Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy

About Healthy LifeStars

Healthy LifeStars and the Iowa Institute of Public Health Research and Policy are partnering to implement the Healthy LifeStars program in Iowa.

Healthy LifeStars is a national non-profit organization dedicated to ending childhood obesity through education, awareness and changed habits to influence future generations of healthy children. The program inspires personal responsibility to change unhealthy habits into healthy lifestyles.

Obesity is preventable!
Obesity is the #1 health problem for children and it can lead to additional health consequences such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, breathing and sleep problems
Obesity rates for Iowa children have increased. Iowa is now ranked 30 among the 51 States and Territories for childhood obesity. Iowa has the fourth-highest adult obesity rate in the nation.
The likelihood of childhood obesity increases with low family income, lack of access to neighborhood parks, less physical activity and greater TV, gaming, social media and other screen time.

The program operates in before, during or after school programs and is implemented in part through University of Iowa student coaches.

Join us to help launch a new generation of LifeStars inspired to live active, healthy lives now and in the future!

To learn more about the program, contact Josie Hentzen at josie-hentzen@uiowa.edu

About Us

Vickie Miene, MS, MA, LMHC is the deputy director of the Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. The institute brings together researchers, public health practitioners, community leaders and policy makers to expand the impact of public health research and improve the health of populations. Miene has over 25 years of experience building effective health care delivery models for vulnerable populations. She led a multimillion dollar, multi-year SAMHSA-funded System of Care program in northeast Iowa. The Community Circle of Care program was praised nationally for being the first SOC-funded program that effectively combined the social support medical systems through a team-based model of care for children and youth with serious emotional disorders. In addition, she co-founded the Center for Child Health Improvement and Innovation, which promotes systems improvement and innovation in the pediatric health community. Miene led multiple statewide training and technical assistance projects, all designed to transform systems and improve quality of services. Notably, she was part of a multidisciplinary statewide team that developed the successful Iowa Pediatric Integrated Health Home model. She has led multiple grant projects through her career. Miene was an adjunct instructor at in the Graduate Psychology program at Loras College, teaching courses such as Ethics and Professional Identity and Marriage and Family Therapy Interventions.

Josie Hentzen, MPH, CHES is the Program Coordinator for Healthy LifeStars at the Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy at the University of Iowa. As the Program Coordinator she provides support to partner sites, coordinates student coaches, maintains community relationships, and assists with implementation of the program. She recently graduated with her MPH with a concentration in Community and Behavioral Health from the University of Iowa College of Public Health. During her time as a Master’s student she volunteered as a head coach for Healthy LifeStars, as well completed her practicum with the organization. Josie is a Certified Health Education Specialists and received her Bachelors in Health Promotion at the University of Iowa.

Sofie Dollison, MPH, CHES is a Project Coordinator at the Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy at the University of Iowa working on multiple different projects including Healthy LifeStars. She is the Assistant Program Coordinator for Healthy LifeStars in Iowa focusing on student engagement and mentorship, volunteer management, video lesson creation, and coaching development. She holds an MPH with a concentration in Community and Behavioral Health from the University of Iowa with additional training in nonprofit management. Sofie is a Certified Health Education Specialist and received her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Iowa. Additionally, during her undergraduate and graduate studies, she volunteered as a coach, completed her experiential learning, and completed her practicum with HLS.