- Author: Hawau E Bojuwon
UCCE Kern County and CNAP partners community garden training increased knowledge for 18 local agencies on cultivating and maintaining food-based gardens, and supported UC ANR's commitment to healthy families and communities.
The Issue
According to County Health Rankings & Roadmap, Kern County's food insecurity rate of 23.8% exceeds California's rate of 18%. Almost 74% of Kern County adults are overweight or obese, posing chronic disease risks such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
How UC Delivers
The Kern County Nutrition Action Plan (CNAP) for a Healthy Kern empowers local communities to create a culture of healthy living. Collaborative efforts to prevent obesity and other chronic disease include direct and indirect education, outreach, and policy system environmental changes (PSE) to create positive wellness environments where people work, live, and play. UCCE Kern County's Nutrition, Family, and Consumer Sciences Advisor chaired the Kern CNAP for a Healthy Kern, working to help prevent food insecurity and obesity. CNAP collaborated with Kern County Public Health Services Department, McKinley Elementary School, and Kern County Library to plan and conduct the McKinley Home Garden Training program for representatives from 18 community-based organizations.
Research shows that food-centered gardening leads to increased consumption of fresh foods from backyards and community gardens. The UCCE Kern training program included information on gardening basics, health benefits of gardening, and healthy lifestyle choices. Participants received vital information and skills to develop and maintain gardens in food-insecure communities.
The Impact
As a result of UCCE Kern County collaborations to conduct the McKinley Elementary School gardening training, participants from 18 community agencies increased their knowledge of gardening methods and resources available to start and sustain a garden. Significant changes among participants were documented with a pre/post survey developed by the CNAP. Before the garden training, 78% of participants reported little to some knowledge, skills, or understanding about gardening, and 22% reported having a lot to a great deal of knowledge. In post-survey results, 22% of participants reported little to some knowledge, skills, or understanding of gardening, and 78% reported a lot to a great deal of knowledge, demonstrating a doubling of knowledge that was held prior to the training.
Results of the training were shared at the Kern County Nutrition Action Plan (CNAP) coalition meeting, which led to a Parks and Recreation inquiry indicating interest in establishing additional gardens across Kern County. Participants noted the benefits of the training as learning how systems work together to achieve impact and serve the community; a great program to teach the younger generation healthy options; impacting their work around implementing Policies, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) changes; a great idea for summer camp classes for students; useful information to start a garden and use the fresh vegetables in nutrition education classes, and implementing herb box container gardening at churches.” These results demonstrate how UCCE Kern County, in partnership with other local agencies, provided knowledge and skills to support healthier families and positive built environments in the community.
- Author: Hawau E Bojuwon
After attending UCCE Kern County training, CAPSLO early childhood educators increase structured physical activity for 195 children enrolled in their seasonal migrant head start program using the CATCH ECE curriculum.
The Issue
According to KidsData.org, almost 74% of Kern County adults are either overweight or obese. Furthermore, 2018 data from Department of Education Physical Fitness tests indicated that Kern fifth graders overweight or obese rates at 44.9%, were 5% higher than the state average. Also, the food insecurity rate at 23.8%, is higher than California's state average rate of 18%. Childhood obesity has both immediate and long-term serious health impacts, as children who are obese are more likely to have risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, including high blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO) has five migrant head start centers in Kern County: Milagro Migrant Head Start, Las Mariposas Head Start, Las Rosas Migrant Head Start, Glenwood Migrant Head Start, and Buena Vista Migrant Head Start. The agency provides early education and childcare for migrant families in the Arvin, Lamont/Weedpatch, Wasco, and Delano communities. The seasonal migrant program provides no-cost childcare and preschool services to low-income families whose primary occupation is agricultural production or harvesting.
How UC Delivers
To promote healthy lifestyles, CAPSLO collaborated with UCCE Kern County Nutrition Education program to implement the Coordinated Approach to Child Health Early Childhood Education (CATCH ECE). UCCE Kern Nutrition staff provided teachers with a 4-hour CATCH ECE training and technical assistance twice per month for 14 months. CATCH ECE provided children the opportunity to develop locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills through games and activities. Children had the opportunity to be more physically active during school sessions. Teachers incorporated CATCH ECE in their daily curriculum at Head Start Centers 3-5 days per week for 30 minutes.
CATCH Training CAPSLO Staff
The Impact
As a result of the CATCH ECE partnership and implementation, 12 teacher extenders trained to implement the CATCH curriculum, adopted what they learned and delivered 83.75 hours of physical activity programming to young children at CAPSLO's centers. From August 2018 to September 2019, students received these 83.75 hours of structured physical activity using the CATCH ECE curriculum. A total of 195 students increased structured physical activity 3-5 times per week compared to their initial 2-3 times. According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (2018), regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reduces the risk of many chronic diseases among children and adults. By motivating participants to adopt healthier lifestyle practices, UCCE Kern helped to create healthier families and communities.
http://cekern.ucanr.edu/Custom_Program804/
https://www.facebook.com/UCCEKernCounty
- Author: Beatriz Adrianna Rojas
Thirty-two preschool young children of migrant families increased physical activity after participating in program partnership between CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Kern and Las Mariposas Head Start.
The Issue
According to KidsData, Kern County has a food insecurity rate that is higher than the state average at 23.8% compared to California's overall rate of 18%. Obesity rates are also high. Almost 74% of Kern County adults are either overweight or obese. Further, 2018 data from Department of Education Physical Fitness tests indicated that Kern fifth graders overweight or obese rates were 5% higher than the state average at 44.9%.
Kern County also has a large population of migrant families. Las Mariposas Head Start is a state preschool and seasonal migrant head start center located in Delano, California. The seasonal migrant program provides no cost childcare and preschool services to low-income families whose primary income is from agricultural production or harvesting.
How UC Delivers
To proactively address creating health lifestyles, administrators and staff at Las Mariposas Head Start collaborated with CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Kern (CFHL, UCCE Kern) and implemented Coordinated Approach to Child Health Early Childhood Education (CATCH ECE). CFHL, UCCE Kern staff provided teachers with a four hour CATCH ECE training and technical assistance twice per month. Teachers expressed their appreciation for the CATCH ECE Kit and technical assistance indicating that the program helped teachers nourish the love for physical activity in their students.
CFHL, UCCE Kern also provided 55 parents with Plan, Shop, Save, and Cook food resource management lessons. During the lessons, parents are reminded about the importance of physical activity, and are given recommendations based on the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Both the children and the parents receive vital lessons to reduce obesity through physical activity coupled with healthy nutrition.
From October 2019 to August 2020, 32 students received a total of 98.25 hours of structured physical activity using CATCH ECE curriculum. CFHL, UCCE Kern staff also provided five hours of food resource management lessons to parents. Both of the teachers stated they are using CATCH materials during free play to encourage students to stay active.
The Impact
As a result of this program, 32 students increased structured physical activity to 3-5 times per week compared to their initial 2-3 times. Teachers have observed the students increasing their physical activity and the teachers also shared that they have increased their own physical activity. Research has shown that physical activity can provide immediate benefits and reduce the chances of being diagnosed with chronic diseases. In this way, the program contributes to improved individual health and the public value of promoting healthy people and communities.
