The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

3240.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - 3:15 PM

Abstract #50662

Nutri-Link - An innovative nutrition education and technology program designed for after school community centers

Jo Ann P. Johnson, MPH, Child and Youth Nutrition Education, University of California Cooperative Extension, Alameda County, 1131 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 113, Alameda, CA 94502, 510-639-1361, jpjohnson@ucdavis.edu, Patricia Wakimoto, RD, DrPH, Community Outreach and Education Program, NIEHS Center for Environmental Health Sciences, 5700 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, CA 94609, and Lucrecia Farfan-Ramirez, MPH, Cooperative Extension- Alameda County, University of California, 1131 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 131, Alameda, CA 94502.

Validated nutrition studies have shown properly designed youth nutrition education programs are a key component to influence nutrition related behavior and to increase awareness of the importance of healthy diets in preventing disease. Interactive computer-mediated technology, which incorporates stand-alone computer applications and on-line services, is a viable means of disseminating science based youth nutrition information in a non-formal playful atmosphere. Although a wealth of current scientific based nutrition education activities and games developed to increase youths nutritional literacy and critical thinking skills on-line exists, surprisingly no nutrition education programs have integrated or applied these resources. In addition, there is an increasing digital divide in low-income communities and a growing need to build youths capacity from these communities to apply technology with tangible results. In an effort to close this technology gap and utilize on-line resources to promote community based nutrition education, University of California Cooperative Extension, Alameda County, designed, developed and piloted an After school computer based nutrition education program for youth ages 8 – 13. Utilizing the theoretical foundations of the UC Links 5th Dimension education framework and the experiential learning model, Nutri-Link integrates six one-hour nutrition science lessons with on-line nutrition resources in an interactive service-learning nutrition curriculum. Process evaluation was conducted throughout the pilot. Impact evaluation is measured with interactive email questionnaires. A computer survey is used to assess computer use and access. Dissemination of the Nutri-Link website and Training Manual is currently underway. This presentation will focus on the theoretical framework, design and implementation of Nutri-Link

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives

Keywords: Nutrition, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Media and Technology Based Nutrition Education Programs

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA