Mariposa Center For Girls

The Mariposa DR Foundation recently concluded its annual health fair. This family event is a critical component of our programming and is essential in gathering information and providing necessary services to our girls. This year, our parents were also direct recipients of vital health assessments and learned the importance of a healthy lifestyle along with their daughter. 

With a very high participation rate, data was collected for over 100 girls and their parents.  During the health fair, our staff and volunteers test hearing, vision, and heart health. Height and weight are noted on a growth chart for each girl. Growth charts are used to compare to other children of the same age. The comparison helps provide early warnings of potential medical complications.

Our toothbrushing program teaches our girls to develop healthy habits to care for their teeth at a young age and sets the stage for good oral health throughout their entire life. During the health fair, all teeth are checked and inquiries are made to make sure our girls are not experiencing any dental pain. Proper dental education and resources are provided to avoid many of the problems that result from poor dental health, including gum disease, cavities, and tooth decay. Untreated pain and infections can lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Necessary education, evaluation, treatment, and transportation for necessary follow-up appointments at the dental clinic are provided to ensure beautiful, HEALTHY, smiles for our girls!

Individual interviews are conducted with every parent to gather information about the family’s living situation and challenges faced. Questions include: access to water and electricity, type of housing, roof condition, transportation availability, languages spoken in the home, number of people in the household, bathroom access, bedrooms and sleeping arrangements, financial support, and parent job stability. This information provides vital insight into the obstacles many of our girls face to fully access educational and extracurricular opportunities. It also allows us to create a plan with families to support them in creating a healthy home environment for their daughters.

A highlight of health week is our parent/daughter yoga session.  Our girls practice yoga regularly and the health fair provides an opportunity for them to not only show their parents what they have learned, but it allows parents to experience the benefits of yoga and mindfulness themselves!

We are incredibly thankful to all our donors who help provide services instigated by our annual health fair.  We all know that a healthy, happy girl has the advantage and through education and empowerment, the sky is the limit!