The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60753

Wendi A. Gosliner, MPH, RD¹, Patricia B Crawford, DrPH, RD², Yolanda Becerra-Jones¹, Lisa Craypo, MPH³, Poppy Strode, MS, MPH, RD⁴, and Sarah E. Samuels, DrPH³. (1) Center for Weight and Health, University of California, Berkeley, 9 Morgan Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, (510) 642-3589, wgosline@uclink.berkeley.edu, (2) Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, 9 Morgan Hall, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3104, (3) Samuels & Associates, 1204 Preservation Park Way, Oakland, CA 94612, (4) WIC Branch, CA Department of Health Services, 3901 Lennane Drive, Sacramento, CA 95834

PURPOSE: To share the results of three coalitions formed as part of the Fit WIC California intervention project aimed at preventing overweight among young children. The coalitions were formed to enhance overweight prevention activities being undertaken at local WIC sites. The purpose of the coalitions was to include broader community environmental, policy, organizational, and educational interventions to strengthen WIC’s childhood overweight prevention efforts. METHODS: Three WIC agencies in California were selected to participate in Fit WIC. Agencies were located in a small, rural community, a large, urban community, and a mid-sized semi-urban community. In each community, leaders from the WIC program organized and led a coalition or task force composed of community members and organizations. Process evaluation measures tracked groups’ activities and accomplishments and surveys of a subset of coalition members were collected and analyzed during years one and three. FINDINGS: Community coalitions were able to impact policies, environments, organizations, and community education. Individuals and organizations in communities were eager to impact the childhood overweight issue and were willing to participate in ongoing intervention efforts. Leading a community effort developed the professional skills of WIC professionals. Coalition success depended upon commitment, leadership, funding, community size, and administrative support. Coalition building was time-consuming, but leaders and members reported that their investment was worthwhile.

Learning Objectives:

• After hearing the presentation, participants will be able to:
• 1. Describe the purpose of convening a community coalition to prevent childhood overweight and list some tools available to assist with coalition building.
• 2. List three characteristics of successful coalitions and three barriers to success.
• 3. Identify the kinds of impacts a coalition may have on a community.

Keywords: Community Building, Obesity

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.