Youth Wellness Program

About the Youth Wellness Program

The Youth Wellness Program supports healthy growth, disease prevention, and lifelong wellness among children, adolescents, and families through family-centered education, prevention programming, and community-based support.

Using a multidisciplinary approach, the program promotes key areas of youth health including nutrition, physical activity, behavioral wellbeing, healthy lifestyle development, chronic disease prevention, and family engagement. Programming is designed to provide practical skills, supportive resources, and culturally responsive education that reflect the needs of children and families across the Coastal Bend region.

Through education, community partnerships, and evidence-informed programming, the Youth Wellness Program seeks to empower youth and families to build healthier habits, improve wellbeing, and support positive health outcomes.

WellKids Pediatric Wellness Program

WellKids is an 8-week multidisciplinary pediatric wellness program for youth ages 8–18 designed to help children, teens, and families build healthier habits for lifelong wellness. Using a family-centered approach, the program combines nutrition education, physical activity, behavioral health support, medical screening, and hands-on learning experiences to support overall health and wellbeing.

Participants attend biweekly sessions that include one hour of nutrition education and two hours of structured physical activity led by a multidisciplinary team. Families also participate in monthly community family nights, providing opportunities for continued education, connection, and support.

Program topics include:

• Introduction, MyPlate and Goal Setting
• Sugary Drinks, Calories, and Carbs
• Understanding Food Labels
• Building Self-esteem and Healthy Habits
• Drive-Through Decisions: Eating Smart on the Go
• Confidence, Coping Skills, and Dealing with Bullies
• Fuel Before, During, and After School
• Cooking and Meal Planning with Healthy Recipe Substitutions
• Physical Activity Component

Physical activity in WellKids is designed to be fun, supportive, and engaging, helping youth develop positive experiences with movement while building confidence and lifelong healthy habits.

Activities may be structured, such as fitness circuits and skill stations, or more informal through games, challenges, and team-based activities. The program emphasizes improving strength, coordination, endurance, flexibility, and overall fitness to support healthy growth, body composition, and everyday movement skills.

By focusing on enjoyable, age-appropriate, and achievable activities, participants are encouraged to feel successful, capable, and motivated to remain active long term.

Physical activity sessions may include:

• Aerobic activities
• Resistance and strength training
• Bone-strengthening exercises
• Balance and flexibility activities
• Group games and team-building activities
• Warm-up and cool-down routines

WellKids emphasizes culturally responsive education, positive lifestyle change, and strong family engagement to help children and teens build confidence, strengthen healthy behaviors, and improve overall wellness in a supportive environment.

WellKids is offered through a collaboration between Texas A&M Health Coastal Bend Health Education Center (CBHEC) and Driscoll Children’s Hospital, with referrals coordinated through the Youth Wellness Institute.

WellKids incorporates evidence-informed pediatric wellness and family-based healthy lifestyle intervention approaches to support sustainable health outcomes for children and families.

Class Location

Coastal Bend Health Education Center
4215 S. Staples St., Corpus Christi, TX
361.239.5127