237071 Healthy parents, healthy kids = Healthy communities

Monday, October 31, 2011

Xochitl Torres, BA , School of Public Health, Dept. Health Promotion & Education, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Bryanna Kamper, BA , School of Public Health, Dept. Health Promotion & Education, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Lois Kim, BA , School of Public Health, Dept. Health Promotion & Education, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Janki Naik, BA , School of Public Health, Dept. Health Promotion & Education, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Shawna Moody, BS , School of Public Health, Dept. Health Promotion & Education, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, Afghanistan
Jennifer Drader, BS , School of Public Health, Dept. Health Promotion & Education, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Sherie Lou Santos, BA , School of Public Health, Dept. Health Promotion & Education, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Patti Herring, PhD, RN , School of Public Health, Dept. Health Promotion & Ed, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Susanne Montgomery, PhD, MPH, MS , Behavioral Health Institute, Loma Linda University, Redlands, CA
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.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to: 1. Identify three strengths of an after-school sports program on the immediate family and its effect on childhood obesity. 2. Identify three challenges or barriers that program planners might encounter in implementing a health promotion program for families whose children engage in an after-school program. 3. Identify three ways that competitive sports activities can encourage children and their families to become physically fit, staying fit, and modeling the importance of physical active to other family members and to their community at large.

Keywords: Community Collaboration, Community-Based Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a graduate student, along with other students, conducting research and program planning as part of our graduate studies.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.