News Release

Students from LeTourneau University’s Psychology and Education Departments will teach children about safety during the Get it Together health fair from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009, at the Solheim Arena on the LeTourneau University campus, 2100 Mobberly Ave.  

The free Get it Together health fair will emphasize the importance of making lifestyle changes to improve overall health and well-being and will have addition fun events specifically designed for children. This community outreach event encompasses the whole person, mentally, physically and spiritually and offers more than $400 in medical testing services free of charge to the Longview community.  Nearly 70 business and health care professionals will be set up in the Solheim Arena, with expansion into Belcher gymnasium for the special children’s activities.

The children’s activities will encourage the mental and academic benefits of physical fitness, good food choices, as well as promoting healthy habits. The stations inside Belcher gym will be set up by the Kinesiology, Psychology, and Education Departments of LeTourneau University to promote health and wellness among young children.

The Psychology Department will teach children about Social Safety. They will focus on the issues of safe people, safe play, and safe places. Safe People will be emphasized as those who follow the rules of caregivers and who keep children safe/don't threaten or cause harm. Safe Play will emphasize appropriate that appropriate play does not cause pain or discomfort. This section will help children recognize when an individual is attempting to touch them inappropriately. Safe Places will emphasize the need for getting permission before going places, and always taking a buddy. Each section of the presentation will provide children with examples of what to do if they find themselves in dangerous situations.

The education department will host two booths one called “Talking Hands” where children will create a puppet to help them open up and talk about their feelings. Social and emotional health is an important part of everyday life, so children will get to talk with college students about how they feel and how they express themselves. Puppets can even "tell you" about how its child feels. The second booth is called “Reading MOOOVES Me” where Education students will be reading big books and interacting with motions related to the stories.

The Good Shepherd Medical Center will provide free medical lab tests include complete lipid profiles and glucose testing. For most accurate lab results, please fast after midnight, the night prior to having your lab work drawn. Other free services include blood pressure testing, pulse oximetry screening, fitness assessments, spinal exams, vision and glaucoma screening, hearing screening, nutrition and diet counseling, exercise and yoga counseling, massage therapy, Drug and alcohol prevention, and abstinence education. The community will also have a chance to visit with their local pharmacist and the National Marrow Donor Registry.