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Promoting faith-based collaborations to address obesity across the lifespan: HOPE2 prevention programming in 35 churches in Jackson, Mississippi
In the US, at least 1/3 of children are overweight or obese, and the prevalence is higher in the deep South. Here, faith-based institutions are community leaders and ideal places for evidence-based obesity prevention programming.
DESCRIPTION
This faith-based prevention initiative was part of a 4-year, community-wide obesity prevention initiative called Healthy Options for People through Extension 2 (HOPE2). The Healthy Incentive Project (HIP) minigrant program, the community outreach arm of HOPE2, extended school-based programming into communities by providing resources for implementation of evidence-based education. 35 faith-based institutions applied for and received HIPs in Jackson, MS. Church personnel participated in a train-the-trainer event to identify strategies for communities to work together to encourage healthy lifestyles. Faith-based groups led programs about healthy choices related to nutrition and physical activity with children, parents, and seniors throughout the community.
LESSONS LEARNED
Faith-based organizations can successful lead prevention education in churches and in community outreach ministries.
Faith-based leaders accept, and enjoy, being trained on obesity prevention materials, and implement in a systematic, ongoing manner.
Obesity prevention education in the faith community can be integrated into church activities including Sunday services, covered dish meals, meetings, and outreach to partners.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Because faith-based organizations are cornerstones in Southern communities, they are ideal settings for promoting obesity prevention, and enhancing existing community-and school-based nutrition and health education. Cultivation of faith-community partnerships can support HOPE2 expansion efforts. Ideas for targeting “at risk” subgroups for specialized outreach, like teens and dads, should be considered to help reverse obesity trends.
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health educationChronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Learning Objectives:
Describe a faith-based obesity prevention program that is part of a community-wide, multi-sectorial nutrition and healthy living initiative.
Design a faith-based obesity prevention program components that link to and support a community-wide intervention including schools, child care centers, afterschool/summer camp programs, and other socializing institutions of children.
Design a minigrant program to build capacity of community partners to improve the health of their communities in contextually-specific activities.
Discuss how community-based partners, such as Cooperative Extension Nutrition Educators, can provide trainings and technical assistance to faith-based leaders as they jointly implement nutrition and healthy living/obesity prevention education as part of weekly faith assemblies/meetings.
Keyword(s): Faith Community, Obesity
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I lead initiatives addressing health and social policy. I am the Executive Director of Healthy Networks Design & Research, a nonprofit organization that assists with strategic development, programming, and impact assessment. My work has been funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundations, US Soccer Foundation, WalMart Foundation, The World Bank, among others. Previously, I led health and social policy projects at Harvard University, Mount Sinai Medical Center (Miami), and various universities.
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.