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Abstract #160624

Lynn Fredericks, FamilyCook Productions, 330 East 43rd Street Ste. 704, New York, NY 10017, 212 867-3929, lynn@FamilyCookProductions.com, Justine Dang, MHS, City Harvest, 575 Eighth Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10018, and Leslie F. Boden, MSUP, Community Health & Healthcare, Independent Consultant, 2711 Henry Hudson Parkway W. #5F, Bronx, NY 10463.

A coalition of health and food-related organizations have come together to address alarming rates of diet-related disease in the South Bronx, one of U.S.'s poorest communities.. According to 2005 Community Health Survey Data, 67.4% of South Bronx adults are overweight or obese, compared to 54.8% of New York City adults, raising their likelihood of developing heart disease and diabetes. The South Bronx's Community Food Assessment (CFA) project has brought together partners comprising the following disciplines: public health, food security, medical, nutrition, urban agriculture, culinary, farmers market management, youth development and education, urban planning, and community organizing. With this multi-disciplinary expertise, residents in Community Board 1 (pre-k through adult) have been engaged in focus groups, surveys, events, photovoice and other interactive activities to envision change in their food landscape and take steps to create change. Preliminary results from Phase I of this project in 2005-06 in the Melrose section of Community Board 1, revealed interest in nutrition education and community garden opportunities, a buying club and additional farm stands in closer proximity to public housing. Phase 2 of this project has been multi-faceted: 1) engaged more of CB1 residents in assessment activities; 2) begun implementation of the Melrose community's identified needs as a demonstration project model for other S. Bronx community districts; and 3) developed an electronic Community Food Assessment toolkit model for replication in other NYC Community Districts and for communities beyond New York City. Epidemiological support from the Bronx District Public Health Office is engaged in evidencing the dietary behavior and health impacts of these new food resources and education.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion, participants in this session will be able to

• Construct the optimal blend of traditional research and community organizing in the CFA to result in community-led change in a food barren landscape.
• Recruit a range of multi-disciplinary expertise to conduct a comprehensive CFA presenting a wide menu of possible food access and nutrition education solutions for community resident selection.
• Utilize the most effective combination of strategies to influence community-wide behavior changes around food to inhibit overweight and obesity.

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Food and Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.