2011 Mary O’Neill Financial Education Mini-Grant Recipient Nancy Porter, Financial Resource Management Specialist Colorado State University Extension, Fort Collins Laurel Kubin, Larimer County Director, FCS Agent Colorado State University Extension, Fort Collins Using Pocket Trackers in the Colorado Small Steps to Health and Wealth ™ Rural Pilot Program

 Use the original SSHW TM materials developed by Rutgers and others  Update and adapt to Colorado needs  Enhance the nutrition components  Enhance with social media videos, and podcasts  Evaluate program effectiveness Small Steps to Health and Wealth ™ Rural Pilot Program

Funding  The project is supported by $136,095 Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Program of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Grant Number:

Objectives Provide timely, quality education for diverse populations in rural areas of Colorado Provide health information with activities and resources Provide financial information and wealth promoting activities Emphasize the connections between wealth and health, increasing knowledge and positive behavior changes

Program Delivery Focus on rural communities  Fewer health care and employment options  High numbers of uninsured or underinsured  Higher than state average for obesity (25% vs 19.1% in CO)  Higher percentage of chronic disease than state average  Lower average wages  Higher cost borrowing methods  Lower financial literacy (FINRA, 2011)

Program Delivery  Face-to-Face workshops  Flexible formats  One 1-hour worksite program  One 2-hour workshop  Series of three 2-hour workshops  Partner with agencies, organizations, and employers to expand outreach

Delivery Goals  Conduct 50 workshops  Supplement workshops with online resources  Reach 1000 participants representing diverse populations in 20 rural counties

Worksite Workshop Content  Compare Yourself with Recommended Benchmarks  Track Your Current Behavior  Convert Consumption into Labor  Make Progress Every Day

Workshop 1: Where Am I Now?  Compare Yourself with Recommended Benchmarks  Track Your Current Behavior  Convert Consumption into Labor  Step Down/Step Up to Change

Workshop 1: Where Am I Now?  Understand relationship between health habits and wealth habits.  Become familiar with common recommendation for healthy eating, physical activity, and spending habits.  Review eating and spending habits for last 24 hours and compare to benchmarks.  Learn how consumption can be balanced by labor.  Explore ways to take “small steps” to improve behaviors.  Establish specific health and wealth goals.

Workshop 2: Finding Balance  Use Easy Frames of Reference  Say “No” to Super-Sizing  Live “The Power of 10”  Think Balance —Not Sacrifice

Workshop 2: Finding Balance  Learn simple and easy strategies to personalize health/wealth frames of reference for positive behavior change.  Understand hazards of super-sized eating and super-sized spending.  Use number “10” to make small steps in health/wealth behavior changes to gain significant long-term impact.  Learn to balance intake and outgo with both human energy and money.

Workshop 3: The Past, the Present, the Future  Consider Outside Influences on Health and Wealth  Get Help and Be Accountable  Automate Good Habits and Create Templates  Set a Date and Get Started…Just Do It!

Workshop 3: The Past, the Present, the Future  Consider outside influences or beliefs which may sabotage making positive behavior changes.  Become familiar with resources for support and accountability.  Understand value of automated behaviors to achieve health/wealth goals.  Understand importance of setting a realistic start date.  Begin small steps towards achieving health/wealth goals.

Evaluation 50% of participants will:  Increase knowledge of health and wealth literacy  Change their attitudes and increase confidence in about health and financial management  Gain skills to make changes in health and wealth behaviors

Program Data 204 participants in 12 counties (as of June 2012) Worksite Programs 50 - One Session 15 - Two Sessions 12 - Three Sessions 164 consented to complete follow-up survey 67 completed – 42.4% response rate (as of August 2012) 68.7% women 88.7% Caucasian 75.9% lived with spouse or partner 43.1% had children under 18 living in household 27.6% had other adults over 18 living in household

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Watch Our Progress: Web site: Small Steps to Health and Wealth Facebook Pinterest 35

Nancy Porter Laurel Kubin