Mobilizing Community based Organizations to Address Obesity: Our Communities, Our Solutions

Purpose: The purpose of the focus groups is to: 1) explore existing thought patterns and lived experiences about eating habits and daily activity of African American (AA) children at risk for childhood obesity, 2) acquire an in-depth explanation of participants’ attitudes towards factors related to childhood obesity encompassing their social norms, dietary habits, and environmental influences, and 3) explore rationales for differences between children and parental perspectives of ideal health. Method: Using a Community Based Participatory Research (CPBR) framework, the HAUL research team, comprised of public health professionals, local policy makers, physicians, and community leaders, will facilitate 20 focus groups (10 among children and 10 among their parents) with community members accessing HAUL services. Focus group results will be used to develop a larger population based survey to further investigate obesity related risk factors. Use of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping will identify resources (parks, fitness centers, healthy food markets, health clinics, etc.) in the residential communities of the target population. Results: At the time of submission, 6 focus groups have been completed (28 participants, 14 children, 14 adults). The primary themes identifying differences in responses of parents and children address proximity of access to healthy food choices, food type consumed by children regularly, and children’s preference for fast food versus home cooked meals. These themes will guide the development of the “UT-HAUL Healthy Houston Initiative”, a pilot program seeking to increase healthy decision making and access to wellness services among AAs. Conclusions: “UT-HAUL Healthy Houston Initiative” is the initial course of action in addressing societal factors, renowned for breeding social injustice commonplace in AA populations. Our goal is to expand the Urban League movement\u27s efficacy by identifying data that will combat social injustices while strengthening the core of the communities we serve

The Texas Community-Engagement Research Alliance Against COVID-19 in Disproportionately Affected Communities (TX CEAL) Consortium

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires urgent implementation of effective community-engaged strategies to enhance education, awareness, and inclusion of underserved communities in prevention, mitigation, and treatment efforts. The Texas Community-Engagement Alliance Consortium was established with support from the United States’ National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct community-engaged projects in selected geographic locations with a high proportion of medically underserved minority groups with a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 disease and hospitalizations. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of the Consortium. The Consortium organized seven projects with focused activities to address COVID-19 clinical and vaccine trials in highly affected counties, as well as critical statewide efforts. Five Texas counties (Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Hidalgo, and Tarrant) were chosen by NIH because of high concentrations of underserved minority communities, existing community infrastructure, ongoing efforts against COVID-19, and disproportionate burden of COVID-19. Policies and practices can contribute to disparities in COVID-19 risk, morbidity, and mortality. Community engagement is an essential element for effective public health strategies in medically underserved minority areas. Working with partners, the Consortium will use community engagement strategies to address COVID-19 disparities

Implementation of the Texas Community-Engaged Statewide Consortium for the Prevention of COVID-19

The Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities aims to conduct community-engaged research and outreach. This paper describes the Texas CEAL Consortium\u27s activities in the first year and evaluates progress. The Texas CEAL Consortium comprised seven projects. To evaluate the Texas CEAL Consortium\u27s progress, we used components of the RE-AIM Framework. Evaluation included estimating the number of people reached for data collection and education activities (reach), individual project goals and progress (effectiveness), partnerships established and partner engagement (adoption), and outreach and education activities (implementation). During the one-year period, focus groups were conducted with 172 people and surveys with 2107 people across Texas. Partners represented various types of organizations, including 11 non-profit organizations, 4 academic institutions, 3 civic groups, 3 government agencies, 2 grassroots organizations, 2 faith-based organizations, 1 clinic, and 4 that were of other types. The main facets of implementation consisted of education activities and the development of trainings. Key recommendations for future consortiums relate to funding and research logistics and the value of strong community partnerships. The lessons learned in this first year of rapid deployment inform ongoing work by the Texas CEAL Consortium and future community-engaged projects

Real or ideal? Parental perception of child weight status and its implications for changes in the home environment

Introduction: Parental perception of child weight status has an important role in counteracting the growing childhood obesity trajectory. Parents who accurately perceive their child\u27s weight status are more likely to support healthy behaviors promoting adequate nutrition and physical activity. However, few studies have examined parental perception of child weight status among children older than preschool age and minority populations, such as Hispanics, or used theoretical frameworks to assess parental perception of child weight status. The purpose of this study was to assess parental perception of child weight status and examine these perceptions within the context of the stages of change model to determine their implications for parent readiness to change the home environment. Methods: A cross sectional secondary data analysis was conducted to examine accuracy of parental perception, parent satisfaction with child weight status, and stage of readiness to change the home environment. Study Sample: A total of 219 parents of children 9-14 years of age who participated in the South Texas Parent Diabetes Prevention Trial (STPDPT) and completed a baseline survey were included in this study. Results: Most parents perceived both a normal weight body size to be ideal for a child and an adult. Misperception occurred among 70% of parents as they perceived their overweight children to possess a normal body size. Parents of normal weight children were more likely to have accurate perceptions of child weight status. Parents satisfied with their child\u27s weight status were more likely to select a middle weight status as ideal for an adult, X2 (2, N=277) = 13.65, p = .001. Accuracy of parental perception, parent satisfaction with child weight status, child weight, and the interaction between parental perception and ideal adult weight status significantly predicted parent stage of readiness to promote fruit and vegetable consumption in the home environment, X 2 (7, N = 269) = 16.85, p\u3c.01. Parents who accurately perceived their child\u27s weight status and perceived a middle weight adult body size as ideal were 3.28 times more likely to be in the action/maintenance stages of change compared to parents with inaccurate perceptions of their child\u27s weight status. Conclusion: Contrary to previous studies, most parents in this predominantly Hispanic sample perceived a healthy child body size as ideal. However, parents do not accurately perceive their child\u27s weight status, particularly parents of overweight or obese children. Increasing the accuracy of parental perceptions is a critical first step to impact behaviors associated with healthy child weight status by increasing parent concern; thus influencing parent progression through the stages of readiness to change the home environment. Future research should examine factors associated with parent stage of readiness to change the home environment

Implementation of the Texas Community-Engaged Statewide Consortium for the Prevention of COVID-19

The Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities aims to conduct community-engaged research and outreach. This paper describes the Texas CEAL Consortium’s activities in the first year and evaluates progress. The Texas CEAL Consortium comprised seven projects. To evaluate the Texas CEAL Consortium’s progress, we used components of the RE-AIM Framework. Evaluation included estimating the number of people reached for data collection and education activities (reach), individual project goals and progress (effectiveness), partnerships established and partner engagement (adoption), and outreach and education activities (implementation). During the one-year period, focus groups were conducted with 172 people and surveys with 2107 people across Texas. Partners represented various types of organizations, including 11 non-profit organizations, 4 academic institutions, 3 civic groups, 3 government agencies, 2 grassroots organizations, 2 faith-based organizations, 1 clinic, and 4 that were of other types. The main facets of implementation consisted of education activities and the development of trainings. Key recommendations for future consortiums relate to funding and research logistics and the value of strong community partnerships. The lessons learned in this first year of rapid deployment inform ongoing work by the Texas CEAL Consortium and future community-engaged projects