Design and Implementation of a Preschool and Parent Health Project: A School-Based & Clinical Services Collaborative

The University Health System (UHS) is collaborating with the  Social & Health Research Center (SAHRC) to implement and evaluate a Preschool & Parent Health Project (PHP) in an Early Child Education Center (ECEC) in an urban Promise Zone Neighborhood.  Approximately 315 children 3 and 4 years of age  of which 47% are female and 53% are male; and 28% are African American and 72% are Mexican American are eligible to participate. SAHRC will implement an evidence-based coordinated school health program Bienestar/Neema Coordinated School Health Program (BN_CSHP) with a parent component over a three year period beginning January 2014.

The aim of the project is to reduce preschool-aged children’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity by applying the BN-CSHP and to refer patients to the UHS school health clinics.  Program objectives are to reduce obesity rates by 10 percent; increase physical activity in steps by 10 percent; increase dietary fiber intake (in grams) by 10 percent and refer 5% of 844 clients served per year (n=42) to UHS clinics.  

PHP components include the Bienestar/NEEMA Health Class, Bienestar/NEEMA Physical Education, and the Bienestar/NEEMA School Food Service program; and the family outreach component which consist of 4 face-to-face visits; 9 Family Time newsletter issues; and 4 phone calls a year (17 annual sessions). Health screenings consist of weight, height, body mass index, physical activity and dietary measures.  Preliminary results of obesity measured by 95^th percentile of body mass index, physical activity by pedometer, dietary fiber intake by digital food imaging technology (DFIA) will be presented.