tools they need to develop healthy eating and fitness habits.

For little ones, Childcare holds exercise time for about 10 minutes each day. Children are taught simple exercises through fun and play — jumping jacks and frog jumps, as well as a dance and song time.

“It definitely isn’t pretty or always accurate but we try,” shares Christina Hahn, Family Ministry Coordinator. “It’s a good way to get energy out. We play games like Red Light/Green Light or Simon Says for a running portion, and we don’t always make it feel like organized exercise.”

Additionally, teens will soon be able to access fitness equipment appropriate for their level of development and more mature fitness goals. The City Mission recently met its #GivingTuesday fundraising goal in November 2018, which is allowing them to build a teen-only room with workout equipment such as exercise bikes, strength training equipment, and a punching bag.

This year, Laura’s Home also has the ability to offer a more intentional fitness therapy opportunity through a unique program. Sara Menser, a graduate student studying Dance Movement and currently interning with The City Mission, is spending a year at Laura’s Home to help children cope with their world through regulation of body and mind.

“We focus on problems they may be having at school, with friends, family, etc., and find creative solutions to those problems through movement,” Mesner said. “That movement may be as simple as turning some music on and having time to free dance and express themselves, or as complex as learning new breathing techniques and calming methods for when they feel they need it most.

“My main goal is to create a healthy mind-body connection that can help guide them to make healthy choices cognitively, physically and emotionally in the future.”

Healthy Communities

As you consider your goals for 2019, they may not look much different than the ones of The City Mission’s clients. Developing a healthy body, mind, and habits is something we each will strive for this year. And the opportunities to get healthy that the Mission offers to men, women, and children aren’t just for their guests — they’re for the community too. If you resolved to give back, here are three ways you can be a part of healthy stories in your city.

1. Volunteer to open up fitness opportunities for men. Currently, there are no fitness programs for men at Crossroads. The staff is seeking volunteers that might be able to open their full-size gym on a regular basis so that clients can play basketball or participate in other fitness activities right on campus.

2. Prepare a meal for guests of The City Mission. Share your passion for healthy eating with those who are unable to afford or prepare their own nutritious foods. Your family, office, or group can choose a night to make dinner at The City Mission and eat with the neighbors you’re serving.

3. Mentor a teen in the Pathways program. Many teens at Laura’s Home have lacked consistent, healthy relationships with adults in their lifetime. This year, the Pathways staff is launching a mentorship program for teens at Laura’s Home. The hope is that mentors will spend regular time tutoring teens, sharing skills, and simply getting to know them.

When we resolve to empower others with our time and gifts we don’t just become better versions of ourselves, we create a healthier, greater Cleveland. If you’re interested in providing help in any of the categories above or in your own creative way, email connect@thecitymission.org.