Jeanne Silberstein, MPH, RD and Sonia J. Vega, BS. San Bernardino County Department of Public Health Nutrition Program, 351 N. Mt. View Avenue, Room 104, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0010, (909) 387-6320, jsilberstein@dph.sbcounty.gov

The Norton Neighborhood Nutrition Network guided by the Public Health Department used the Spectrum of Prevention as the program-planning model to empower Latino mothers in a low-income primarily Spanish-speaking neighborhood to change food choices offered in the school environment. The Spectrum of Prevention includes: strengthening individual knowledge, promoting community education, training/educating providers, fostering coalitions and networks, changing organizational practices, and influencing policy and legislation. The mothers who had been attending parenting, ESL, nutrition and gardening classes sponsored by the district and public health increased their awareness, knowledge and skills about the benefits of growing, preparing and serving nutritious foods to their families at home. Flushed with the success experienced at home in making these changes, the mothers discerned a disconnect between what was taught to them in class and what was served at their parent meetings and in the school cafeteria. The Latino moms became advocates of healthy eating and physical activity promotion at the school. They advocated for the adoption of the Healthy Food Option Policy, which influenced what is served at parent meetings and sold by the PTA for fundraisers. The Latino moms held the principal accountable to following through on the policy. As a result a decision to sell an alternative item instead of candy for the annual school fundraiser was made by the principal. Next, the Latino mothers organized and advocated for the establishment of a salad bar at their children’s elementary school despite barriers of space and labor.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will

1.Recognize Public Health’s role in empowering community members to affect social change 2.Identify a program planning model, the Spectrum of Prevention, which enables the development of effective community nutrition education interventions that includes policy change
• Apply strategies used by school parents to advocate for an environment where healthier food choices are offered

Keywords: Food and Nutrition, Policy/Policy Development

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.