Jeanne Silberstein, MPH, RD and Sonia J. Vega, BS. San Bernardino County Department of Public Health Nutrition Program, 351 N. Mt. View Avenue, Room 104, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0010, (909) 387-9193, svega@dph.sbcounty.gov

Public Health used the community based prevention-marketing model to build the capacity of Latino mothers to improve their health. Latino mothers at Monterey Elementary School had been meeting to receive parenting, ESL and nutrition classes from the San Bernardino City Unified School District and the Public Health department. The moms perceived the next step in improving their health was to start an aerobics class. Parents requested assistance from the school principal and the Public Health educator to help them initiate the class. The challenges identified included: individuals could not afford to belong to a gym, the group had no funds to hire a teacher, the school district did not have a Spanish speaking aerobics instructor, the school could not cover liability insurance if they were not providing the teacher, and the meeting room at the school was too small for an aerobics class. Public Health acting in the role of liaison connected the parents with resources to facilitate the establishment of an aerobics class in the neighborhood. Through a collaborative partnership with community agencies, barriers were overcome including the lack of space and instructors. In this process, two mothers were initially trained by the local university to become aerobics instructors. A core group of women have been participating in the classes for a year and pre/post data has shown improvements in risk factors. The core group has marketed the classes and recruited 75 new class participants; additionally six other moms have been trained as aerobic instructors

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize Public Health's role in empowering women in the community to become environmental change agents for health promotion
• Identify ways to build capacity among parents to promote health and physical activity
• Apply strategies of community-based prevention marketing to respond to identified community needs

Keywords: Latinas, Physical Activity

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.