Roosevelt Pediatric Obesity Initiative Report - March 2014

Roosevelt’s Pediatric Obesity Initiative A collaborative community partnership between NuHealth, the Roosevelt Union Free School District and Hofstra University

PROGRESS REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR SUBURBAN STUDIES, HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY March 1, 2014

Roosevelt’s Pediatric Obesity Initiative A collaborative community partnership between NuHealth, the Roosevelt Union Free School District and Hofstra University Background Nassau County, Long Island, a suburb of New York City, is one of the richest counties by median household income in the United States, but it is also home to pockets of underserved communities where residents suffer from disproportionately high rates of mortality and lifestyle-related morbidity. Over the past two years, NuHealth Systems in collaboration with the Roosevelt Union Free School District and Hofstra University has established a community-based model to address the issue of pediatric obesity.

Below are a summary of activities conducted for Roosevelt’s Adolescent Obesity Initiative from January 2012 through March 2014.

School Based Educational Activities Participated in planning and presentation at Roosevelt Middle School Health Fairs at in March 2012, March 2013 and March 2014. NuHealth physicians and nurses and Hofstra health science students provided interactive education on four different aspects of nutrition (sugar sweetened beverages, breakfast choices, portion size and label reading, and selecting healthy snacks) to over 500 students each year Provided information table with NuHealth and nutritional information for families at Roosevelt Middle School Open House October 2013.

Coordinated “Soul Food Junkies” screening, healthy soul food tasting and panel discussion for parents, teachers and students October 2013 at Roosevelt Middle School auditorium. Also set up table with NuHealth information and nutrition information. Over 60 people attended.

Member of Roosevelt Middle School monthly Wellness Committee meetings co-chaired by Roosevelt Middle School teachers Contributed to the revision of the Roosevelt Union Free School District Wellness Policy in 2012 and revisions in 2013 In March 2013, launched “Adopt a Class” where Pediatric residents are assigned two classes to present on health related topics that have been identified by teachers and parents including: nutrition, physical activity, bullying and injury prevention. Seven different pediatric residents cycled through and present to the classes through May 2013

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Conducted evaluation survey with pediatric residents (n=7) who participated: o 83% said that they learned from the experience o 83% said that they thought that pediatric residents to visiting schools was an important educational experience o 50% said that they thought that this experience would impact how they approach preadolescent and adolescent patients in clinic

Research Activities Measured height, weight and calculated BMI of Roosevelt Middle School students in October 2012 and March 2013 with Pediatric Residents and Hofstra University undergraduate and graduate students. Also administered questionnaire based on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to sixth grade students in 2012 and 2013 on nutrition, physical activity, weight perception and weight intention. Findings include:

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Presented BMI data to Roosevelt Middle School Wellness Committee and at Roosevelt Middle School Faculty meeting in May 2013.

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Poster presentation, “Accounting for Community Care: Creating a Collaborative Suburban Model to Reduce Childhood Obesity” at American College of Medical Quality Conference in Scottsdale, AZ in February 2013

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Oral presentation, “Pediatric Obesity, Prevention, Identification, and Management in the Suburbs” Presented at From the Outside In: Sustainable Futures for Global Cities and Suburbs Suburban Conference, at Hofstra University, March 2013

Roosevelt’s Pediatric Obesity Initiative

 BMI data (2013) showed 57% of sixth grade students were overweight or obese, with prevalence of 26% and 31% respectively vs. national prevalence of 17% and 15% and NYC prevalence of 21% and 22% in this age group  Desire to lose weight and poor diet and exercise behaviors were more prevalent in the obese and overweight than the normal weight groups and were statistically significant.  Many students do not eat breakfast, and are taking unhealthy steps to try and lose weight (i.e. fasting and skipping breakfast). Most students watch more television than recommended, and do not participate in team sports

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Conducted Roosevelt community needs and assets assessment of food and physical activity environment using Photo Voice technique with local high school students

Photo Voice project pictures and student comments

Upcoming  Preparing manuscript for publication in peer-reviewed journal on BMI and survey data  Submitted an abstract for review to American Public Health Association’s annual meeting in New Orleans, LA in November 2014

Community Activities and Advocacy  

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Saturday, June 1st , 2013 Roosevelt Family Funfest and Picnic at Centennial Park, provided nutrition information at resource table Community screening of the PBS documentary “Soul Food Junkies” along with a panel discussion and healthy food tasting for families at Roosevelt Fire House, April 2013 as part of Hofstra University’s National Public Health Week. Over 75 community members and schoolchildren attended Registered as a “Let’s Move!” (First Lady Michelle Obama’s national childhood obesity campaign) community with Nassau County Legislator Kevan Abrahams Presented Photo Voice project with high school students at an annual community meeting at the Roosevelt Fire Department Headquarters in November 2012 Hired part-time Community Health Outreach Coordinator to act as liaison between NuHealth, Hofstra and Roosevelt Middle School; will begin linking families to primary care providers in NuHealth’s Roosevelt Health Center

Next Steps Hofstra University and NuHealth have developed a true partnership and trust with the Roosevelt Middle School. We are welcomed and are encouraged to work together to come up with multi-level, community based interventions reduce pediatric obesity and improve health outcomes for families in Roosevelt.

Through this initiative we have also provided educational training opportunities to Hofstra University undergraduate and graduate students and pediatric residents at Nassau University Medical Center.

Roosevelt’s Pediatric Obesity Initiative

We would like to improve the food environment in the community of Roosevelt by initiating a program that does a “makeover� of local corner stores.

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