Northside community benefits from new Y Healthy Living Center

The partnership between Baptist Health and YMCA of Florida's First Coast is yielding benefits for Jacksonville's northside residents with the opening of the fourth Y Healthy Living Center.

The Y Healthy Living Center at the Johnson Family YMCA, 5700 Cleveland Road, Jacksonville, Fla., 32209, officially opens Dec. 8, 2016, and like the other three centers in town, offers wellness programs designed to help build a healthier future for Northeast Florida.

The Y Healthy Living Centers provide Y members and nonmembers with prevention and wellness services outside the walls of the traditional health care system. The centers are open to all in the community - not just YMCA members.

Some of the programs offered:

• Talk with a Doc (free): educational talk by local physicians on a health topic
• Support Groups (free): Stroke, diabetes
• Health screening (free coupon): Tests include cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL), glucose, blood pressure, body composition values, and one-on-one health coaching and navigation
• Classes: Becoming Parents ($55), Safe Sitter ($45), prenatal yoga ($13), and free prevention classes on specific topics such as blood pressure, cholesterol, nutrition and stress management
• HeartWise Screening (free): Health screening with a Baptist nurse to identify heart health risks and send a report to your primary care physician

The partnership between Baptist Health and YMCA of Florida's First Coast has served more than 900 northeast Florida residents since it began at the first location in Mandarin in 2014.

"As we continue to build a healthier First Coast, we continue to strengthen our partnership with Baptist Health," said YMCA of Florida's First Coast President and CEO Eric Mann. "The new Y Healthy Living Center at the Johnson Family YMCA will provide additional access to integrated health programs for our neighbors on the northside and advance the collaboration between the Y and Baptist for the good of our community."

Baptist Health was chosen as the YMCA partner because of its long-term commitment to improving the health of Jacksonville neighborhoods.

"We feel it is our social responsibility to help build healthier communities and our partnership with the Johnson Family YMCA will provide a wonderful opportunity," said Baptist Health President and CEO Hugh Greene. "Our Baptist Health team members are at our Y Healthy Living Centers year-round providing the public with free health screenings, health coaching, and community education."