INFANTS, TODDLERS & CHILDREN

University of Connecticut
Department of Nutritional Sciences
The Cooperative Extension System

Hispanic Health Council, Inc.

Rafael Pérez-Escamilla, PhD (UConn)
Principal Investigator
e-mail: rperez@canr.cag.uconn.edu

Grace Damio, MS (HHC)
Co-Principal Investigator
e-mail: grace@hispanichealth.com

Anir González, MSW (HHC)
FNP-IT Program Coordinator
e-mail: anir@hispanichealth.com

During this year PANA continued presenting four different puppet shows:

"Dinogloton, Bobodino y sus Panitas ", a great bunch to teach children about nutrition. They invite their food friends into their house to meet their 5 food friends. Each food friend or "panita " explains why they are important for our bodies, what food group they belong to and what other foods belong to their group. A total of 58 shows were presented this fiscal year.

"Happy Heart", focuses on the prevention of chronic diseases through nutrition, exercise and smoking prevention. This show includes a villain puppet named "Paco Tobacco", and encourages physical activity and the consumption of fruits, and vegetables for a healthy heart. A total of 20 shows were presented this year.

"Let's Fight Bacteria", concentrates on the prevention of foodborne illnesses. This show has three main characters: Lolita, Pedro and BAC! Lolita teaches Pedro and the audience how they can prevent getting sick from BAC by following the four easy Fight BAC! steps. A total of 25 shows were presented this fiscal year.

"Where Foods Comes From", teaches the children about foods and where they come from. The definition of a community garden and farmers market is also explained. A total of 40 shows were presented this fiscal year.

From October 2000 to September 2001 PANA delivered 143 puppet shows at schools, day-care centers, health fairs and community agencies reaching a total of 6,174 participants, including 5,338 children and 836 adults. Children also received nutrition information through health fairs, games and other fun activities. This year our puppet shows were requested not only in Hartford but also in other cities, such as Glastonbury, Middletown, Granby, Farmington, West Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven, CT.

Presentations at Schools and Agencies

PANA delivered nutrition education presentations at agencies, schools and day care centers serving low-income adults and children. Presentations concentrated on general nutrition, childhood nutrition, nutrition during pregnancy, nutrition and diabetes, and food safety. PANA also continued presenting its nutrition/food safety jeopardy game and also developed two more on the topics of food access and breastfeeding.

A total of 34 oral presentations and 10 jeopardy games were conducted this year, reaching a total of 637 adults and 90 children. PANA also disseminated nutrition information and conducted puppet shows at major health promotion events hosted by the Holcomb Farm, Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS), Enfield Shade Tobacco Farm, and the Children's Health Project (Husky).This fiscal year, PANA also collaborated with a Hartford Public High School Health Profession and Home Economic class presenting the topics of nutrition/healthy eating habits, nutrition as a career and food safety.

Health Fairs

PANA participated in 16 health fairs during this past fiscal year at health fairs/festivals hosted by community agencies and hospitals. At these events, program staff performed at least one of the four puppet shows and/or disseminated nutrition information to 3,178 target individuals. PANA also participated in 6 diabetes screenings where nutrition information was provided reaching a total of 185 participants.

Breastfeeding Heritage and Pride
Freasfeeding Counseling Program

During the 2001 fiscal year, the Breastfeeding: Heritage and Pride Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program continued to provide infant feeding education, breastfeeding support and breastfeeding management services among low income women that receive services at Hartford Hospital. The following is a breakdown of program services and outcomes:

The program received a total of 404 referrals.

Of these, 382 were registered into the program as clients.

A total of 407 women, including those carried over from the previous year, were provided with home visitation services. A total of 927 home visits were conducted.

Postpartum hospital rounds were conducted for 989 women.

Community educational sessions were conducted at the Community Renewal Team Mothers Work Program, and on 840 AM Radio.

The cost effectiveness of the program is currently being evaluated. Initial data indicate significant improvements in both initiation and duration among program participant.

PANA Evaluation

All puppet shows and oral presentations at schools and community organizations were evaluated by at least one viewer. In most cases, the viewer was the group coordinator or teacher. Puppet shows were rated as good (12%), very good and excellent (88%). Oral presentations were also rated as good (8%), very good and excellent (92%).

Typical evaluation comments received include: 'The puppet show is excellent, I would like to have more puppet shows'. 'I think the kids really enjoy seeing the puppet show in real, rather than watching on television'. 'It was a wonderful presentation, a good combination of knowledge, education and fun. Speakers personalities was an A+'.

Technical Presentations

Food Safety Forum where the Director of the Family Nutrition Program and PANA Coordinator presented results of a food safety study. At this conference the puppet show 'Let's Fight BAC!' was also performed by FNP-IT's staff. Connecticut Food Policy Council, Wesleyan University, June 14, 2001.

Working Effectively in Hartford's Latino Community. Saint Joseph's College Community Nutrition Class, October, 2000.

Breastfeeding: Heritage and Pride - Breastfeeding Promotion Targeting Latinos Through A Unique Model of Peer Counseling and Social Marketing. American Public Health Association Meetings, November, 2000.

Grassroots Efforts to Increase Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration in Diverse Communities. National Summit on Nutrition, Breastfeeding and Cultural Competency: Eliminating Racial Disparities in Health, April, 2001.

Developing a Latino Health Agenda for 2010. National Latino Health Collaborative School of Public Health, University of North Texas, Fort Worth, June 2001.

Holcomb Farm

FNP-IT assisted the Hispanic Health Council's MCH/Nutrition unit providing nutrition education and distributing produce from a local farm to low-income Latino clients of the Hispanic Health Council. Development and Distribution of Culturally Appropriate Educational Materials.

Breastfeeding Fotonovela

The program with the help of community members, has developed culturally appropriate and bilingual educational materials that have been used as teaching tools at presentations and puppet shows. This year, a breastfeeding fotonovela*: "The Power of Love & Support - A Romantic Breastfeeding Story " was developed in English and Spanish with the purpose of promoting breastfeeding. This fotonovela was distributed to all 50 States through the Cooperative Extension System.

The response so far in Hartford and throughout the country has been extremely positive.

* Fotonovelas are very popular in the Latino community they are photographic booklets with stories that are most often romantic in nature. This product utilized the medium and romantic theme, to deliver breastfeeding promotion, education and support.

Infant Feeding Guide

A culturally appropriate infant feeding guide covering the first 12 months of life and beyond was also developed for the use of Spanish- and English speaking parents.

Puerto Rican Food Guide Pyramid & Other

FNP-IT continued reaching out to thousands of individuals nationwide through materials previously developed by the program. These include: Puerto Rican Food Guide Pyramid, Bilingual Color-Coded Food Label, 'From the Farm to the Table' Coloring Book. FNP-IT also reached thousands of target individuals in Connecticut with USDA Fight BAC! Educational materials.

The FNP-IT overall coordinator, nutrition education coordinator, and research & evaluation coordinator attended at least one of the following trainings:

Diabetes Today, Los Angeles, CA, September, 2000

Childhood obesity conference in San Diego, Ca., March 18th - 20th, 2001 FNP-IT coordinators provided in-house training to staff on: Infant feeding, food safety, research & evaluation.

Training of Trainers

"Reaching Low-Income Audiences with Multicultural Nutrition Education". On September 26, 2001 the program fulfilled its dream of sharing with interested individuals the approaches used to teach nutrition to children and adults, how to conduct needs assessments, create educational materials and social marketing campaigns, evaluate interventions. The event was attended by 30 individuals working in the fields of nutrition, health, and education in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

This fiscal year FNP-IT was represented in the following groups: State of Connecticut's Obesity Prevention Program (scientific advisory committee, strategic planning and policy committee, community-based and school based work group), Oral Health 2010, Folic Acid Task Force, End Hunger Connecticut!, American Dietetic Association, Hartford Food Policy Commission, Asthma Coalition, American Public Health Association, Hartford Food System, Greater Hartford Women and Children's Health Network, Perinatal Subcommittee and Children's Health Subcommittee, State of Connecticut Breastfeeding Committee, Hartford Hospital Lactation Committee.