141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

286754
Goal 4 health: Encouraging synergy for family health

Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 11:10 AM - 11:30 AM

Taiwo Adesina, B.A. , Department of Global Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Frances Kollie, B.S. , School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Jason Lee, B.S. , School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Katie Dambrun, MPH , Department of Global Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Isaac Koh, MPH (c) , Department of Global Health, Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Loma Linda, CA
Lilian Correa, MPH (c) , Department of Global Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Thelma Gamboa, DrPH , School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Juan Carlos Belliard, PhD, MPH , Department of Global Health, Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Loma Linda, CA
The family plays a significant role in how individuals manage their health via positive reinforcement by example. The Goal 4 Health (G4H) program, a community-campus service initiative, utilizes soccer, a key community and cultural resource, to encourage more physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits within the families in the city of San Bernardino, nestled in the culturally diverse and resource poor area of Southern California. In an effort to maximize the benefits of the G4H program, a Healthy Living Activities (HLA) curriculum geared towards the parents was integrated with the soccer league. An evaluation of previous seasons has revealed that parents have not shown a significant level of interest in and support of the HLA curriculum. In order to investigate ways to modify the curriculum to promote greater parent involvement, a team of Public Health students, in partnership with the G4H staff, conducted a mixed methods needs and assets assessment guided by the Social-Ecological Model and community-based participatory methodologies. The assessment included focus groups (n=4), key informant interviews (n=4), and a survey (n=11) in order to identify the barriers to involvement and potential improvement. The results identified barriers such as a lack of curriculum organization, incentives, relevant courses and practical activities. Furthermore, parents recommended key health topics such as stress and weight management, healthy snacks, and reading nutrition labels. The team implemented and evaluated these recommendations with modified structural and organizational methods to increase the percentage of parental participation, encourage family involvement, and ultimately improve health outcomes of the community.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Explain the need for community involvement in program planning and development. Describe the theory behind the Social-Ecological Model for a family-centered program. Identify barriers to involvement in community-based public health interventions.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a masters student in the Department of Global Health in the School of Public Health at Loma Linda University. I have worked in program development within small communities in the past and have been fortunate to apply key public health theories to this community 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.