Success Story: Robeson County HeadStart Centers Get in the Eat Smart, Move More Groove
Introduction
Staff, children, and parents representing the four county and Lumbee Regional Development Association (LRDA) Head Start centers are marching to the beat of a different drum these days. Or perhaps you might say they found themselves a brand new rhythm. Either expression you choose, the message is the same. Robeson County HeadStart Centers changed the way they march and move!
What they changed is their attitude about health. Thanks to a $13,400 Eat Smart & Move More grant funded by the Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch of the N.C. Division of Public Health, both the young and the young at heart tuned into better health and turned the beat around through individual lifestyle changes and agency-adopted health policies.
Head Start Centers participating in the Eat Smart & Move More Project included Pembroke, St. Pauls, Sandy Grove, Red Springs, South Robeson, Rennert, Allenton, Maxton and Fairgrove
The Road to Success
The Health Department Health Promotion Staff was already working with the staff from the Robeson County HeadStart centers on an employee wellness program when the opportunity to apply for grant funds arose. They knew their chance for developing a successful project was enhanced because it would target a group that was often overlooked, but ready for policy and environmental changes that would help them eat smart and move more. The decision was made to develop a project that would help both staff and students eat healthier and be more physically active.
At a Partnership for Community Health Steering Committee meeting, health educators Niakeya Jones and Latoya Hartley presented a power point presentation detailing the various components of the Eat Smart Move More Grant project. Their presentation was quite unique. They used a few popular tunes from the platform heels and spandex wearing days gone by to illustrate the various components of their project and show how the HeadStart centers got “in the groove” of eating smart and moving more. This presentation highlighted the fun and excitement shared by all who participated in the Eat Smart & Move More Project that was a key component in the success of the project. The following highlights the main activities and outcomes of the project:
Choose 1% or Fat-Free Milk…Because “That’s The Way (uh-huh, uh-huh) I like It”
Each Head Start center participating in the Eat Smart Move More Project made the “mooove” to low-fat or fat-free milk. Policies requiring that 1% or fat-free milk is served to all participating children, over the age of 2, were implemented and parents were encouraged by Head Start staff members to make the switch at home as well.
Cook Heart Healthy Because “We Are Family”
Sister Sledge wasn’t available to teach the heart healthy cooking classes, but Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator Faith Clingempeel did an outstanding job encouraging all the head start “sisters” to roll up their sleeves for a day marked by families in the kitchen. Clingempeel, an employee of SRMC Community Health Services and the Diabetes Community Health Center, instructed the participating parents on ways to stretch their budgets rather than their waistlines by planning and preparing inexpensive, simple, and healthy menus at home.
Celebrate “Good Times” with Nutrition and Physical Activity
Another project highlight was the outdoor jamboree held at Luther Britt Park. The event, which featured over 400 participants, was designed to celebrate both outdoor fun and physical activity. Children bounced their way to blissful exhaustion on a variety of inflatable castles and slides. Additionally, they enjoyed an assortment of sports activities, games, face painting, fire trucks and clowns. And of course, all of these wonderful outdoor attractions were intelligently interspersed with health education stations covering an array of different topics.
Cooks Adopt “A New Attitude”
Perhaps one of the most exciting events featured in the Eat Smart Move More project was the heart healthy cook-off, which showcased the culinary skills of staff from each participating center.
Each group was assigned a color to use for food preparation, as well as table decoration. Cook-off contestants were also instructed to prepare low-fat items, incorporate fruits and vegetables, sugar-free desserts and beverages, and include water with their colorful, creative cuisine.
When the points for taste, presentation, and table decoration were tallied, the result was a two-way tie for first place. Awards went to both Pembroke and Red Springs Head Start Centers.
“Staying Alive” with Good Nutrition and Exercise
Grant funds were instrumental in the development of new walking trails and the restoration of existing ones. Signage was purchased to mark the trails and mailboxes were also placed on the signposts. This will allow for the distribution of health education materials to walkers of all ages, shapes, and sizes visiting a Head Start Center in their community.
Also, employee wellness councils were formed, physical activity and nutrition policies were developed, and employee weigh stations were designated at each center. At the end of the project each center had a walking trail (with signage) at their facility. The HeadStart staff was also given ½ of the membership dues to join a local gym.
All of these great components were used in conjunction to aid participants in their efforts to live longer, healthier lives.
"Though it was hard to get the Advisory Committee to take charge and fully participate in all activities (they looked to the Health Department staff to do this) by the end of the project members had fully committed to the changes."
Niakeya Jones, Health Promotion Coordinator
Adams and Brady took this idea to Glenda Linens, Alamance County Health Department Health Promotion Coordinator and found out there was a grant opportunity for just this kind of project and set about writing the application for the Eat Smart, Move More…NC community grant that would help them to accomplish this.
Stepping Stones...
- Get input – An Advisory Committee was formed with representatives from each Head Start center.
- Stay on track – The Advisory Committee developed a timeline and action plan for each event they wanted to hold.
- Have someone with enough time to oversee the program – The decision was made to hire a part-time coordinator for every HeadStart Center to organize all the grant activities for that center and provide a nutrition program for the Center parents each month.
- Involve everyone – Through out the project they tried to make sure the target audience was participating in the planning and the project coordinators had a vested interest in the success of the activities.
- Most important to the success of the project was to make sure all activities had an element of fun incorporated into them!
Contact Information
Name, Title: Niakeya Jones
Agency: Robeson County Health Department
Address: 460 Country Club Road
City, State, Zip:
Phone: (910) 671-3094
Fax: (910) 671-3484
Email: niakeya.jones@hth.co.robeson.nc.us
