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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Vivien M. Morris, MS, RD, MPH, LDN¹, Kathy Cunningham, MEd, RD, LDN², Sonia Carter, BS³, and Sylvia Passley-Harris, BS³. (1) Department of Pediatrics/Nutrition and Fitness for Life Program, Boston Medical Center, 850 Harrison Avenue, Yawkey ACC Bldg., Rm 4S-21, Boston, MA 02118, 617 414-6878, vivien.morris@bmc.org, (2) Boston STEPS, Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, (3) BOND of Color, 38 Maxwell Street, Dorchester, MA 02124

We Can!, a National Institutes of Health project to prevent childhood obesity, chose Boston, Massachusetts as one of thirteen pilot communities. The Boston collaboration included Boston Steps to a Healthier US, Boston Central YMCA, and the Boston Organization of Nutritionist and Dietitians (BOND) of Color. BOND is an organization of Afro American and Afro Caribbean nutritionists and dietitians. Implementing nutrition education classes using the We Can! curriculum for parents of children ages 8-13 years was a central objective. Boston Steps provided the infrastructure for the We Can! parent classes, including snacks, pedometers, and supplemental educational materials. The Boston Central YMCA provided meeting space and gym memberships as incentives for parents who completed the classes. BOND members led the classes. The successful participant recruitment and retention for We Can! classes required creativity and personal interaction. During recruitment, parents' questions were answered and BOND members gave detailed descriptions of the non-traditional format and content of the upcoming classes. Although the We Can! parent curriculum is prescriptive, BOND instructors brought understanding of the cultural norms within the community to increase parents' engagement in the learning process. During each lesson, parents participated in activities to build skills and increase awareness. Goals were set at the end of each class and reviewed during the following class. Sharing of experiences and providing mutual support for positive health changes were key elements of the program. Combining a well conceived educational program with nutrition educators attune to the cultural norms of participants enhances the likelihood of program success.

Learning Objectives: Participants attending this session will

• identify methods to recruit, retain and motivate parents toward healthy habits for themselves and their children utilizing the We Can! curriculum
• identify culture specific adaptations that enhance receptivity by Afro American and Afro Caribbean parents to a nutrition education curriculum designed for a general audience

Keywords: Obesity, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered