Tyler Bike Club fitting helmets.
Tyler Bike Club fitting helmets.

The Smith County Medical Alliance has an impact on the good health of our community by holding health related fairs or projects.  This year SCMS Alliance, SCMS & St. Pauls Children's Foundation are joining forces to promote healthy lifestyles for all ages.  Festival de Vida will focus on preventive health care measures such as diet, smoking, drinking, exercise, dental care, safety, immunizations and many other preventive measures to stay healthy.  The Health Fair has be set for Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at St. Pauls Children's Clinic at 1350 E. Richards and the surrounding grounds.
 
Our goal is to provide an afternoon of educational fun for the community.  The Health Fair will encourage families to incorporate sensible nutrition and physical activity practices into their lives.   We would like to show these families living healthy is the best health care solution for everyone.

We Partner with area businesses to demonstrate healthy foods and have local community organizations present educational and safety informatin.  We invite the community to come and learn how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

       "Fall into Fitness, Good Health is a Heart Beat Away"
Excutive Director, Julie Gibson and staff at the PA 25th Birthday Party January 13.
Excutive Director, Julie Gibson and staff at the PA 25th Birthday Party January 13.

Parents Anonymous Snack Suppers
Over twenty five years ago SCMSA helped start Parents Anonymous of Tyler, a "chapter" of a national child abuse prevention organization.  Since its inception the SCMSA and PA have worked together to present simple meals or "snack suppers" to the families attending classes.  During the school year, SCMSA members have provided these meals on a weekly basis.  But...for the first time this summer meals were provided as well.  If you would like to provide a meal please

download schedule here to see dates and information available.

   2008 Data:

  • Served 1467 people; 747 in our family classes (parents and children) and 720 in our teenage classes.
  • This number represents a 20% growth from 2007.
  • Classes are held in both Spanish and English and are free to participants

PA now offers Support groups at John Tyler and will add Robert E. Lee and several middle schools in the near future.
 
 


 

 
Be Wise Immunize Bumble Bee at work!
Be Wise Immunize Bumble Bee at work!

The successful "Be Wise Immunize" program has increased immunization clinics throughout Texas and Texas statistics are much better because of  these clinics.  We also support Texas Medical Association's  project  " Hard Hats for Little Heads".  Giving over 200 free helmets out at our August 15 Fair.
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Concerns about poor eating habits and lack of execise at home prompted our members to team up with the Texas Dept. of Health nutritionists, and area hospitals, doctors, nurses and teachers to launch the 3 year pilot project called "Run For Your Life" in the Tyler Independent School District. Over 1400 middle school children spent 3 weeks learning about healthy foods and the benefits of individual exercise through classroom demonstrations and logging their eating habits.
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Run for your Life was widely supported by Tyler community and news reporting groups, and received  generous grants from the Texas Medical Association Foundation. Awards included the Texas Medical Association Alliance "Dedication to the Mission" award and  an Honorable Mention award from the Texas State Department of Health Improvement Awards.
SISTERS working on comfort pillows for breast cancer patients.
SISTERS working on comfort pillows for breast cancer patients.
A very popular Program that has endured for 10 years is SISTERS, started by our member  Rhonda Reuter, to foster friendships by working  on baby quilts/blankets for East Texas Crisis, Tyler Day Nursery and Hospice, comfort pillows for Breast Cancer patients, neck coolers for service men and women, stockings for the Alliance Sensory Party, baby bibs for nurseries, personal hygiene kits for the Crisis Center and most recently, lunch tray treat containers for Assisted Living Residents.
Mary Helen Reuter & Grant Duvall display the Tux Tags message.
Mary Helen Reuter & Grant Duvall display the Tux Tags message.
Tux Tags, an Alcohol Awareness Program started 10 years ago to make the public more aware of the dangers of drinking and driving among teenagers during prom season. Bright pink tags display the name and phone number of the cab company that provides free rides in Smith County to any teen in need on Prom night.  They read " Live to tell your children about your Prom". These tags are distributed in the spring to area tux and flower shops.  The shops attach the tags on flowers and tux picked up for proms.   
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Another annual event is  "The Alliance Sensory Christmas Party".  Every December the Alliance partners with the Discovery Science Place and holds a Sensory Party for local special needs students.  The  students spend the morning enjoying music, sensory trees, and a special stocking from Mr. and Mrs. Claus.