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

2. Youth
Education
Health

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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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)

11. 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

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

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

14. MEDIA
CHANNEL 3
WREG TV

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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.

25. 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

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

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

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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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