Our Beginning
Patty James founded DirectionFive Health in 2009 with plans to travel the United States interviewing kids from all walks of life about various aspects of their health. She felt that the best way to develop programs for kids was to ask the kids themselves what they wanted and needed to learn in order to live healthier lives.
Patty believes that if kids are part of the process, they are more likely to be part of the solution. Patty conducted video interviews and collected written surveys from kids and parents, traveling to 41 states. Sonoma State University analyzed the data that was released in April of 2011.
Our Mission
Our mission is to improve the health of kids so they can lead healthier, happier, more productive lives.
Our Vision
DirectionFive was built From the Kids Up and will remain so. We will continually speak with kids about what they want and need to learn about their health so as to lead healthier, happier lives.
Our vision is to have as many kids as possible attend the DirectionFive program, and we will work with kids, families and communities to ensure this happens. Health: Exponentially.
but really…it’s About Kids
“When kids are part of the process, they are more likely to be part of the solution.” Patty James
When DirectionFive founder Patty James made this observation, it was based on raising her own children and by teaching kids at her cooking school. The thought is the basic tenet of DirectionFive Health and was the impetus for Patty’s cross-country journey interviewing kids from all walks of life about their health.
What do you want to learn? How can we help you lead healthier lives?
We listened and created the five health programs that kids said they wanted to learn taken directly from the kids interviews. This is a by the kids, for the kids organization. It’s a new approach; it’s a new direction.
Our goal is to carry on with this unique founding principle. We will continually speak with kids in order to keep our pulse on what they tell us they need.
Our Founding Principles
- When kids are part of the process, they are more likely to be part of the solution.
- Kids are our source of inspiration and innovation.
- Each child has a unique set of abilities and insights to be heard and supported.
- Our community is your community. Where there are kids who want to learn, is where we’ll be.
- Our goal is to provide our programs to as many kids as possible. Therefore we offer a teacher training
program to qualified adults. - We will make learning interesting and fun. The word will spread. Health: Exponentially.