Assessing Social Determinants to Improve Physical Health and Academic Development for Youth in Berkeley, CA Alane Cruz University of San Francisco August 27, 2014

Presentation Overview Public Health Significance The Agency Fieldwork Objectives Behavioral Model Project Topics, Purpose, & Process  Nutrition and Physical Activity  Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Overall Experience

Public Health Significance: Child and Adolescent Health Social Determinants of Health – “the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels.” (World Health Organization, 2014) Socioeconomic Status Education level Social Environment Living Conditions Working Conditions Genetics Gender Culture

The Agency: Berkeley Youth Alternatives (BYA) Location: Southwest Berkeley Type of Agency: Non-profit community-based organization Established: 1969 as a runaway youth shelter Population Served: 1,200 youth and families annually

BYA Mission Statement “Berkeley Youth Alternatives is a community based organization. Our vision is to provide a secure and nurturing environment for all the children, youth, and families of our community. We desire to promote, to their fullest potential, the freedom to develop individual skills and visions of the world. Our mission is to help children, youth, and their families address issues and problems via Prevention by reaching youth before their problems become crises, and via Intervention through the provision of support services to youth entangled in the juvenile justice system. BYA helps to build capacity within individuals to reach their innate potential.” Niculia “Nikki” Williams, Executive Director Berkeley Youth Alternatives

BYA Services and Programs Extended Care Programs (Ages 6-14)  2 programs Youth and Family Opportunity HUB (Ages Family)  10 programs Career Development & Prevention (Ages 15-24)  9 programs Environment Training (Ages 15-24)  1 program Sports and Fitness (Ages 5-18)  3 programs Counseling Center (Ages 6-24)  4 programs

Fieldwork Objectives: Make recommendations for strengthening BYA’s nutrition program Help develop a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) initiative Complete proposal research and writing for health education funding and nutrition education

Behavioral Model: Transtheoretical Model: Stages of Change

BYA’s 3 Core Areas Academic Achievement Economic Self-Sufficiency Health Status Improvement STEM Initiative Nutrition and Physical Fitness

Nutrition and Physical Activity: Public Health Significance Roughly 12.5 million children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 years are obese Higher obesity prevalence among Hispanics (22.4%) and non-Hispanic black youth (20.2%) in the United States from 2011 to 2012 Healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing related diseases Healthy eating in childhood and adolescence is important for proper growth and development and can prevent health problems and can reduce risk for many diseases

Nutrition and Physical Activity: Kaiser Grant Proposal AUGUST MAY JUNE JULY Research on grant topics, evidence-based practices Evaluated current nutrition program Development of program activities Began draft of the letter of inquiry (early June) Continued program planning Submit final draft of letter of inquiry Waiting period (letter of inquiry must be accepted to receive final draft proposal application) Letter of inquiry was accepted: Received final draft proposal application Submitted final draft of grant proposal

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education: Public Health Significance “One of the things that I’ve been focused on as President is how we create an all-hands-on- deck approach to science, technology, engineering, and math… We need to make this a priority… to make sure that all of us as a country are lifting up these subjects for the respect that they deserve.” President Barack Obama Third Annual White House Science Fair April 2013 “If we’re going to out-innovate and out-educate the rest of the world, we’ve got to open doors for everyone. We need all hands on deck, and that means clearing hurdles for women and girls as they navigate careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.” First Lady Michelle Obama September 26, 2011

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education: Public Health Significance

STEM Education: STEM Initiative Project AUGUST MAY JUNE JULY Attended second STEM workgroup, presented findings Received new grant opportunity and began working on grant application Continued program planning Developed potential STEM initiative Attended first STEM workgroup Researched needs assessment and survey tools Researched national and local STEM initiative Completed a STEM initiative literature review Submitted grant application

Overall Experience and Lessons Learned

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References Berkeley Youth Alternatives. (2010). Our Mission. Retrieved on August 19, 2014, from us/our-mission/our-mission Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Adolescent Health. Retrieved on August 23, 2014, from Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Adolescent and School Health. Retrieved August 24, 2014, from Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Childhood Obesity Facts. Retrieved August 18, 2014, from Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Physical Activity Facts. Retrieved August 25, 2014, from President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. (n.d.). Prepare and Inspire: L-12 Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) for America’s Future. (September 2010). Retrieved on August 24, 2014, from WhiteHouse.gov. (n.d.). Office of Technology and Policy. Women In STEM. Retrieved on August 23, 2014, from WhiteHouse.gov. (n.d.). Educate to Innovate. Retrieved on August 23, 2014, from issues/education/k-12/educate-innovate World Health Organization. (2014). Social determinants of health. Retrieved on August 25, 2014, from