Presentation Transcript

1. Participatory Policy Study in a Northern New Mexico Community

   New Mexico Healthier Weight Council Quarterly Meeting March 31, 2011
2. Victoria Sánchez 1, Yolanda Cruz2, Ron Hale3, Perdita Wexler4, Vonnell Bettencourt 4, Corazon Halasan4 1Master of Public Health (MPH) Program University of New Mexico 2 San Miguel County Family and Community Health Council 3Office of Health Promotion/Community Health Improvement, Public Health Division 4Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, Chronic Disease Bureau, Public Health Division

3. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy at the University of New Mexico

   Faculty Research Grants Program
4. Community Diabetes Collaborative (CDC2) San Miguel County Family & Community Health Council Office of Health Promotion and Community Health Improvement (OHPCHI), NM Dept. of Health Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP), NM Dept. of Health Evaluation Team, University of New Mexico (UNM) Health Sciences Center
5. Partnership Background Initial meeting: mid 2008 Model a planning and evaluation process that can work in other health priority areas MOU (UNM/DOH/SMCHC): fall 2008 Statewide planning framework – Jan 2009 RWJF Grant: April 2009 – April 2010 Develop and pilot a participatory research process to build upon community identified needs and our ongoing partnership
6. Purpose of Study Pilot study Examine school nutrition and physical activity policies in two school districts in one community Intended result Analyze success, gaps, and policy areas to serve as a foundation for community mobilization to reduce youth obesity in partnership with Las Vegas schools
7. New Mexico Department of Health Regions Policy Study Site
8. Study Team San Miguel Health Council Yolanda Cruz Lacey Houdek Adam Metcalf Darla Tenorio Master of Public Health Program: UNM Mark Andrews Victoria Sánchez Office of Health Promotion and Community Health Improvement* Ron Hale Diabetes Prevention and Control Program* Vonnell Bettencourt Cora Halasan Perdita Wexler *Public Health Division New Mexico Department of Health
9. Research Protocols UNM/HSC Human Research Review Committee (HRRC) approval Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) training
10. Principles Co-learning process Local capacity building Long-term commitment Balance research and action Israel, et al., 1998; 2003
11. Methods Policy Scan Key Informant Interviews (n = 9) Learn about the implementation (facilitating factors and barriers) of the physical activity and nutrition policies at the district and school level Focus Group (n = 2) Learn about students’ experiences with physical activity and nutrition policies
12. Results Implementation Facilitating Factors Barriers/Challenges Recommendations
13. Facilitating Factors General Facilitating Factors: Individual Champions/Advocates Grants - e.g. 21st Century, Carol White, International Food Grant, Coordinated Approach to Children's Health (CATCH)
14. Barriers/Challenges General Barriers/Challenges: Lack of funds Lack of time in schedules Gaps in understanding of written policies among staff and parents Lack of knowledge about the function of the SHAC
15. Barriers: Nutrition In reference to food vendors who sell food directly adjacent to the campus: …it is creating a competing interest for the district in which we can’t compete …because we can’t sell the sugar and the cokes and those kinds of food items. So, that’s a big inhibiter to full implementation to this policy. Until we get support from the City there is nothing the district can do.
16. Results Accountability
17. Evaluation Accountability Tied to understanding policy No shared understanding of who is responsible for enforcement
18. Accountability I believe that there is not sufficient enforcement of it. It’s kind of left up to each administrator, left up to almost down to the individual teacher. Nobody comes over and asks “are you doing this…are you meeting this and that goal?”
19. Recommendations General Recommendations: Policy training for administrators, teachers, and staff Make wellness policy a working document Increase outreach to parents and students Increase communication with the SHAC
20. Recommendations I think teachers need to be given more trainings on how to carry out the policy so that there is no question or any doubt as to how to go about it and so that they can be models for the program.
21. What can the Health Council Do? Help increase or strengthen facilitating factors Outreach and education to parents and community Continue to work with SHAC to find new communication linkages with PTA, local businesses, school board, city council Seek funding for school initiatives
22. Discussion Successes in policy implementation may reflect areas of activity over which the schools have direct control (e.g., vending machine changes, recess time)
23. Discussion Nutrition policy barriers reflected larger community norms and practices: Autonomy of food vendors Community parental attitudes/ practices May require different strategies than physical activity policies
24. Questions?
25. Contacts Yolanda Cruz smhealthcouncil@desertgate.com Ron Hale Ron.hale@state.nm.us Victoria Sanchez visanchez@salud.unm.edu Perdita Wexler perdita.wexler@statenm.us