Spirit In Action’s (SIA), whose vision is for the health and welfare of our children to be the overriding considerations in all government, corporate, and individual decisions, introduces Healing America's Youth, a whole system multi-media education and support project for today’s “youth in crisis”. Using the principles of natural law and whole systems design, Healing America's Youth, contains the ingredients needed to foster an understanding of how children’s health, environmental health and social health issues are related. It introduces the latest scientific understanding of the problems afflicting the youth, then offers solutions and successes currently working to inspire sustainable health in all areas of children’s lives. Finally, it offers “how to” support and resources for parents, educators and children to make positive shifts for their present and future health. The project, slated to have a strong presence on the Internet, and ultimately video and TV distribution, establishes a new premise connecting the related issues. Each phase of the project brings public value while building on a long-term vision expanding into the areas of education and community outreach. It promises effective impact in the areas of physical, emotional and environmental health, helping to build a strong foundation for social health.

Today’s children are unique. They display a new and unusual set of psychological attributes showing a pattern of behavior undocumented before. They are independent, aware, have high self-esteem and are known to be fearless. Some say they are here to challenge us to embrace a new lifestyle. How? By reviewing the statistics below one might think that they are getting our attention in ways which force us to look at how we are handling things. Consider these alarming facts:

1.   One in five children is considered obese

2.   ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) effects between 10% and 15% of all school children in the U.S. and is estimated to double in 3 to 4 years. In 1987, The American Psychiatric Association (APA) voted ADHD, the disease, into existence.

3.   Over six million children between 6 and 18 are taking mind altering psychotropic drugs such as Ritalin, Luvox and Prozac for treatment of behavior problems, AD/HD, learning disabilities, and depression.

4.   The common link between the highly publicized acts of violence committed by children in the past two years (Columbine High in Colorado, Heritage High School in Georgia and Thurston High School in Oregon) was that the students who committed these acts were on some form of psychotropic drugs such as Ritalin and Luvox.

5.   Eating Disorders have the highest mortality rate in psychiatric practice (10-25% die).

6.   15 – 20 % of the U.S. population have some form of learning disability, according to the National Institute of Health.

7.   Birth defects are the leading cause of infant death and a major cause of disability in young people, affecting more than 150,00 babies each year.

8.   Drinking water contaminated by atrazine in Iowa showed a significantly greater risk of low birth rates, premature births, and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).

9.   Teen Suicide: depression related suicide kills more teenagers and young adults than cancer, heart disease, AIDS, pneumonia, influenza birth defects, and stroke combined.

Although there is sincere concern for the problems facing today’s children they continue to grow in epidemic proportions. It is no secret that corporate influence is making a huge impact. From our extensive work in schools and communities we found that a comprehensive health education network was needed to counter the huge corporate influence in schools, and other venues reaching the youth. Students, parents, and school administrators know on some level that there is a problem, however, they do not understand the issues, nor is there a resource they can go to for answers.

Many of the prevailing issues around children’s health are reported in isolation of each other. They lack the correlation to the interrelated world of which we belong. We can no longer talk about nutrition without talking about agriculture. We can no longer talk about environmental pollution without addressing the immune system. We can no longer talk about water pollution without talking about mineral deficiencies. We can no longer talk about drug and alcohol rehabilitation without talking about restoring physical health, and we can no longer talk about medicine without talking about prevention.  The following facts illustrate some of these parallels:

1.   There have been 16 double-blind research projects that show food dyes worsen symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Learning Disabilities (LD’s), and other physical, mental and emotional problems in children. There are thousands of case studies showing improvements in behavior and depression removing sugar and chemicals from the diet, adequate nutrition and healing allergies.

2.   Children are the most vulnerable and unsuspecting victims to chemical agriculture methods. Some apples and peaches are so contaminated that just two bites are unsafe for children under six. Their small bodies, through food, air and water, are being filled with herbicides and pesticides like Atrazine (the most widely used in the U.S. and rated in the EPA’s most toxic category), inordinate doses of antibiotics and hormones from animal foods (meat and dairy products) and unstudied genetically modified foods. The effects; premature puberty, mood swings, interruption of brain and nervous system development, birth defects.

3.   Low-level lead poisoning from contaminated water, dust, soil and old paint afflicts nearly a million children in the United States causing Learning Disabilities (LD’s), hyperactivity, and poor motor coordination. Further, the rate of Asthma, with known causes such as industrial air pollution, diapers, and others toxins, has doubled between 1980 and 1998 afflicting over 4.5 million children.

4.   The above mentioned causes to many of children’s physical and emotional problems are being treated with drugs that many health professionals think could have short term and long term negative effects, and further do not address the original cause of the problems. There is enough sound scientific research revealing that the standard American diet (SAD), conventional agriculture practices, environmental pollution, and media influence cause a great deal of the conditions afflicting the youth today.

Strategies that foster change call for national awareness in a language understandable to the average person, accompanied by support that inspires parents, educators and children to make positive informed choices.

We receive thousands of inquiries from people who want answers, and resources. The Internet site, www.Spiritinaction.org, provides a comprehensive content information and support center for children’s natural health. It gives parents and educators the tools they need to educate their families, school administrators and community members. There is a huge opportunity with the Internet to fill a void and provide clarity around health and environmental issues for American families.

A $5,000 grant award from Threshold Foundation was received in March 2000 to complete the first phase; “Healing America's Youth”. SIA seeks to raise $50,000 – to complete research, full execution of the Internet site, build organizational alliances, community outreach and marketing for public awareness. Donations can be made and/or businesses who meet our recommended criteria can purchase enhanced listings on our product category page. Healing America's Youth was developed by Susan Campbell, founder of Spirit In Action (www.spiritinaction.org) and author of the Healthy School Lunch Action Guide, published by EarthSave International. Significant accomplishments have been completed for the content and feasibility of Healing America's Youth. Contact: Susan Campbell @ (720) 839-8700.

A project of Spirit In Action
info@spiritinaction.org