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

Abstract #60969

Poppy Strode, MS, MPH, RD¹, Patricia B Crawford, DrPH, RD², Wendi A. Gosliner, MPH, RD³, Claudia C. Burnett, MEd, RD¹, Giok Khoe, MPH¹, and Sarah E. Samuels, DrPH⁴. (1) WIC Branch, CA Department of Health Services, 3901 Lennane Drive, Sacramento, CA 95834, (916) 928-8627, mstrode@dhs.ca.gov, (2) Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, 9 Morgan Hall, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3104, (3) Center for Weight and Health, University of California, Berkeley, 9 Morgan Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, (4) Samuels & Associates, 1204 Preservation Park Way, Oakland, CA 94612

PURPOSE: To describe the process and results of a Fit WIC obesity prevention intervention aimed at changing the WIC environment through staff training to help prevent childhood overweight. METHODS: Three WIC agencies in California participated in the three-year intervention. Staff surveys in year one collected information on staff skills, abilities and training needs regarding childhood obesity prevention. Based on reported needs, state WIC staff and UC Berkeley partners designed and implemented staff training sessions on: group and individual education skills; physical activity for young children and families; talking about weight issues; and parenting and feeding issues. State WIC staff evaluated these pilot Fit WIC staff training sessions and, using this information, developed a statewide Fit WIC training program. A participant education curriculum and materials also were developed. FINDINGS: Following the staff training intervention, staff reported: being more comfortable when talking with parents about weight issues; having improved skill levels for teaching about physical activity and helping WIC families adopt healthier lifestyles; and having better education materials to use. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot staff training intervention improved staff skills in providing educational activities for obesity prevention. Institutionalization of the training program is likely to improve overweight prevention services to low-income California families. The presentation will describe the statewide Fit WIC training program, participant education curriculum, and materials.

Learning Objectives:

By the conclusion of this session, participants will have:
• Learned how Fit WIC obesity prevention staff training sessions were planned, implemented, evaluated, and developed into a statewide training program
• Experienced a Fit WIC staff training activity to promote physical activity among young children
• Considered how to enhance nutrition and physical activity promotion in their own settings

Keywords: Obesity, Training

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.