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Health

Healthy Communities

Access materials designed to give users an overview of Healthy Communities and year-round health programming. Learn how Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® events and Healthy Communities programming are closely-linked and complementary for maximum impact on the health and well-being of athletes.

HEALTHY COMMUNITIESGRANTS WEBINARSFOLLOW-UP CAREWELLNESS PROGRAMSATHLETE LEADERSHIPPARTNERS

Interested in learning more about Healthy Communities? Contact Onolee Stephan, Director of Healthy Communities at ostephan@specialolympics.org.

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

Access materials designed to give users an overview of Healthy Communities and year-round health programming. Learn how Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® events and Healthy Communities programming are closely-linked and complementary for maximum impact on the health and well-being of athletes.

GRANTS WEBINARS

Learn how your Program can lead the way in changing the healthcare system for people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics goal is to reach 100 Programs recognized as Healthy Communities by 2020.

Please note that Programs with demonstrated success in 1-year Healthy Community Grants and/or proven success in health programming will be selected to apply for 3-year Healthy Community Grants. Please contact your Regional Healthy Athletes Manager if you are interested in receiving a 3-year Healthy Communities Grant.

FOLLOW-UP CARE

Download materials on follow-up care—or what happens after a Healthy Athletes exam—which is an essential component of Healthy Communities programming.

  • Toolkit (PDF): Toolkit designed to outline ways Programs have successfully provided and tracked follow-up care.
  • Tip Sheet (PDF): Helpful tips for Programs on how to support and track follow-up care for athletes after examinations.
  • Planning Template (DOCX): Use this template to assess the needs, actions to take and desired results when following up on athlete care after examinations.
  • Tracking Template (XLSX): This spreadsheet should be used to track follow-up care for athletes after examinations.
  • Training Health Care Providers Toolkit (PDF): Toolkit designed to outline steps Programs can take to provide training and education to local health care providers.
  • Blood Pressure FAQs (DOCX): Questions and answers on blood pressure to guide conversations with Special Olympics athletes and their caregivers.
  • Body Mass Index FAQs (PPTX): Questions and answers on measuring body-mass index, a screening tool to identify possible weight problems.
  • Bone Mineral Density FAQs (PPTX): Questions and answers on follow-up care for athletes diagnosed with low bone mass or osteoporosis.

WELLNESS PROGRAMS

Access tools for athletes, coaches and families related to self-advocacy, education and community activation.

  • Local Partnerships for Wellness Toolkit (PDF): Toolkit designed to outline ways your Program can collaborate with local organizations and businesses to provide year-round opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.
  • Family Health Forum Toolkit (PDF): Information for Programs interested in hosting a Family Health Forum, an event designed around locally-relevant health topics that engage families of those with intellectual disabilities, sponsored by Lions Clubs International. Revised in 2015.
  • Stakeholder Summit Toolkit (PDF): Information Programs can utilize to successfully host a stakeholder summit workshop to promote Inclusive Health.

ATHLETE LEADERSHIP

Special Olympics global health work would not be possible without the thousands of health care professionals and students who volunteer and who share they increase their understanding and skills because of their involvement with Special Olympics.

PARTNERS

Special Olympics Health program is made possible by many dedicated partners and volunteers. Learn more about some of our partners here.