Using family-based health literacy curriculum to improve the health of children and adults: The Canyon Ranch Institute Life Enhancement Program for Families

Wellness programs that engage the reciprocal influence of adults and children are more effective than programs that primarily engage with children, yet family relationships are frequently overlooked in program development and implementation. The Canyon Ranch Institute Life Enhancement Program (CRI LEP) for Families uses a health literacy and integrative wellness approach within family systems to improve social capital and health for underserved families in Tucson, Arizona. The 12-session CRI LEP for Families, based on analysis of data from the highly successful adult CRI LEP, extensive literature review, and input from an advisory committee of specialists in family and parenting theory, child nutrition, and children's mindfulness, evaluates all participants pre- and post-program to capture changes in the home environment (e.g., schedules, family mealtimes, food storage, family behavioral changes) and children's health behaviors and communication with parents. The original CRI LEP has produced statistically and clinically significant improvements among adults in a variety of blood markers, strength and flexibility, self-efficacy, reductions in feelings of depression and stress, improvements in nutrition and eating habits, and other improvement in behavior and physical and mental health. Expected outcomes for adult-child dyads in the CRI LEP for Families include increase in meals eaten together, salutogenic changes in the home food environment, and increased adult-child communication regarding health behaviors. In contrast to programs that primarily engage children, this program deliberately involves adults as key agents of change in their children's health and wellness. The most up-to-date data available will be included in this presentation.