Healthy parents, healthy kids = Healthy communities

It is well established that diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis are related to childhood obesity. This is especially prominent among families from low-income backgrounds. To help lower childhood obesity, some communities are becoming proactive by creating affordable sports-related after-school programs for children. In one such program families are offered the opportunity to participate in an affordable soccer league (Goal 4 Health) designed for children ages four through fourteen. Local leadership felt that a more comprehensive family supportive approach was needed to solidify the positive results the kids get. To inform program development for family members attending training sessions and games of the kids in the soccer program graduate students conducted a needs and assets assessment with children, parents, school personnel, previous participants, and league volunteers. Data include ethnographies, windshield surveys, literature reviews, eleven theory-based semi-structured interviews, and two confirmatory focus groups. Data were coded, themed and analyzed using inductive Grounded Theory methods. Results supported the need for a health program during the scheduled practices times and included requests for support groups for parents of children with health conditions (asthma, diabetes), lessons in learning positive social interactions while engaging in competitive sports, healthy cultural specific cooking classes, and stress management through relaxation and stretching. Barriers were lack of time, cultural taboos, and timing of the program (not during a game). A pilot program was developed, implemented, and process and impact evaluation used for continuous program improvement. Lessons learned including program sustainability will be discussed.