Tuesday, October 25, 10:30
a.m.-noon
Wake County Human Services "Wake Up, Shape Up!" Community
Forum
Authors
D.W. Moore1; S. Reid1.
1Wake County Human Services, Raleigh, NC.
Background
Wake County Human Services initiated a two-year Community Forum
series to address the agency priority of reducing the prevalence
of childhood overweight and adult obesity. The agency priority
was in response to a 3rd Grade BMI pilot study in schools that
revealed that 49% of 3rd grade students and 31% of all
Kindergarten students had BMI's greater than the 85th
percentile. The title of this Wake County initiative was "Wake
Up, Shape Up!"
Methods
Evaluation results revealed that 100% of participants
agreed it was useful in addressing the issue of obesity in
families.
Results
The outcomes tied to the conduct of the Community Forum
include but are not limited to the following: a community grants
program was developed with 36 grants being funded to date; a
Parks and Recreation CD displaying over 1400 non-sport related
activities was created and distributed; a new County Parks and
Recreation Partnership was formed involving all 12 municipal
departments; 78 policy and environmental policies have been
endorsed by 40 predominately African-American churches and 28
community agencies.
Discussion
The purpose of the series was to offer participants
opportunities to network, learn of available resources and
referral services, be exposed to local and State best practice
prevention program models and build seamless community-based
partnerships with similar missions and outcomes. Participants in
the Forum included representatives from business, public health,
schools, recreation agencies, faith-based groups,
community-based agencies and groups, hospitals, universities,
and families. The major speakers for the Forums were US Health
and Human Services Deputy Secretary, Claude Allen and former US
Assistant Surgeon General, Susan Blumenthal. Illustrative
examples of workshops featured in the two year Forum series
included the following: Advocating for Healthy Policies,
Family-Based Weight Management Programs, Wellness Programs for
Businesses, Understanding Latin Life, Faith and Community-Based
Fitness Models, and Parks and Recreation Greenway and Non-sport
related physical activities.
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Step Up
Author
J. Graziano, Excellus BCBS, Rochester, NY.
Background
A March 2004 report from Excellus BlueCross Blue Shield states
that, more than 1.4 million Upstate New York adults are
overweight, close to 860,000 are obese and cost upstate New
Yorkers more then $6 billion a year in obesity related
illnesses. Step Up is a web-based initiative that was launched
in response to these findings and is designed to encourage
adults to take small, simple, daily steps toward improving
their health such as taking the stairs instead of the
elevator. The audience for this initiative is defined as the
entire community, both local and national, regardless of
health coverage. The goal of the Step Up health initiative is
to decrease the incidence and prevalence of obesity and
improve community wide health.
Methods
Marketing : Program promotion was done through a
comprehensive marketing campaign including radio, television,
print, billboard advertisement, community events with partners
and community leaders, mailings to the key decision-makers at
selected employer group and, mailers to individuals.
Participation: To meet the needs of a diverse population,
three methods of participation are offered: Individual Play -
users are encouraged to enter their daily steps, fruit and
vegetable consumption and work toward reaching recommended
goals. Single Team Play - a single team works together toward
one goal while incorporating health eating habits and physical
activity into their lives. League Play - contain multiple
teams who compete with each other while achieving healthy
goals. Also a "Healthy Competition" - for employers to "Step
Up" in the workplace. The employer receives a "start up" kit
that contains tools to get them started (pedometers,
motivational posters, balance books and bookmarks).
Results
More than 17 million hits on the Step Up web site,
20,000 registered users and 304 companies (potential to touch
124,000 employees) requested assistance to implement Step Up
at their worksite, those who knew about the program reported
were 30%,more physically active and/or ate healthier up from
18% in December 2005.
Discussion
N/A
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Don't Let Cancer Silence You: A Case Study in
Community-Based Efforts To Reduce Health Disparities
Author
V. Thompson, Be-Fit, Inc., Detroit, MI.
Background
Michigan's overall cancer mortality rate is 30% higher in
blacks than in whites. A December 2000 meeting of Michigan
cancer center directors and African Americans leaders
determined that an initiative to promote a greater
understanding of cancer illness and death in the African
American community is a critical first step to increasing
cancer clinical trial participation. The resulting initiative,
Improving Cancer Outcomes of African Americans in Michigan (ICOAA)
is aimed at increasing awareness about cancer in the African
American Community, increasing knowledge about cancer,
increasing communication about cancer, increasing screening
and utilization of cancer screening programs, and decreasing
myths about cancer.
Methods
For this project, five cities were selected that
represent a total of 81.3% of Michigan's black population: The
participating cities include Detroit, Flint, Lansing, Pontiac,
and Saginaw. In each community African Americans were identified to form Design Teams to assist in developing a plan
to engage their communities.
Results
Each community designed and coordinated a focused
intervention and a community-wide intervention. The Community
Design Teams hosted a variety of events across the state
partnering with faith based organizations, community
organizations and cancer centers to engage the African
American community in cancer awareness.
Discussion
This is year three of a five year project.
Although the project has not been completed, ICOAA has already
proven to be a successful model of community based
participatory research be creating a greater community
awareness and understanding of cancer, cancer prevention, and
clinical trials for African Americans. The presenter will
provide an overview of focused and community-wide
interventions. Pre and post survey results of intervention
participants will be presented and will reflect the success in
increasing cancer awareness through community-based cancer
education programming.
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Keck Diabetes Prevention Initiative
Author
V.F. Ruelas, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
Background
Responding to the current epidemic of diabetes and
obesity, the Keck School of Medicine of the University of
Southern California, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Los
Angeles County Department of Health Services have partnered to
develop, implement, and evaluate a ten-year initiative aimed at
reducing the prevalence of these chronic conditions. The two
target communities identified are South Los Angeles and East Los
Angeles, specifically in and around the zip codes of 90059 and
90022 respectively. These areas are medically underserved, have
the highest incidence of diabetes-related deaths in Los Angeles,
and are characterized by high rates of obesity. The 2 year
planning process was made possible through funding by the W.M.
Keck Foundation.
Methods
During the 2 year community participatory planning
process, we will: 1) identify the factors that contribute to
decisions about diet, physical activity, and health-care
utilization within the target communities; 2) develop strategies
to prevent diabetes and promote healthy lifestyle choices that
are appropriate for the populations served; and 3) engage and
mobilize experts, government officials, community leaders,
business representatives, and local residents.
Results
KDPI has developed community relationships, mapped
resources, and conducted formative research. The results
highlight the pivotal role that food plays within families and
in linking families to their social networks and how food fits
into local formal and informal economies. Respondents discussed
the relationship of culturally-defined perceptions of
beauty/body image and health to food, identified barriers to
healthy eating and living related to poverty, structural
constraints and reported how their economic, cultural, and
physical environments challenge integrating physical activity
into their lifestyle.
Discussion
KDPI is currently working with two Community
Advisory Boards, utilizing an Ecological Model, to develop
strategies to prevent diabetes and promote healthy lifestyle
choices that are appropriate for the targeted populations, based
on the formative research conducted.
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