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Impact Report

For plan KA 703. Nutrition Education and Behavior (Rio Arriba County)
Date October 29, 2008, 8:32 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report Just Be It! Healthy and Fit/ICAN Program (These statistics include the total JBI program which includes Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Rio Arriba) Taos is listed seperately. Childhood obesity has been identified as a major health concern throughout the U.S. Three times as many children are overweight today as compared with 20 years ago. The New Mexico Department of Health reports a 57% increase in obesity/overweight prevalence among adults and that 24% of high school students are overweight or at-risk for becoming overweight. The Just Be It! Healthy and Fit Program (JBI) promotes healthy lifestyles by reducing risk factors for 5th grade students in 3 counties – Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Los Alamos. To kick off the program, Extension Agents from Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties conducted the Just Be it! Healthy and Fit field trip, a tri-county, educational nutrition and fitness school enrichment program offered to fifth graders in each of the named counties. This year's field trip began with a JBI Jeopardy game - setting the tone for the 4 workshops. The field trip consists of four, 45 minute workshops: MyPyramid, Vary Your Veggies and Focus on Fruits, Power up With Exercise, and Fun with Food Facts. Workshops are aligned to the NM Health Education Standards and Benchmarks. The extension agents from each county presented or participated in each of the workshops. Three field trips were conducted at the beginning of the 2008-09 school year. Los Alamos County - 244 students from six elementary schools, 173 W, 1 NA, 51 H, 1017 A. 141 females and 103 males. In Rio Arriba: 134 students from four elementary schools participated, 5 WH, 1AI, 128 H, 61 male, 73 female. Santa Fe County had 1 school that participated- 76 students from one elementary school, 7 w, 1 B, 5 NA, 88 H, 2 A. 40 male, 36 female. Students and teachers participating in the field trip also received a student/parent handout developed by Extension agents, containing information and activities about healthy eating, food safety, goal setting and physical fitness. Twenty four teachers from the 3 counties participated in the field trips and received a classroom exercise kit consisting of flying discs, scooter boards, ball toss, balls, regular jump ropes, double dutch jump ropes, and rackets. Teacher classroom resource kits included USDA MyPyramid lessons for grades 5-6, CDC Health Stores, MyPyramid handouts for each student, 4-H pamphlets and other health and nutrition information. A total of 455 students participated in the field trip. Based on the average results from the pre and post tests in participating counties, students indicated a knowledge gain of 24.3%. Other components of the JBI program include follow-up classroom instruction, intensive evaluation regarding behavior change, parent education, and community awareness of childhood obesity issues. Classroom instruction usually begins in October through April/May in each county. For the classroom component, the agent worked with a total of 7 classes within the 3 counties from October through April/May 2006-2007. Approximately 155 students participated in the classroom program. JBI classroom instruction included intense activities to learn the all the major food groups, fats, fast food consumer decision making, goal setting, fun ways to exercise including dance pads and numerous other physical fitness activities, as well as food safety, label reading, serving sizes, how the media influences our food choices and healthy snacks. Approximately 79 workshops were delivered during that time. A statistical analysis on the program data in the 2nd year (2007-2008) showed the students gained knowledge on nutrition and fitness from the beginning of the school year to the end of the school year. There was a statistically significant increase in nutrition knowledge scores for fifth grade students from September 2007 to May 2008. Students increased their nutrition knowledge as a result of receiving nutrition classes during the school year. 155 students received classroom instruction and 108 of them completed both the pre and post tests on nutrition knowledge. The pre-survey average score was 8.83 and the post test average score was 14.88 (out of a possible 16 points) showing a 6.05 point gain, or 41% knowledge gain. The difference in scores was statistically significant (p=.0001). Evaluations conducted for behavior change regarding eating more fruits and vegetables and increasing physical activity were proven to be invalid. However, although not statistically significant, an average of 54% of students did report eating more fruits and veggies and an average 58% of students reported being more physical active. A new behavior survey and food recall have been created. Results from the parent education components: Newsletters were written, distributed throughout the year and evaluated. 138 parents were sent 8 take home newsletters. 71 parents showed an increase in knowledge as a result of receiving eight newsletters at home. The pretest score average was 74% and the post test score average was 90% (out of 100%). There was a 16% knowledge gain for parents. The return rate for the newsletter evaluations was 54%. (n= 138). In addition, almost everyone wrote comments about what they liked best about the in-school programs, such as "The discussions about better health choices. It shows they how to take care of your body. The dance mats. The cook book is great! How to eat healthier and work out. That it got him to try different foods. They give us new recipes.It taught my daughter a lot about health. Eating greens, milk and fiber. I think the school lunch and breakfast need help." Additional parent involvement: Two parents nights on MyPyramid and physicial activity were held in Santa Fe County in the spring. The SF county agent conducted the programs with assistance for the Rio Arriba Extension Agent and Home Economist. Six parents showed an increase in knowledge as a result of attending the programs. The pretest score average was 53% and the post test score average was 96%. There was a 43% knowledge gain for parents. The evaluation return rate was 38%. Everyone wrote comments about what they liked best about these programs such as: "The opportunity to ask questions and get answers. Aprendi mucho sobre la nutricion para mi familia. La forma de explicar y ayudar a manteneros sanos." A parent night was held in Rio Arriba County in May 2008. Educational programs on MyPyramid and physical activity were presented to over 50 attendees. Seventeen parents showed an increase in knowledge gain as a result of attending the program. The pretest score average was 67% and the post test score average was 94% There was a 27% knowledge gain for parents. The evaluation return rate was 48% (n=50). Almost everyone wrote comments about what they liked best about this program, such as: "Felt comfortable and welcome. Learning about nutrition and watching my kids have so much fun (yogurt parfait). How interrested the kids were. Good energy, mental and physical." The long term objective of expanding the program to other New Mexico counties showed progress. The first statewide training on the Just Be It program was conducted by Extension personnel on April 7, 2008 in Las Cruces, NM for County Extension agents and SFI personnel. The Just Be It! Healthy and Fit curriculum was written, organized and is beginning the organizing and editing process. A workshop on the program was presented at the National AfterSchool Conference March 2008 and at Galaxy 2008 in September 2008 to gain national visibility. As a result of these actions and other statewide trainings as well as access to the prgram website, it is expected that one-third of the county agents will soon offer the program in their county and show positive results for yout. Curriculum development and revision of the JBI curriculum is also part of the JBI grants goals and objectives. The agent spent several weeks during the summer months working on the development and revisions of the curriculum. The program is currently with the JBI committee. ICAN Program – Rio Arriba County Just Be It Healthy and Fit Program See above information regarding the JBI/ICAN program for the 2007-2008 school year. The JBI school year program is also an ICAN funded program. County Camp The agent presented a workshop for Rio Arriba County 4-Hers on nutrition and fitness. 53 people, 24 HM, 23 HF, 4 WM, 1 NAF received information through the JBI Jeopardy game, prepared a healthy snack, and participated in a fitness skillastics game. Rio Arriba County Fair The agent set up a JBI display with a variety of information, including Childhood Obesity, What Parents Can Do About Their Obese Child, Exercise ideas, Diabetes Information, Listeria, Food Safety, and a variety of other health related information. During the fair 40 students participated in the "Fitness Trail Scavenger Hunt." Students had to work their way through the fair and find out a variety of information about the fair, health and nutrition, and exercise. At the completion of the scavenger hunt sheet, students received a water bottle, pedometer, jump rope and the County Recreation and Food Resource Guide. This was a fun way for kids to learn health issues, learn who their county agents are, and find out a variety of "fair" facts. Food safety Workshop The agent presented a food safety workshop in Gallina for food service workers at Gallina Elementary School. 15 people attended. 4 M, 11 F, 3 HM, 5 HF, 2NMF, 1 WM, 4 WF. Taos County Fair The agent set up an ICAN Display with a variety of information, including the same items as above. JBI Program Taos The agent delivered over 18 classroom programs to three classes from December through May at the Ranchos Elementary School to fifth grade students. Approximately 69 students participated in the program. Instruction included intense activities to learn all the major food groups, fats, fast food consumer decision making, fun ways to exercise, and other fitness activities as well as food safety and making healthy snacks. The agent conducted a pre- and post-test evaluation with Ranchos elementary school students, Pre test scores were average 53.5% and post test scores average were 81.5%, for a total knowledge gain of 28%.