Family Health & Wellness
Health and wellness is exemplified as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being - not merely the absence of disease. Health and wellness is directly connected to quality of life. The Extension Family and Consumer Sciences mission is to promote improved quality of life for individuals, families and communities.
Positive health and wellness is an active process of awareness and making choices toward a more successful existence. Research indicates that Americans who take care of themselves and manage their lifestyles are healthier, more productive, have fewer absences from work, and make fewer demands for medical services.
Sonja Koukel, PhD
Family Health & Wellness Specialist
Phone: 575-646-3006
Email:
sdkoukel@nmsu.edu
Programs
Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Program (CDSMEP)
Strategies for living a healthy life with any chronic condition. The suite of self-management programs, most are offered in both English and Spanish, include: general CDSMEP, Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP), Cancer: Thriving and Surviving Program (CTSP), and Chronic Pain Self-Management Program (CPSMP).
General Health
The Health Program revolves around activities related to healthy lifestyles, including maintenance of social, emotional, and physical health. The goal of the Health Program is to provide reliable, research-based information that covers the lifespan in all areas of individual, family, and community life. Topic areas include cancer facts, health literacy, osteoarthritis pain management, selecting over-the-counter medications, stress management, sun safety, and other general health areas of interest.
Healthy Homes and Communities
Programs are designed to administer guidance and provide resources for maintaining or rehabilitating areas both within and outside the home or workplace in a manner that supports the health of residents. The program area provides education focused on a variety of human health issues that are impacted and/or exacerbated through the environment in which people live, work and play. Examples are mold control and remediation, air quality, and controlling pest infestation. The program covers disaster preparedness as it impacts individual and community health.
