to view the program - Society for Public Health Education

screening would be useful. Raising provider awareness regarding the
willingness of Hispanic patients to discuss CRC screening is key. Note
in awareness campaigns that screening is done when someone does
not have symptoms. A future avenue of investigation may include
using the women’s interest in men’s well-being to increase awareness
and encourage screening.
Concurrent Session C4
Improving Health through
Collaborative Change
Changing Local Food Policy in Native American Reservations
Using Community-Based Participatory Research
Valarie Jernigan, MPH DrPH, University of New Mexico
Changing local food policy in a Native American reservation
using community-based participatory research Valarie Blue Bird
Jernigan, Alicia L. Salvatore, Dennis M. Styne, Marilyn Winkleby
ABSTRACT Background. Native American reservations suffer
from high rates of food insecurity resulting in diabetes and obesity.
Objectives: We implemented a community-based participatory
research (CBPR) study to address upstream factors causing food
insecurity in a rural Native American reservation. Methods. We
conducted a community assessment in a rural California reservation
using the Tool for Health and Resilience in Vulnerable Environments
(THRIVE) and incorporating the participatory media methodology
of digital storytelling. The THRIVE tool was adapted to be appropriate
for use in this community. Theoretical basis. The THRIVE
tool is an evidence-based policy engagement framework created by
the Prevention Institute of Oakland, CA, a non-profit organization
dedicated to using participatory research methods to assist vulnerable
communities in making policy changes to end health disparities.
Results: Racial injustice and physical and financial barriers to
accessing healthy and culturally-appropriate foods were identified as
top concerns for this community. As a result, the project partnership
developed a number of policies including the integration of a new
community supported agriculture initiative with the existing commodity
food program and the use of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) at
the local farmers’ market. Conclusions: A participatory research orientation
combined with the use of an adapted version of the THRIVE
tool were effective means not only for identifying structural determinants
of food insecurity but also for initiating several novel policy
interventions to promote healthy environments and reduce health
disparities experienced by the community. Implications. The THRIVE
tool was a valuable policy engagement framework that can be adapted
and localized in other communities to address local policy changes for
improving health.
Community-School Partnership To Improve Student Fitness Levels
Diane Allensworth, PhD, Centers for Disease Control; Christi Kay,
MA, Health MPowers; Beth Stevenson, MA, PRADO, Centers for
Disease Control
Background: The state of Georgia has the 3rd highest obesity rates
of all states for youth ages 10-17. Health MPowers (HMP), a community
based health and physical education initiative, works with
both elementary and middle schools in over 15 Georgia school
districts to create model health and physical education programs.
Theoretical Base: HMP patterned its program after the CDC’s Role
of Schools in Preventing Obesity which can be found at http://www.
cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/physicalactivity/pdf/roleofschools_obesity.
pdf. Interventions: This project aims to: 1) increase the percentage of
students who engage in daily moderate to vigorous physical activity;
2) increase the percentage of students in grades 4-8 who can pass
FITNESSGRAM standards; 3) increase the number of students who
eat healthy; 4) increase the number of staff engaged in continuous
improvement of the physical education and nutrition program; and 5)
engage parents in promoting nutrition and physical activity at home,
including limiting screen time. Evaluation Measures: An evaluation of
a sub-set of 13 schools in seven districts serving 10,166 students from
2004-2007 was completed in 2007 and again in 2009, two years after
the program was completed to identify those portions of the program
that had been institutionalized in the participating schools. (In 2007,
HMP served approximately 25,000 students in total). Students participated
in pre and post FITNESSGRAM testing, completed surveys
of knowledge and behaviors, school staff completed annual surveys
in regard to policies and programs. Results: Results at the end of the
three year intervention included:
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The number of schools conducting fitness testing progressed from
4 to all 13 schools;
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All nine of the participating elementary schools demonstrated an
increase in the numbers of students achieving fitness levels in the
healthy fitness zone;
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The four middle schools demonstrated an increase in student fitness
levels in at least one grade, which varied by school.
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All schools demonstrated an increase in the number of school
health activities initiated. • All 13 schools established a School
Health Council that improved policies and programming. Results
from the 2-year follow-up evaluation showed that twelve of the
thirteen schools, had institutionalized most of the interventions
that were recommended. One school was closed by the district.
Those policies that were implemented to promote institutionalization
of the program and how much of the program remained
intact two years after the project was completed by Health
MPowers will be discussed. Lessons learn from this community
school partnership will also be shared.
SOPHE-NACDD 2011 Joint Academy and Midyear Scientific Meeting 31