HEALTH LITERACY:
A Multigenerational Approach to
Decreasing Obesity in Elementary
School-Aged Students
presented by: Joy P. Deupree, PhD, MSN, APRN-BC
November 4, 2014
FUNDING
Community Health Scholars Grant
$20,000
With additional funding via various
proposals from the community
$74,000
INTRODUCTION

Alabama ranks 2nd in the nation for obesity rates
(33.3%)

Surveys of students in Sylacauga, Alabama
elementary schools indicate 32.8% of students are
overweight or obese.
INTRODUCTION
(continued)
The National Assessment of Adult Literacy (2003)
estimates 57% of the adult population in Alabama
performs at the lowest literacy levels of basic and
below basic.
 The IOM National Action Plan to Improve Health
Literacy supports efforts to use targeted, tailored
programs to improve health literacy noted that "K-12
schools should incorporate health education into
existing science, math, literacy, social studies, and
computer instruction in grades K -12 by embedding
health-related tasks, skills, and examples into lesson
plans."

PARTNERS
The Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement (SAFE)
is a community-based, nonprofit organization whose
purpose is to provide meaningful opportunities for
families to contribute to the growth of the community,
to serve others, and to promote community cohesion.
The mission of SAFE is to support families because
children from resilient families have the best
opportunity to succeed. SAFE, as a non-profit
administers the Get Healthy Talladega County
Consortium which partners with the Talladega County
Health Department, Citizen’s Hospital of Talladega,
Coosa Valley Medical Center in Sylacauga, Talladega and
Sylacauga Chambers of Commerce as well as the entire
school system for the county of Talladega.
PINECREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
 ONE
OF TALLADEGA COUNTY SCHOOLS,
LOCATED IN SYLACAUGA CITY SYSTEM
 GRADES
 TOTAL
550
3-5
ENROLLMENT APPROXIMATELY
THE INTERVENTION-KIDS
 COMMUNITY
GARDEN AT THE SCHOOL
 SEED TO PLATE NUTRITION CURRICULUM
 COOKING CARTS PURCHASED
 OTHER SUPPORTIVE GRANTS
PRODUCE
DELIVERED WEEKLY
FRUIT TREES
ADDITIONAL GARDEN SUPPLIES AND MORE
THE INTERVENTION-CAREGIVERS
 PARENTAL
CLASS I-Introduction of the
program followed by the how and why
obesity develops and best practices
regarding nutritional choices; i.e. BMI,
NUTRITION, SATURATED FATS etc.
 PARENTAL
CLASS II-THE DISEASE
CONNECTION OF OBESITY FROM
CHILDHOOD
Multi-Methods Design
Characterized by using two research methods, this
approach used qualitative and quantitative methods
to obtain more detailed specific information.
Multimethodology is desirable and feasible because
it gives a more complete view, and because the
requirement during the different phases of the
intervention (or research project) make very
specific demands on a general methodology
QUANTITATIVE MEASURES

BODY COMPOSITION

NUTRITION ASSESSMENTS WITH SEED TO PLATE
CURRICULUM

PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT FOR FITNESS

NEWEST VITAL SIGN HEALTH LITERACY ASSESSMENT
QUALITITATIVE MEASURES

Surveys with open-ended questions administered
to parents/caregivers

pre- and post-intervention intervention to assess
their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors
regarding nutrition, exercise, and healthy living
LESSONS LEARNED

AMAZING WHAT ENGAGED COMMUNITY CAN DO

TAKE A TEAM OF WORKERS TO MEASURE STUDENTS
AND RECORD FINDINGS

HAVE SPECIFIC DATES ESTABLISHED IN AND AGREED
UPON

CONTINUE TO ENGAGE PARENTS AND OFFER
GREATER INCENTIVES
OTHER FUNDING
Grant Agency
Name of Grant
Amount Administrato
r
of
Award
$6,300 Pam Roberts
Blue Cross Blue Be Healthy Grant-Exercise equipment, miscellaneous
Shield
Pinecrest
office/meeting supplies, garden supplies/tools-8 elliptical
machines are now being used for a before and after
school program for exercise implemented by Lead
Teacher Pam Roberts.
Active Schools Let’s Move!-Used for needed equipment and supplies that $1000
Pam Roberts
Pinecrest
Acceleration
apply to implementation of exercise program-emphasizes
Program
movement in the classroom such as squats with skip
counting or graphic times from students’ participation of
the Eagle Tree Stand.
$1000
Alabama Power “Good Roots” grant to provide fruit trees for Sylacauga
SAFE/
Company
Grows Community Garden and for the Pinecrest school
Margaret
garden. Saplings were punched for the parents/children
Morton
participating in the Pinecrest UAB grant project. The
project is titled “Take Root With Sylacauga GROWS”
Institute for
Wellness, Academics & You (WAY)-used for nutrition based $24,500 SAFE/
America’s
curriculum to improve KAB for grade school students
Margaret
Health
related to fruits and vegetables.
Morton
Wal-Mart/The Way To extend two raised beds funded by the $4000
UAB grant to a landscaped/paved outdoor
classroom that includes a butterfly and
herb garden with other fruits and
vegetables per season. Anticipate more
funding from this resource.
SAFE/Margaret
Morton
USDA Fresh Fruit
and Vegetable
Program
Pinecrest Orchard- Each week the school $25,429.73 Kelley
receives a fresh shipment of fruit and/ or
Wassermann,
vegetables for each student. For
Director Child
example: when fresh corn on the cob was
Nutrition
shipped, a demonstration was done by a
Program for
representative with the USDA program
Sylacauga City
and the students were able to participate
Schools
Programs.
in the roasting and eat the corn fresh as
it was coming off of the roaster.
Mr. Taylor Pursell
Private Donation used for incentives for
parents to participate in the Pinecrest
Obesity study approx. $840; Gardner Mr.
Bill Roberts Horticulture Specialist
approx. $360; Special Services
Coordinator Debbie Adair $390 and
Executive Director $420.
$2000
SAFE/Margaret
Morton
WHAT’S NEXT???

Other funding in place via Community Resource
Center

Complete the data analysis- November

Develop manuscript and submit for publication
December