COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI “Impacting communities by connecting people who care with causes that matter”

Youth Education Health

A Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative established in 2005 by the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi

Why Be Concerned About Obesity? Obesity puts one at increased risk for developing major health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some forms of cancer.

WHY FOCUS ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY? Mississippi ranks #1 in the nation in the percentage of children who are obese #1 in the nation in heart disease related health #2 in the nation in Type II diabetes #3 in the nation in stroke related deaths

WHY FOCUS ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY? Mississippi ranks #10 in the nation in lack of physical activity 63.2% of Mississippians are overweight 16% of high school students are reported to be overweight 24% of students in grades 1-8 are reported to be overweight

WHY FOCUS ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY? In Elementary Schools, 21% of the students are overweight and 16% are at risk Overweight children face teasing from their peers and are also less likely to do well in school Depression and low self-image are common in overweight children

WHY FOCUS ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY? An overweight child has a 70% chance of being an overweight adult. The odds go up to 80% if a parent is overweight $757 million is spent in Mississippi per year on obesity related illness, and of this amount $444 million is government (Medicare/Medicaid)

WHY FOCUS ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY? Our kids could be the first generation to have shorter lives than their parents No Formal Obesity Program in DeSoto County

GET A LIFE! My Life, My Health, My Choice” established through a $50,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi

Targeting children 3–12 years of age Social Marketing – Theory of Change Awareness Education Behavioral Change Policy Change

MEDIA CHANNEL 3 WREG TV

COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL Led by members of a newly established COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL

COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL RETIRED ATTORNEY/GRANDFATHER YOUTH LOCAL ATHLETIC CLUB OWNER MINISTERS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS GROCERY STORE MANAGER HOSPITAL CEO YMCA DIRECTOR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS ICS HEADSTART DIRECTOR PRACTICING ATTORNEY RETIRED NEUROSURGEON FAMILY PHYSICIAN COLLABORATING SCIENTIST WITH THE COOPER INSTITUTE MSU EXTENSION SERVICE HEALTH AGENT LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL COUNTY GREENWAYS COMMITTEE MEMBER PARKS & RECREATION REPRESENTATIVE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION STAFF

COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL A collaborative effort to address health and quality of life issues and barriers in the community (DeSoto County). Supports programs that are currently in place and assists in identifying gaps in service to try to fill these gaps with new programs/services

COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL Work of the Community Health Council is made possible by volunteer efforts from various sections of the County including health organizations, government, education, business, human services and private sector Works to gather data on specific health issues (i.e. childhood obesity and prevention) Works with all areas on a specific health issue: schools, faith-based organizations, work sites

COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL Works in coordination with School Health Councils (Community Health Council members might serve on a particular school health council, business health council or church health council) Coordinates health summits Plans for evaluation of specific health initiatives Provides marketing support for specific health initiatives

COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL established as its Focus Areas: NUTRITION EDUCATION SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION NUTRITION POLICIES

Pre teens from Horn Lake Intermediate School - ages 10 to 12 COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL conducted five focus groups to help the Council understand local influences, beliefs and motivating factors related to nutrition education, school physical fitness education, and nutrition policies FOCUS GROUPS: Pre teens from Horn Lake Intermediate School - ages 10 to 12 Older teens from high schools across DeSoto County – ages 13-17 Parents of Children ages 3 – 12 Stakeholders Potential Funders

OBJECTIVES OF FOCUS GROUPS: To add qualitative information to the planning of the COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL that includes input from all stakeholders and partners To gain a better understanding of beliefs, practices, and motivators among the target audience (3-12 year olds) related to nutrition and physical activity To identify perceived enablers for young people in DeSoto County to eat healthy foods and become more physically active To understand how the family influences healthy eating and activity and to identify ways to enable the families to adopt healthy practices

OBJECTIVES OF FOCUS GROUPS: To explore perceived roles of stakeholders, their areas of interest and investment in nutrition and physical activity To better understand how potential partners and funders would be willing to devote resources to the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi childhood obesity prevention initiative.

Poor neighborhood design Excessive TV / Computer Time Through the Focus Groups we found that: Unhealthy options Absenteeism Southern culture Fast paced Recreational Facilities Fewer gardens Poor neighborhood design Physical education in elementary schools Lack of time School policies Excessive TV / Computer Time Community-wide campaign

Schools: COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL will reach the target group (ages 3-12) and their parents through: Schools:

COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL will reach the target group (ages 3-12) and their parents through: Work sites:

Faith-based sites: COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL will reach the target group (ages 3-12) and their parents through: Faith-based sites:

PLAN OF ACTION FOR SCHOOLS: Conduct a School Health Councils Summit Promote environmental and nutritional changes in the schools Open schools (physical education buildings) after hours for ‘Active Family Nights’ Provide mini-grants to schools for the establishment of School Health Councils and ‘Active Family Nights’ Conduct a School Health Councils Summit

PLAN OF ACTION FOR WORK SITES: Present Health Initiative to SHRM Survey businesses for existing Wellness Programs Conduct a Business Health Summit Provide resources to businesses interested in establishing a Wellness Program

PLAN OF ACTION FOR FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS: Survey churches for existing Wellness Programs Conduct a Church Health Summit Provide resources and/or training for churches interested in establishing a Wellness Program