Healthy Houston

       Living in a large complex city like Houston  has its many advantages, but when trying to find information about children’s health, the sheer size of the city can make the process difficult and unreliable . Shortly after obtaining a position at the Texas Medical Center, Jessica Johns Pool realized this conundrum and decided to take action.   With the help of  Dawn Dorsey and Jennifer Patrick,  Healthy Houston Kids was created in the summer of 2009 and is still being updated today.  Offering a vast amount of health information such as medical clinic reviews, free vaccine information and even safe swimming tips, Healthy Houston Kids is a generous helping hand with all things health.  Reaching out to the community in one way or another these medical charlie’s angeles are definitely making Houston a safer place for all.  Thank you.

1) What inspired you to start your own blog?
Writing for different hospitals and health care companies taught me that there’s a wealth of health information out there for consumers, particularly parents, to keep up with. I started Healthy Houston Kids to help make it easier for parents to find local pediatric health information.

2) Many people blog for different reasons. What is your ultimate goal as a blogger?
To create a site that’s the go-to place for parents who want to find healthy activities and health services for their kids.

3) How long did you think about it before you started blogging and what was the catalyst for your first post?
I researched topics, blog platforms, link building and social media strategies for several months before launching Healthy Houston Kids. I also asked a former coworker and friend, Dawn Dorsey, to partner with me.

4) What do you hope readers take away from reading your blogs?
We hope our readers learn about a health service for their child that they didn’t know existed here in Houston, about the latest research and how it applies to their children, and reminders on how to keep their children healthy.

5) What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of maintaining a blog? How do you choose to address it?
Growing readership has been the biggest challenge for us. We maintain Facebook and Twitter accounts, work with other bloggers, and distribute bookmarks to local libraries and retail shops that cater to children’s needs.

6) What other blogs do you enjoy reading and why?
Locally I follow Houston On The Cheap, Turning Houston Green and Texas Word Tangle. Nationally I read Dooce, GruntDoc and The Happy Hospitalist.

7) If you could narrow it down to one answer, what do you love the most about Houston? Why?
Diversity. My first impression of Houston was that there was room for everyone. I’m not talking so much about physical space, but culturally. It’s an attitude. You can be a rancher, a business tycoon, a knitter or a blogger – of just about any ethnicity or political persuasion – and you’ll find plenty of other people with similar interests.

How has blogging changed your life?
I’ve learned a tremendous amount.

9) Are there other blogs/websites do you maintain?
I write and consult on communications for a living, so you can find my copy on many company and nonprofit sites.

10) Has the city of Houston brought you any local advantages or disadvantages that affect your blog?
The institutions of the Texas Medical Center are an enormous advantage for our blog. The doctors and researchers here in Houston produce amazing research and advances in disease treatments. We try to make Healthy Houston Kids one place where it’s easy to find out about those advances as well as things like free exercise classes for kids.

11)  Do you have a favorite post on your blog.
Our most popular post has consistently been the page that lists places to get free and cheap immunizations for your children.

12)  Have you had any interesting reactions from your blog (either on the internet or in real life).
The parents we hear from are glad to have found our site and encourage us to keep publishing.