Meet Our Founder

At an early age, I was exposed to the suffering my father experienced, before he passed away, as a result of complications from diabetes. His mother was also diabetic. Unfortunately, I did not have the knowledge, which I now possess, to help my father. If I did, he could be alive today. Back then, I was unaware that simply by exercising regularly and changing the way he ate would have made a significant difference to his health.

Having been educated in the field of Nutrition and experienced success in working with individuals who have suffered from cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and hypertension, it has been my passion to reach out to those experiencing these types of preventable chronic illnesses – especially to those who may not be able to afford this type of advice and care.

Remarkable transformation can occur to those who choose to adopt a few simple lifestyle changes.


Credentials

Elaine Roach attended Florida International University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition (1994) and her Masters in Public Health (1998).

Elaine’s wealth of experience with international, national, state and local nutrition services includes emphasis on health disparities and cultural diversity.

International

She spoke about "The Design and Implementation of a Vitamin Prevention and Treatment Program in the Republic of Yemen" at the International Conference on Women in Africa and the African Diaspora (WAAD): Health and Human Rights, as well as the Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA).

These presentations were the result of her professional internship in the Republic of Yemen, where she successfully designed and executed a Vitamin A program presently being used by non-governmental agencies such as World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA).

Ms. Roach enjoys offering her services to enhance health promotion and has participated in a number of medical missions to Jamaica through Barry University and Nova Southeastern University. At these venues she continues to deliver nutrition and dietary counseling as part of a volunteer medical team to residents of Kingston as well as parishioners throughout the poorer regions of the country.

National

Nationally, Ms. Roach served as an expert coach for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s demonstration project "Fit Family Fit Kids" in her role as the Wellness Expert for the State of Florida. The year-long project was part of the Center’s VERBTM campaign to increase physical activity among youth and was reported on by Ms. Roach through monthly articles printed in Parents magazine. As a result of this effort, she was contacted by the Hispanic-specific initiatives for VERBTM to provide the same program for the Spanish speaking population through "Ninos Activos Familias Sanas". From their website at http://nafs.org:

"Niños Activos. Familias Sanas." (NAFS) es una campaña que anima a los padres Hispanos a motivar a sus "Tweens" (niños de 9 a 13 años) a participar en actividades físicas por lo menos 1 hora al día. Y así, desde pequeños, motivarlos a hacer del ejercicio diario parte de su estilo de vida. Recuerda…¡Niños activos son niños más sanos!

Roughly translated: “’Ninos Activos. Familias Sanas’ (NAFS) is a campaign that inspires Hispanic parents to motivate their “Tweens" (children of 9 to 13 years) to participate in physical activities at least 1 hour per day. And from there, gradually motivate them to make daily exercise part of their style of life. Remember… Active children are healthier children!"

These efforts were documented for five consecutive months in Vista magazine. This project later inspired a similar article featuring one of the families in Hispanic magazine.

State

At the state level, Ms. Roach contributed to the Journal of the Florida School Food Service Association and was a former collaborator in Governor Jeb Bush’s Task Force to generate physical fitness through the Florida Partnership for Promoting Physical Activity and Healthful Nutrition (FPPPAHN). Their efforts contributed to Obesity in Florida, Report of the Governor’s Task Force on the Obesity Epidemic February 2004.

Local

Locally, Wellness 4 Life Inc. provides nutrition counseling to prenatal and postpartum clients as well as counseling for infants, children and adolescents with medical and nutrition related risks, through a contract with the Healthy Start Program. Healthy Start is a comprehensive program of educational and counseling services geared toward preventing the birth of low weight babies and promoting the optimal health and development of all pregnant women and their babies. Wellness 4 Life Inc. receives referrals from a number of community service providers including community health centers, court-related children’s services, community based social service providers and the University of Miami’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Prior to establishing her own organization, Wellness 4 Life Inc., Ms. Roach held a position at one of the area’s oldest and largest Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHC) with a diverse population of over 30,000 patients. There she developed policies and procedures, created and implemented specialized diabetic programs, and designed and executed a staff wellness program while delivering quality group and individual counseling services on nutrition, exercise, stress management and overall wellness to participants.

Finally, in her earliest years in the diet and nutrition field, Ms. Roach served as an Adjunct Professor preparing class schedules and delivering nutrition lectures. She has also been a Nutrition Educator for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program of the Miami-Dade County Public Health Department. Her duties there included nutrition counseling on dietary practices for women, infants and children through group and individual instruction.