Marjorie Sawicki, MS, RD, LDN
Diabetes Initiative Synergy Grant: Preventing Obesity in Children
Saint Louis University, School of Public Health
St. Louis, Missouri

Preventing Obesity in Children
 The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded four Diabetes Initiative grantees
 Demonstration projects in policy and environmental change
 Improve access to healthy foods and physical activity
 Targeted children 3 - 12 years in high risk communities.

 Purpose was to build capacity within four high-risk communities to make policy and environmental changes to reduce the risk of obesity among children.
 Holyoke MA
 Middletown, CT
 Mt. Hope, WV
 Somerton, AZ

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Social ecological framework used to focus grantee efforts.
Needs assessment, gap analysis and strategy development.
Community partnerships crucial.
Industry and Government
Community School and Peers
Family
Society

 Conference Meetings
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Ecologic Framework
Policy Process
Environment
Effective Partnerships
PRS Report System
Strengthen Partnerships
Collaboration
Youth Leadership
School Wellness Policy
 Technical Assistance
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IOM Report
 Preventing Childhood Obesity
Biweekly Phone Calls
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Progress reports
Problem solving
Internet Resources
Biweekly Colloquium
Discussions
 Feature Topics
Site Visits
 Strengthen Partnerships

Somerton, AZ
 Mobilizing Parents for Healthier Environments
 Population - Hispanic Field Workers
 Focus - Develop modules to train parents to advocate for their children in the school and community
 Partnership - Promotoras, SAG committee, City administration
 Outcome - Hispanic Voice, Advocacy, School Board policy, City donated building for Child & Family
Wellness Center

Middletown, CT
 Healthy Macdonough School
 Population - Children and surrounding neighborhood of
Macdonough Elementary School
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Focus - Environmental and Policy Change in the school for physical activity and healthy foods
Partnership - CHC hub of community network for children and families (Wesleyan University, Vinnie’s Jump & Jive)
Outcome - School Wellness Policy led to lunch and recess changes
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“Recess Rocks”
“Summer Food Program” expanded in neighborhood.

Holyoke, MA
 Stepping Up to Health with Sullivan School
 Population Latino children of the “flats”
 Focus - Increased opportunities for physical activity for children in school; evolved to community focus
 Partnership - Community College, Nuestras Raices
Puerto Rican community & economic development
 Outcome - Evolution in community participation
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Food and fitness council
 School opened doors to collaboration

Mt. Hope, WV
 Mt. Hope Healthy Kids Coalition
 Population - Rural Appalachian community
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Focus - create a model to mobilize community to create an environment that supports access to healthy foods and physical activity
Partnership - Mayor, Mt. Hope Principal, SBHC, WV
Board of Education, community-at-large
Outcome - policy and environmental changes in town
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Energy Balance for Fayette County Vision
Walk Around the World & community walking trails
 Mt. Hope EATS (everyone at the table served)

 Establish trust within the community.
 Policy champion is essential to maintaining momentum for policy and environmental change.
 Change takes time and evaluation needs to look at how groundwork was laid for change.
 Paradigm shift of program staff who now view their work through the lens of policy and environmental change.