CalFresh Healthy Living (CFHL), UCCE Kern County aims to improve health in farm working families by encouraging healthy eating and physical activity. As a result of a partnership with Head Start centers serving migrant communities, youth completed over 140 hours of physical activity and 92% of adult family members intended to use nutrition facts when shopping.

The Issue

According to County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, Kern County is ranked among the least healthy counties in California in terms of length and quality of life and a significant portion of residents have one or more risk factors that threaten their longevity and quality of life. For instance, 34% of adults are either overweight or obese, 35% of residents are physically inactive, and 23% are food insecure. 

Children and adults with these risk factors are more likely to develop chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

 How UC Delivers

In order to work with residents on early healthy start interventions, CFHL, UCCE Kern County partnered with Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO), which has five migrant Head Start centers in Kern County. CAPSLO provides no-cost childcare and preschool services to low-income families whose primary occupation is agricultural production and harvesting in the Arvin, Lamont/Weedpatch, Wasco, and Delano communities.

CFHL, UCCE Kern has conducted evening adult nutrition education at the centers.

• 94 parents received evidence based lessons from Plan, Shop, Save, and Cook (PSSC) and Healthy, Happy Families.
• Parents learned how to read the nutrition facts label, save money on food and how to start healthy habits with their children. Parents also learned how to incorporate physical activity in their everyday family routine. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (2018)recommends moderate-to-vigorous physical activity to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases among children and adults.

In order to impact families CFHL, UCCE Kern provided CAPSLO teachers with four hour training on Coordinated Approach to Child Health Early Childhood Education (CATCH ECE). CATCH ECE provides children with skill development exercises to develop locomotor, non-locomotor, manipulative skills and nurture their love for physical activity through games and activities. Teachers conducted CATCH 2-4 days per week for 30 minutes.

CAPSLO teachers trained in CATCH ECE

Teachers being trained in CATCH ECE

The Impact

Seventeen parents who received the PSSC lesson on understanding food labels completed an “Intent to Change” survey. Results of the survey include:

• Of the 12 respondents who did not use the “Nutrition Facts” label prior to the lesson, 92% reported that they will use the nutrition facts on the food label to choose foods the next time they go shopping.
• A parent shared how the workshop helped her family and that they are “eating better and know how to choose foods with better nutrition.”

From August to October 2022, 130 children participated in 143 hours of physical activity through CATCH ECE lessons delivered by 15 teachers at CAPSLO's centers. Research shows that regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reduces the risk of many chronic diseases among children and adults.

“All my children enjoy the CATCH activities. The CATCH program is fun and beneficial,” one teacher shared. The Center Director said “I really like how teachers and children are physically active with CATCH. The nutrition sessions given to the parents also makes it more impactful for the whole family.”

By motivating and teaching CFHL participants to adopt healthier lifestyle practices, and training ECE teachers to support physical activity, CFHL, UCCE Kern helps create healthier families and communities.

Students participating in CATCH ECE activity.

Point-of-purchase signage promotes fruits and vegetables at a small market in Tulare County

How UC Delivers 

UC ANR's Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI) has developed and tested Site-level Assessment Questionnaires (SLAQs) to empower local health departments (LHDs) and other agencies working with schools, early childhood education centers (ECE), out-of-school programs, and grocery stores to perform annual assessments of wellness practices at each site. A SLAQ is a setting-customized, easy-to-use questionnaire comprised of multiple sections, each of which addresses a specific wellness domain, such as the school food environment or prominence of healthy food displays in a grocery store. Topic experts, including extension and SNAP-Ed professionals, education professionals with nutrition expertise, and academic researchers,reviewed SLAQs and provided valuable contributions regarding their questionnaire validity and content. The SLAQs were then pilot-tested in the field for feasibility, validity, and reliability.

Extension programs can partner with schools, ECEs, out-of-school programs, and grocery stores to use completed SLAQs to identify areas of need and create action plans for improvement. As sites perform annual reassessments, they receive concrete data that reflect the progress of their programs. SLAQ scores from multiple sites can be aggregated to measure the degree of health promotion in a community, a county, or across the state. Extension programs can also examine how improving health-promoting practices over time relates to changes in health outcomes.

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.

Children engaged in CATCH ECE activities

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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. 

Students at las Mariposas ready to start a CATCH ECE activity outdoors.

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.

Students performing a CATCH ECE activity inside their classroom.

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