Atlas & Athena
Healthy Exercise and Nutrition Programs
The Efrain Anthony Marrero Foundation is pleased to partner with Oregon Health and Science University's ATLAS & ATHENA healthy exercise and nutrition programs. The Foundation presents the ATLAS & ATHENA programs and messages to schools across the country in addition to helping to secure funding for schools to implement the ATLAS & ATHENA curriculum. The programs have both proven extremely effective in changing the behaviors of young men and women and the Foundation backs them 100%.

ATLAS
(Athletes Training & Learning to Avoid Steroids)
ATLAS is an award winning, scientifically proven program for male athletes. Its multiple components provide healthy sports nutrition and strength-training alternatives to the use of alcohol, illicit and performance-enhancing drugs. ATLAS is peer-led and gender specific. It is interactive, engaging and easy to implement by coaches during the sport season.

A coach and selected student athletes called “Squad Leaders” lead the program. The program materials are completely scripted and easy to follow. Little or no preparation is needed. There are 10 sessions for ATLAS. Each session lasts 45 minutes. Sessions are typically scheduled once per week during the season on a “light” practice day. Coaches facilitate the program, keep athletes on task, and introduce and wrap up student-led activities. Squad Leaders provide a majority of the instruction for their small group of teammates. Sessions include role-plays, student-created campaigns or public service announcements and instructional, interactive games. Athletes practice goal setting and self-monitoring of nutrition behaviors. Students learn attitudes and skills that will help them make healthy choices in sports and throughout their lives. Read more about ATLAS from the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration) and NREPP (National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices).


ATHENA
(Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise & Nutrition Alternatives)
ATHENA is a scientifically proven program for female athletes. ATHENA addresses the connection between young women in sports, disordered eating behaviors and body shaping drug use. Its multiple components provide healthy sports nutrition and strength-training alternatives to the use of alcohol, illicit and performance-enhancing drugs. ATHENA is peer-led and gender specific. It is interactive, engaging and easy to implement by coaches during the sport season.

A coach and selected student athletes called "Squad Leaders" lead the program. The program materials are completely scripted and easy to follow. Little or no preparation is needed. There are 8 sessions for ATHENA. Each session lasts 45 minutes. Sessions are typically scheduled once per week during the season on a "light" practice day. Coaches facilitate the program, keep athletes on task, and introduce and wrap up student-led activities. Squad Leaders provide a majority of the instruction for their small group of teammates. Sessions include role-plays, student-created campaigns or public service announcements and instructional, interactive games. Athletes practice goal setting and self-monitoring of nutrition behaviors. Students learn attitudes and skills that will help them make healthy choices in sports and throughout their lives. Read more about ATHENA at NREPP (National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices) site.


For more information on either program: http://www.ohsu.edu/ohsuedu/academic/som/medicine/hpsm/


The Efrain Anthony Marrero Foundation:
Is a non-profit corporation that was formed in 2005 in memory of Efrain Anthony Marrero. Efrain took his own life on September 26, 2004, three weeks after he stopped using steroids.