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Engaging Native Youth for Policy Change on Nutrition & Physical Fitness

Empowering Native high school students in two Oregon tribal communities to lead student-driven policy change on nutrition and physical fitness in their local communities.

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Engaging Native Youth for Policy Change on Nutrition & Physical Fitness

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  1. Introduction The Empowering Native Youth to Engage in Policy Change Addressing Nutrition & Physical Fitness project engages Native high school students in two Oregon tribal communities to lead student‐driven nutrition and physical fitness policy change within their local communities. Project Staff: Carrie Sampson (Umatilla), Project Coordinator Victoria Warren-Mears, Project Director Stephanie Farquhar, Principle Investigator, Portland State University Project funded by the Northwest Health Foundation

  2. Project Goal The research process and resultant policies will contribute to improvements in nutrition and reductions in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in these two Oregon Tribal communities.

  3. Project Objectives • Engage tribal youth from 2 Oregon Tribes in exploring their perceived barriers to good nutrition and physical fitness in their communities • Engage tribal youth from 2 Oregon Tribes in exploring their perceived community assets which could be leveraged to support good nutrition and physical fitness in their communities • Develop a conceptual framework of the environmental, ecological and social realities impacting nutrition and physical fitness in their communities • Engage tribal and school decision makers in reviewing findings with youth in order to identify opportunities to initiate steps toward developing culturally appropriate policy interventions

  4. Methods • From 2011-2012, 19 youth were recruited from 2 Oregon Tribes and trained in Photovoicetechniques. • Photovoice is a technique that enables community residents of all ages to share information about their communities through pictures. • Participants benefit from Photovoice, as they’re able to speak about the issues that are bothering them, connect with others in the community, and advocate for change. • Project participants then met for two photo discussion sessions. Using the SHOWED inductive questioning technique, students summarized what they saw/what was happening in each photo, why they thought the problem existed, and their suggestions for possible solutions.

  5. Analysis • Discussion sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative Atlas.ti software. • Project team members used an inductive approach consisting of open, axial, and selective coding to extract broad themes and show the role of nutrition and physical fitness in each community.

  6. Themes: Tribe #1 • Food & Beverage Options • Sports & Fitness Opportunities • Environmental Pollution • Graffiti • Tobacco & Alcohol • Road & Pedestrian Safety • Stray Animals

  7. Youth Suggestions: Tribe #1 • Offer healthier choices in vending machines around the community • Increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables by selling them at local stores and planting more community gardens. • Clean-up, replace old equipment, and improve the safety of local parks and playgrounds. • Install more garbage and recycling receptacles in the community. • Increase police enforcement of littering. • Install more ashtrays, put up more ‘no smoking’ signs, and increase fines for littering. • Offer a designated wall space for kids to paint and draw in parks. • Install lights and crosswalks in four-way intersections. • Promote animal adoption and encourage community members to take better care of their animals PowerPoint slide layout by Red Wind Consulting, Inc. and clip art by RT Computer Graphics, Plains Collection

  8. Themes: Tribe #2 • Drug & Alcohol & Youth Violence • Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety • Cultural Traditions & Ceremonies • Sports & Fitness Opportunities • Food & Beverage Options • Environmental Pollution

  9. Youth Suggestions: Tribe #2 • Take down alcohol advertisements in local store and rearrange beverage sections. • Increase police surveillance of partying in public places (at parks and abandoned houses). • Increase awareness of the poor state of elementary school playgrounds by informing school, parents, community, and city hall. • Promote the benefits of water to the community, offer deals on bottled water at local stores. • Put more sidewalks and bike lanes around the community. • Lower the speed limit around town. • Organize a community clean-up of the local river by the bridge/old dam areas. • Lower the price to dump garbage in order to encourage people to take their trash to the dump and not the river.

  10. Final Step • Present findings to respective Tribal Councils • Implement youth suggestions with additional grant funding

  11. Questions?

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