The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50662

Jo Ann P. Johnson, MPH, Child and Youth Nutrition Education, University of California Cooperative Extension, Alameda County, 1131 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 113, Alameda, CA 94502, 510-639-1361, jpjohnson@ucdavis.edu, Patricia Wakimoto, RD, DrPH, Community Outreach and Education Program, NIEHS Center for Environmental Health Sciences, 5700 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, CA 94609, and Lucrecia Farfan-Ramirez, MPH, Cooperative Extension- Alameda County, University of California, 1131 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 131, Alameda, CA 94502.

Validated nutrition studies have shown properly designed youth nutrition education programs are a key component to influence nutrition related behavior and to increase awareness of the importance of healthy diets in preventing disease. Interactive computer-mediated technology, which incorporates stand-alone computer applications and on-line services, is a viable means of disseminating science based youth nutrition information in a non-formal playful atmosphere. Although a wealth of current scientific based nutrition education activities and games developed to increase youths nutritional literacy and critical thinking skills on-line exists, surprisingly no nutrition education programs have integrated or applied these resources. In addition, there is an increasing digital divide in low-income communities and a growing need to build youths capacity from these communities to apply technology with tangible results. In an effort to close this technology gap and utilize on-line resources to promote community based nutrition education, University of California Cooperative Extension, Alameda County, designed, developed and piloted an After school computer based nutrition education program for youth ages 8 – 13. Utilizing the theoretical foundations of the UC Links 5th Dimension education framework and the experiential learning model, Nutri-Link integrates six one-hour nutrition science lessons with on-line nutrition resources in an interactive service-learning nutrition curriculum. Process evaluation was conducted throughout the pilot. Impact evaluation is measured with interactive email questionnaires. A computer survey is used to assess computer use and access. Dissemination of the Nutri-Link website and Training Manual is currently underway. This presentation will focus on the theoretical framework, design and implementation of Nutri-Link

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives

• Recognize the advantages of integrating a computer technology internet-based nutrition education program into After school community-based programs in low-income diverse communities.
• Describe the theoretical basis and educational model used to develop an After school based nutrition education intervention.
• Identify learning outcome and objectives for 6 non-sequenced thematic hands-on nutrition and food safety lessons.
• Identify effective age appropriate on-line nutrition education resources for use with diverse youth populations’ age 8 – 13 participating in After school community-based programs.

Keywords: Nutrition, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.