Health Department Durham Region’s Community Food Advisor Program...Promoting Food Safety and Healthy Eating alPHa Workshop November 12, 2004

Health Department Provincial History of the CFA Program n The CFA Program is an initiative started in 1991 by OMAFRA and the MOHLTC n CFA Program is now housed with the Nutrition Resource Centre of the Ontario Public Health Association n Currently 18 CFA Programs in Ontario, 12 public health sites

Health Department Program Goal n The Community Food Advisor Program aims to improve and promote safe and nutritious food selection, preparation and storage by increasing individual and group access to reliable information and education

Health Department Who are the Community Food Advisors? n CFAs are trained volunteer peer educators who have received 70 hours of instruction and 20 hours of community practice activities about healthy eating, safe food handling, preparation, selection, storage and preservation of food along with communication and leadership skills

Health Department History of Durham Region CFA Program n Fall Durham Region CFA Advisor Steering Committee formed, members include:  Durham Region Health Department  Ajax-Pickering Social Development Council  Whitby Mental Health Centre  Heart and Stroke Foundation  Durham Lives!  Pre & Postnatal Nutrition Project  The Youth Centre  Family & Community Action Program  Durham’s Child Nutrition Project  The Federation of Women’s Institutes  Durham Region Dietician’s and Home Economist’s Network  Canadian Red Cross  Salvation Army Community Services  Upstairs at Loblaws  North Durham Social Development Council

Health Department n Winter applicants selected Recruitment & Training

Health Department n Spring potential CFAs entered training n Trainers included Public Health Nutritionists, Registered Dietitians, Home Economists, Chefs, Public Health Inspectors Recruitment & Training

Health Department Recruitment & Training n Durham Region CFAs trained as certified food handlers

Health Department n January CFAs graduated from training n Trillium Foundation Grant Graduation

Health Department n September official program launch Implementation & Launch

Health Department n Durham Region Social Services Community Partners Grant n 5 Depots with cooking equipment and resources at churches, fire hall, Loblaws n On-line inventory - equipment and resources Implementation & Launch

Health Department n Re-certified on an annual basis n Minimum of 3 service requests completed n Two educational update sessions Volunteer Commitment

Health Department n Volunteer Appreciation Week n Re-certification Event n Appreciation BBQ n Of original 41, 33 are active, 1 on LOA Volunteer Recognition & Retention

Health Department n Each year, one large promotional event Service Requests

Health Department n Spring information packages sent to community groups and agencies n community requests, 45 fulfilled n requests, 35 complete, 12 pending n requests received Service Requests

Health Department n Community requests from:  Schools, libraries, church groups  Family and Community Action programs  Prenatal programs  Community health centres  Seniors centres  Brownies  Non-profit weight loss groups  Food banks  Parks and recreation groups  Collaboration with Health Department staff on specific activities Service Requests

Health Department n Sample topics:  Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating  Cooking for one/two  Food storage  Safe food handling  Proper hand washing techniques  Menu planning  How to read food labels  Cooking with beans/legumes  Low fat cooking  Incorporating more vegetables and fruits  Quick healthy meals  Healthy snacking Service Requests

Health Department n Agency and audience feedback forms n Many groups have submitted repeat requests n Peer component has been well received by community groups n Statistics collected - volunteer hours, resources distributed n Annual Provincial Report Evaluation

Health Department n Schools n Prenatal Health Fair n Community Festival CFAs in Action

Health Department n Team-building n Recruitment? n Promotion Future