Together we stand: A shared vision to change the course of childhood obesity in African-American and Latino communities

The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) partnered with the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) and the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) to address childhood obesity in vulnerable communities through strong school system leadership.

There is widespread documentation that African-American and Latino children are often at higher risk for childhood obesity than their white peers. Multiple cultural, social and economic factors can play a role in this disparity. By understanding how African-American and Latino parents and students feel about the issue, and by working with school system leaders who serve in these communities, changes in programs and policy can be made that are culturally competent and impact the health and academic success of student.

Both NABSE and ALAS held focus groups with school system leaders, parents, students and school health providers. They discussed how schools, families, communities and students together can be engaged in creating solutions to childhood obesity. With that, NABSE and ALAS developed programs, policies and organizational position statements.

This poster session will share relevant lessons learned from the focus groups held by ALAS and NABSE and showcase the position statements adopted by the two organizations. Success through this partnership was realized not only in the official positions that these organizations take at a national level, but more importantly by the impact that African-American and Latino school system leaders have on their communities, school districts and ultimately the children they serve who are at higher risk for childhood obesity.