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KA 703. Nutrition Education and Behavior (Valencia County)

Plan Goal

Improve health of Valencia County residents through healthy food choices, food preparation skills, food resource management and active lifestyles.

Situation Statement

Valencia County is the sixth most populated county in New Mexico with a total population of 72,207. Demographics by ethnicity are: 53% Hispanic; 39% Caucasian; 1.33% African American; 4.5% Native American; 2% Asian/Pacific Islander. The sovereign Isleta Indian Reservation is located in Valencia County.

The population consists of over 7,199 that are age 65+, and more than a third of this group has some form of disability. There are more than 791 grandparent-headed households who have sole responsibility for raising grandchildren, and 17.3% of the county's population lives in poverty. Approximately 1,285 residents of the county are incarcerated.

There are currently two healthcare clinics within the county, but no hospital. Nearly a fourth (22%) of county residents are uninsured and have little or no access to the healthcare system, while another third (31.5%) are on Medicare or Medicaid.

Approximately a third (30.6%) of the county population consists of children under the age of 18. Ten percent of the total county population reports that they speak English “not well”.

Five of the leading causes of death in Valencia County include heart and chronic lower respiratory diseases, cancer, stroke, and diabetes, each of which has links to diet. Limited income residents face numerous problems associated with inadequate nutrition. Their lack of knowledge of the relationships between health and basic nutrition, food safety, food preparation, food resource management and the importance of an active lifestyle can be addressed with education.

Key tools for use in nutrition education by the Extension Home Economist include USDA's MyPyramid, Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 (2010 when available) and the Nutrition Facts Label.

Diabetes

The direct cost (medical care) and indirect cost (lost productivity and premature death)
of diabetes in New Mexico are over $1 billion annually. Diabetes is of particular concern in Valencia County with its higher than average Hispanic population. Hispanics are three to five times more likely to develop the disease than Anglos, and Native Americans are 10 to 15 times more likely. The New Mexico Department of Health estimates that 9.6% of Valencia County residents have diabetes. If left untreated and uncontrolled, diabetes can result in serious complications such as blindness, amputation, kidney disease, stroke, heart disease and death. Although there is no cure for diabetes, it can be controlled; and complications can be prevented or delayed. Lifestyle changes such as healthier food choices and regular physical activity can have a significant effect on the health and well being of diabetics.

Target Audience and Actions

Target Audience:

Valencia County residents including individuals, families, youth, seniors.
Valencia County limited resource audiences.
Native Americans, Spanish speaking and Anglo residents of Valencia County.
Agencies that work with Valencia County residents and families.
Policy makers.
Mass media.

Activities:

Teach twice yearly Kitchen Creations classes.
Offer Kitchen Creations or nutrition classes to non-English speaking participants.

Introduce OrganWiseGuys Program to qualifying K-2nd grade classes.

Participate in nutrition/food presentations as requested for local agencies, nonprofit and community groups.
Continue providing monthly nutrition/food/health related articles to county E-newsletter.
Begin providing quarterly news columns in the Valencia County News Bulletin.

Assist with judging nutrition/food events in Valencia County and other counties as requested.

Short-Term Objectives

80% of participants will increase knowledge of MyPyramid, Dietary Guidelines and Nutrition Facts Labels.
80% of participants will increase knowledge of healthy food choices.
80% of participants will increase knowledge of food preparation and meal planning.
80% of participants will increase knowledge of Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid and 50/50 plate method to help control diabetes.
80% of participants will increase knowledge of importance of physical activity.

60% of participants will use MyPyramid, Dietary Guidelines and Nutrition Facts Labels to make food choices and plan meals.
60% of participants will plan to control portion sizes.
60% of participants will plan to increase fruit and vegetable consumption.
60% of participants will plan to adopt new food preparation and meal planning techniques.
60% of participants will plan to adopt new food resource management techniques.
60% of participants will plan to use the Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid and 50/50 plate method.
60% of participants will plan to increase physical activity.

Medium-Term Objectives

40% of participants will increase fruit and vegetable consumption one month after program participation.
40% of participants will control portion sizes one month after program participation.
40% of participants will adopt new food preparation and meal planning techniques one month after program participation.
40% of participants will use the Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid and 50/50 plate method.
40% of participants will increase physical activity.

Long-Term Objectives

30% of participants will sustain adopted practices 3 years after program completion.
30% of participants will decrease their rates of chronic disease such as obesity, cancer, and heart disease.

Evaluation Plan

Participant knowledge and behavior surveys, diet records and activity logs for short and medium-term objectives.