249546 Promoting physical activity and healthy nutrition practices for African American families with children in early childhood

Wednesday, November 2, 2011: 11:23 AM

Natii Wright , SHIRE's Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention Program, Summit Health Institute for Research and Education (SHIRE), Washington, DC
Pearline Tyson, MA , National Black Child Development Institute, Washington, DC
Suzanne M. Randolph, PhD , Center for Community Prevention and Treatment Research, The MayaTech Corporation, Silver Spring, MD
In this presentation, we will discuss a childhood obesity prevention/reduction program which is based on a national evidence-based program initiated by Head Start, and combined with a locally grown intervention to promote physical activity and positive nutrition in child care settings. This program was field-tested in Washington, DC with 483 early childhood educators and parents of African American children in child care. The curriculum and materials were later adapted for incorporation into a national initiative based on the Let's Move! campaign to fight childhood obesity in African American communities. An interactive format with audiovisuals will be used to engage participants in the movement activities used in the program with children and parents. We will also provide, for participants' viewing, copies of materials used to promote and educate African American communities on healthy nutrition practices and physical activity. We will discuss lessons learned in culturally adapting these activities and materials for African American families with young children. Implications for planning, implementation, evaluation, dissemination and sustainability of future efforts will be discussed.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Other professions or practice related to public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Discuss two successes with implementing physical activity and nutrition programs for African American families with young children Discuss two challenges to promoting healthy nutrition practices and physical activity among African American families with young children and how to overcome them Identify a supplemental curriculum and materials to promote positive nutrition practices and engage African American families with young children in physical activity in early childhood settings

Keywords: African American, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Program Manager for the local childhood prevention initiative described and discussed in this presentation. I also played a major role in culturally adapting existing curricula and developing the supplemental curriculum and materials for this project.
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.