Aultman Health Foundation started the
Aultman Ambassador Program (AAP) about eight years ago. The goal is to empower high school students to engage their peers, families and communities in promoting sustainable, healthy lifestyle changes.
Edward J. Roth III, CEO/President of the Aultman Health Foundation shared, "Dr. Shah brought an idea to us and under the leadership of Vicki Haines and Dr. Liz Edmunds (Aultman Health Foundation leaders), the idea became a reality. Aultman supports programs for Greater Stark County Schools because it supports our mission to lead our community to improved health. The health of the students is really important for success in school and later, being successful in life.”
The Aultman Ambassador Program partners with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation Healthy Schools Program to provide evidence-based resources on the core principles of the AAP: Nutrition, Hydration, Physical Activity, Sleep and Stress. Currently, seventeen schools and five universities implement the Program.
The program’s goal is to improve the overall health and well-being of youth by implementing ongoing health promotion and prevention, resulting in a healthier community. In an interview, one local student ambassador shared that high school is a stressful time and students don’t always take care of themselves. He stated that now that he has joined the Student Ambassador Program, he is making conscious decisions about his health, like drinking enough water, getting regular exercise and improving his sleeping habits.