Cook It Up! A community-based cooking program for at-risk youth: overview of a food literacy intervention

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Canada, there are limited occasions for youth, and especially at-risk youth, to participate in cooking programs. The paucity of these programs creates an opportunity for youth-focused cooking programs to be developed, implemented, and evaluated with the goal of providing invaluable life skills and food literacy to this potentially vulnerable group. Thus, an 18-month community-based cooking program for at-risk youth was planned and implemented to improve the development and progression of cooking skills and food literacy.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>This paper provides an overview of the rationale for and implementation of a cooking skills intervention for at-risk youth. The manuscript provides information about the process of planning and implementing the intervention as well as the evaluation plan. Results of the intervention will be presented elsewhere. Objectives of the intervention included the provision of applied food literacy and cooking skills education taught by local chefs and a Registered Dietitian, and augmented with fieldtrips to community farms to foster an appreciation and understanding of food, from 'gate to plate'. Eight at-risk youth (five girls and three boys, mean age = 14.6) completed the intervention as of November 2010. Pre-test cooking skills assessments were completed for all participants and post-test cooking skills assessments were completed for five of eight participants. Post intervention, five of eight participants completed in-depth interviews about their experience.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The <it>Cook It Up! </it>program can provide an effective template for other agencies and researchers to utilize for enhancing existing programs or to create new applied cooking programs for relevant vulnerable populations. There is also a continued need for applied research in this area to reverse the erosion of cooking skills in Canadian society.</p

Splashpads, Swings, and Shade: Parents\u27 Preferences for Neighbourhood Parks

Background Physical activity is a modifiable behavior that can help curtail the increasing worldwide problem of childhood obesity. Appropriate recreational opportunities, including neighborhood parks, are particularly important for promoting physical activity among children. Because children\u27s use of parks is mainly under the influence of their parents, understanding parents\u27 preferences is essential for creating the most inviting and usable park space to facilitate children\u27s physical activity. Methods Eighty-two intercept interviews were conducted with a heterogeneous sample of parents / guardians watching their children at neighborhood parks in London, Ontario. Parents / guardians were asked questions about how often they frequent the park, whether it is the closest to their residence, and their likes / dislikes for the park. Strategies to ensure trustworthiness of the data were employed. Results Interviewees attended their park of choice between 1–7 times per week with the average being 2.5 times per week. Only 49% of respondents frequented the park closest to their starting destination (home or daycare facility), and the majority traveled more than 4 km to get to the park. For those who chose to travel a significant distance to attend their park of choice, park location was not as important as the amenities they desired. Parents\u27 main reasons for choosing parks were: water attractions, shade, swings, and cleanliness. Conclusions The current study provides useful insights on park use with potentially important implications for increasing physical activity among children. Incorporating parents\u27 preferences into strategies for creating or modifying city parks will help to ensure that limited public resources are being targeted most effectively in support of children\u27s physical activity

Certified Professional Co-Active Coaches: Why They Enjoy Coaching

The evidence-base for the practice of coaching continues to flourish, despite the fact that very little is known about the practitioners (i.e. the coaches) themselves. It is of value to understand how coaches perceive their practice. Such information can be utilized to create a common knowledge-base about coaches that can be used, in turn, to track trends and forward research that evaluates coaching services. As the use of Co-Active coaching in facilitating behaviour change continues to rise it becomes important to learn more about Certified-Professional Co-Active Coaches (CPCC). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate what CPCCs enjoy about being coaches. These results were contained within a larger survey. A total of 390 CPCCs who were over 18 years of age, could read English, and had access to the Internet participated in the current study. Findings included: that witnessing clients change their lives; the sense of satisfaction and fulfillment from coaching; the collaborative relationship with clients; the autonomy and flexibility of the profession; and the gratification received from using their skill set were the main reasons CPCCs enjoyed coaching. This paper elaborates on these findings and makes suggestions for future research

Poster Introductions II--The Children’s Health and Activity Modification Program (C.H.A.M.P.): Exploring the Impact of a 4-week Lifestyle Intervention on Obese Children and Their Families

C.H.A.M.P., a 4-week day camp for obese children aged 8-14, was held during August 2008. The program included daily physical activity, dietary, and behavioural modification for children, and similarly-themed educational sessions for family members on weekends. The purpose of the present study was to explore the experiences of children and family members who participated in C.H.A.M.P.. Methods: This qualitative study enlisted a trained facilitator to moderate five focus groups immediately following the intervention. Children (n = 12) were allocated to 1 of 2 groups; parents (n = 17) were allocated to 1 of 3 groups. Following a semi-structured interview guide, each session was digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results: Preliminary analysis revealed that children enjoyed participating in physical activities progressively and felt that it got easier over time. Children reported that they felt more confident in themselves and their ability to try new activities; using positive self-talk and involving their families in healthy change were emphasized. Dietary themes for children included the importance of eating balanced meals, monitoring serving sizes, and moderation. Parents reported increased confidence in parenting skills, and greater awareness of their influence on family members. Goal setting, trust, and empowerment of children in decision making were also emphasized by parents. Conclusion: This pilot study offers unique insight into the perspectives of obese children and their families. Overall, the program was well-received and impacted participants positively. Results will be discussed in terms of their implications for continued program development and future implementation. Erin Pearson is a doctoral student in the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Program at the University of Western Ontario. Erin\u27s research interests lie in the areas of health and exercise psychology, as well as the promotion of physical activity in sedentary populations. Currently, Erin\u27s doctoral research focuses on health and wellness pertaining specifically to obesity, behaviour modification, and the use of Motivational Interviewing and Co-Active Life Coaching as health promotion tools. Erin is the Program Coordinator for the Children\u27s Health and Activity Modification Program (C.H.A.M.P.), a group-based lifestyle intervention for obese children at risk for type II diabetes and their families

Environmental Equity Is Child\u27s Play: Mapping Public Provision of Recreation Opportunities in Urban Neighbourhoods

This paper examines the spatial distribution of recreational opportunities for children and youth in a mid-sized Canadian city (London, Ontario), in relation to the socioeconomic status of neighbourhoods and estimated local need for publicly provided recreation spaces. Public recreation facilities (N = 537) throughout the city were identified, mapped and analysed in a geographic information system. To explore potential socio-environmental inequities, neighbourhoods (N = 22) were characterized by socioeconomic and environmental variables, an index of neighbourhood social distress, a neighbourhood play space needs index, and measures of the prevalence and density of recreational opportunities. The results of the spatial analysis indicate there is no systematic socioenvironmental inequity with respect to the prevalence and density of publicly provided neighbourhood recreation spaces; however, there are several areas in the city where youth do not have access to formal play spaces. We argue that to promote physical activity among urban children and youth, city planners and health policy analysts should consider carefully the geographical distribution of existing recreational opportunities and ensure that new publicly funded recreation spaces are provided to neighbourhoods with the greatest need. Further research should seek to identify what kinds of recreation spaces are most effective for promoting healthy behaviours among vulnerable children and youth

Assessing motivational interviewing through co-active life coaching tools as a smoking cessation intervention: A demonstration study

Abstract The objective of this study was to explore smoking triggers and obstacles to cessation, and intervention experiences among nine 19-28 year old smokers who participated in a 3-month coaching-administered Motivational Interviewing (MI) intervention. In addition to qualitative methods, quantitative trends regarding self-efficacy, self-esteem, cigarette dependency, and average daily cigarettes use were assessed via a repeated measures design. Participants engaged in 9 sessions with a certified coach over 3-months. In-depth interviews and previously validated quantitative assessments were conducted at baseline, 1, 3, and 6-months. Qualitatively, stress and social situations were primary smoking triggers. Cessation obstacles were a sense of personal identify as a smoker and feeling controlled by cigarettes. Through the intervention participants reportedly gained: personal insights related and unrelated to smoking; helpful ways to cope with smoking challenges; and heightened awareness about other choices. Quantitatively, all constructs&apos; trends supported qualitative findings. The application of motivational interviewing using coaching tools is valuable for reducing smoking, and for providing smokers&apos; with insights about their behaviours, their triggers, and what they need to be and stay smoke-free. Additional research with a larger sample over a longer time is warranted

Calmly coping: A Motivational Interviewing Via CoActive Life Coaching (MI-VIA-CALC) pilot intervention for university students with perceived levels of high stress

Stress is a campus problem. This pre-post pilot study assessed the impact of Motivational Interviewing via Co-Active Life Coaching (MI-via-CALC) on the stress management of 30 full-time, English-speaking Canadian undergraduate students, aged 17-24 years. Participants were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. Three one-way, repeated-measures ANOVAs were completed. Statistically significant differences in stress reduction were found between pre-intervention to mid-intervention and between pre-intervention to post-intervention. No statistically significant differences occurred between mid- to post-intervention. Inductive content analysis of qualitative interviews at pre-, mid-, and post-intervention revealed participants’ positive experiences

Motivational coaching: A functional juxtaposition of three methods for health behaviour change: Motivational interviewing, coaching, and skilled helping.

Abstract The purpose of this paper was to explore the unique qualities/characteristics/components of the Co-Active coaching model compared to Motivational Interviewing and Egan&apos;s Skilled Helper Model. Six questions pertaining to the creation, purpose, and process of the therapeutic alliance; and the relationship between practitioner and client were used to guide comparisons. Given the similarities among all three methods, it cannot be said that any of them are necessarily distinctive in their core principles or tenets. Instead, their uniqueness lies in the way that they are packaged and delivered. A model of Motivational Coaching, informed by this study&apos;s comparative analysis of the three models/method analyzed in this paper, is presented. Our intent is to distil into one framework the key components of three important and overlapping methods used in working toward behavioural changes

The Influence of Local Food Environments on Adolescents\u27 Food Purchasing Behaviors

This study examined the relationship between the neighborhood food environment and the food purchasing behaviors among adolescents. Grade 7 and 8 students (n = 810) at 21 elementary schools in London, Ontario, Canada completed a questionnaire assessing their food purchasing behaviors. Parents of participants also completed a brief questionnaire providing residential address and demographic information. A Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to assess students\u27 home and school neighborhood food environment and land use characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the influence of the home neighborhood food environment on students\u27 food purchasing behaviors, while two-level Hierarchical Non-Linear Regression Models were used to examine the effects of school neighborhood food environment factors on students\u27 food purchasing behaviors. The study showed that approximately 65% of participants reported self-purchasing foods from fast-food outlets or convenience stores. Close proximity (i.e., less than 1 km) to the nearest fast-food outlet or convenience store in the home neighborhood increased the likelihood of food purchasing from these food establishments at least once per week by adolescents (p \u3c 0.05). High fast-food outlet density in both home and school neighborhoods was associated with increased fast-food purchasing by adolescents (i.e., at least once per week; p \u3c 0.05). In conclusion, macro-level regulations and policies are required to amend the health-detracting neighborhood food environment surrounding children and youth\u27s home and school