Building Capacity through Partnership for Environmental and Policy Change to Prevent Obesity in Children Marjorie Sawicki, MS, RD, LDN Diabetes Initiative Synergy Grant: Preventing Obesity in Children Saint Louis University, School of Public Health St. Louis, Missouri Marjorie Sawicki, MS, RD, LDN Diabetes Initiative Synergy Grant: Preventing Obesity in Children Saint Louis University, School of Public Health St. Louis, Missouri

Diabetes Initiative Synergy Grant: Preventing Obesity in Children The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded four Diabetes Initiative grantees Demonstration projects in policy and environmental change Improve access to healthy foods and physical activity Targeted children years in high risk communities. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded four Diabetes Initiative grantees Demonstration projects in policy and environmental change Improve access to healthy foods and physical activity Targeted children years in high risk communities.

Purpose Purpose was to build capacity within four high-risk communities to make policy and environmental changes to reduce the risk of obesity among children.  Holyoke MA  Middletown, CT  Mt. Hope, WV  Somerton, AZ Purpose was to build capacity within four high-risk communities to make policy and environmental changes to reduce the risk of obesity among children.  Holyoke MA  Middletown, CT  Mt. Hope, WV  Somerton, AZ

Policy and Environmental Change Social ecological framework used to focus grantee efforts. Needs assessment, gap analysis and strategy development. Community partnerships crucial. Social ecological framework used to focus grantee efforts. Needs assessment, gap analysis and strategy development. Community partnerships crucial. Child Society Industry and Government Community School and Peers Family Child

Grantee Training Technical Assistance IOM Report Preventing Childhood Obesity Biweekly Phone Calls Progress reports Problem solving Internet Resources Biweekly Colloquium Discussions Feature Topics Site Visits Strengthen Partnerships Conference Meetings Ecologic Framework Policy Process Environment Effective Partnerships PRS Report System Strengthen Partnerships Collaboration Youth Leadership School Wellness Policy Conference Meetings Ecologic Framework Policy Process Environment Effective Partnerships PRS Report System Strengthen Partnerships Collaboration Youth Leadership School Wellness Policy

Campesinos Sin Fronteras Somerton, AZ Mobilizing Parents for Healthier Environments Population - Hispanic Field Workers Focus - Develop modules to train parents to advocate for their children in the school and community Partnership - Promotoras, SAG committee, City administration Outcome - Hispanic Voice, Advocacy, School Board policy, City donated building for Child & Family Wellness Center Mobilizing Parents for Healthier Environments Population - Hispanic Field Workers Focus - Develop modules to train parents to advocate for their children in the school and community Partnership - Promotoras, SAG committee, City administration Outcome - Hispanic Voice, Advocacy, School Board policy, City donated building for Child & Family Wellness Center

Community Health Center Middletown, CT Healthy Macdonough School Population - Children and surrounding neighborhood of Macdonough Elementary School Focus - Environmental and Policy Change in the school for physical activity and healthy foods Partnership - CHC hub of community network for children and families (Wesleyan University, Vinnie’s Jump & Jive) Outcome - School Wellness Policy led to lunch and recess changes “Recess Rocks” “Summer Food Program” expanded in neighborhood. Healthy Macdonough School Population - Children and surrounding neighborhood of Macdonough Elementary School Focus - Environmental and Policy Change in the school for physical activity and healthy foods Partnership - CHC hub of community network for children and families (Wesleyan University, Vinnie’s Jump & Jive) Outcome - School Wellness Policy led to lunch and recess changes “Recess Rocks” “Summer Food Program” expanded in neighborhood.

Holyoke Health Center Holyoke, MA Stepping Up to Health with Sullivan School Population - Latino children of the “flats” Focus - Increased opportunities for physical activity for children in school; evolved to community focus Partnership - Community College, Nuestras Raices Puerto Rican community & economic development Outcome - Evolution in community participation Food and fitness council School opened doors to collaboration Stepping Up to Health with Sullivan School Population - Latino children of the “flats” Focus - Increased opportunities for physical activity for children in school; evolved to community focus Partnership - Community College, Nuestras Raices Puerto Rican community & economic development Outcome - Evolution in community participation Food and fitness council School opened doors to collaboration

Marshall University Mt. Hope, WV Mt. Hope Healthy Kids Coalition Population - Rural Appalachian community Focus - create a model to mobilize community to create an environment that supports access to healthy foods and physical activity Partnership - Mayor, Mt. Hope Principal, SBHC, WV Board of Education, community-at-large Outcome - policy and environmental changes in town Energy Balance for Fayette County Vision Walk Around the World & community walking trails Mt. Hope EATS (everyone at the table served) Mt. Hope Healthy Kids Coalition Population - Rural Appalachian community Focus - create a model to mobilize community to create an environment that supports access to healthy foods and physical activity Partnership - Mayor, Mt. Hope Principal, SBHC, WV Board of Education, community-at-large Outcome - policy and environmental changes in town Energy Balance for Fayette County Vision Walk Around the World & community walking trails Mt. Hope EATS (everyone at the table served)

Lessons Learned Establish trust within the community. Policy champion is essential to maintaining momentum for policy and environmental change. Change takes time and evaluation needs to look at how groundwork was laid for change. Paradigm shift of program staff who now view their work through the lens of policy and environmental change. Establish trust within the community. Policy champion is essential to maintaining momentum for policy and environmental change. Change takes time and evaluation needs to look at how groundwork was laid for change. Paradigm shift of program staff who now view their work through the lens of policy and environmental change.