Family-Centered Approach to Nutrition Education: CDI’s Learning P.A.C.T. Project

1. Family-Centered Approach to Nutrition Education: CDI’s Learning P.A.C.T. Project Presented by: Heather Reed, MA, RD, Nutrition Education Consultant California Department of Education hreed@cde.ca.gov Melanie Tate, BS, Northern Regional Coordinator Child Development Incorporated mtate@cdicdc.org Julie Field, MPA, Research and Evaluation Manager First Five Sacramento Commission fieldJ@saccounty.net March 4, 2009 California Network for Healthy California Conference Session 1:15 pm-2:45 pm

2. Today’s Presentation I. How the Learning PACT began Plans and Partnerships II. Family Workshops Successes and Lessons III. Sacramento County First Five Funding Opportunities

3. I. What is the Learning PACT? “LearningforParents and Children Together Project” overseen by Continuing Development /Child Development Incorporated (CDI) • Family-Centered Nutrition Education • Funded by Sacramento First Five Commission • 2.5 year Funding Cycle • 1/2008 through 6/2010

4. Goals of the Learning PACT • Prevent childhood obesity through family-based education strategies • Risk starts before kindergarten • Enhance school readiness in the context of nutrition education • Families need help getting ready for kindergarten

5. Partnership Based on Mutual Goals • Child Development Incorporated • California Department of Education, Nutrition Services Division • California Network for a Healthy California • Sacramento First Five Commission

6. What Are Your Challenges with Nutrition Education for Preschool Families?

7. Scope of Learning PACT 7 CDI centers serving primarily low-income preschool children Series of Four Family-Centered workshops • Nutrition Education And Physical Activity • Founded in Best Practices • Staff Training Integral

8. Learning PACT Project Roles • Leadership Team: CDI Nutritionists and CDE consultant • Curriculum Specialists • Center Staff • First Five Evaluator

9. Workshop Development • Learning-Centered Education Training Planning: Leader Meetings Curriculum Design Preparation Sessions

10. Learning-Centered Education Training for CDI Core Project Team • A four-day training workshop • Hands-on practice designing and delivering nutrition education sessions http://www.globalearning.com/

11. Learning-Centered Education Evidenced-based approach evaluated by UC Berkeley Center for Weight and Health • Based on adult learning principles • Redefines teacher and learner roles • Partnership based on mutual respect • Learners talk with one another as well as with the teacher

12. Example: Learning Centered Activity • Look at this list of the benefits of fruits and vegetables (or we can read these together). • Turn to your neighbor and talk about... • “Which of these benefits is most important to you and your family?”

13. II. Family Workshops Conducted by Child Development Incorporated (CDI) agency • Private non-profit agency • 163 child development centers in California • Learning PACT Project includes: 7 Sacramento based centers serving low-income preschoolers

14. Family-Centered Workshops Family-Centered: Parents and children learning together • Parent-centered –adults learn while children watch or engaged in separate activity • Child-centered-children learn while parents watch Provides Role Modeling for Parents Promotes School Readiness • In context of hands-on nutrition

15. Workshop Design-4 A’s Inviting setting and warm welcome • Anchor-learner’s own experience • Add-content told in dialogue • Apply-time for practice • Away-take home the learning

16. Five Senses Activity(Anchor) Think about a favorite meal from your childhood • From the key ring, select one sense • Describe this meal to the person next to you, using that sense

17. Sense-able Meals Workshop Agenda Parent Part: • Anchor: remembering favorite childhood meals • Add: guidelines for healthy meals • Apply: Select recipe from Network cookbook that appeals to you • Away:One idea at home Child Part: • Child activity based on five senses • Varied at each center Family Part: • Healthy meal served • Reading “Five Senses book” together • Take aways: book, cookbook

18. Other Resources Given to Parents E V E RY D A Y Healthy Meals http://www.cachampionsforchange.net/en/Recipes.php

19. Staff Training Goal for staff to be role models Increased staff knowledge • learning-centered approach • confident in integrating nutrition into child curriculum • personal nutrition practices

20. Feedback from Families and Staff 30 staff trained 95 families (total) participated in the first workshop series offered at 7 centers range of 5-20 families per workshop Parents and staff surveyed for their feedback- parents used the book

21. Successes • Modeling for families • child/parents eating together • parents/child reading the book together • High attendance and requests for more workshops • Staff involvement

22. Lessons Learned • Schedule workshops within one month of staff training • Advertise close to date of workshop • Language needs less of a barrier • Due to small group learning activities • Develop template for child part • Staff didn’t have time to develop this • Timing of meal depends on center

23. Topics for Next Workshops • Feeding relationships • Physical Activity • Portion and serving sizes

24. III. First 5 Sacramento • Sacramento County funding priorities • Nutrition result area strategies • Nutrition education • Tot lots • Farm stands • Breastfeeding support and education • Evaluation • Future funding opportunities

25. Questions?