youth creating healthier environments lamont school district yolanda ramirez phn m.s.n. project...
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Youth Creating Healthier Environments
Lamont School DistrictYolanda Ramirez PHN M.S.N.Project Coordinator Manuel Ramirez- Adult AllyS.A.S.H. Team
Young Champions for Change
Mt. View Middle School Lamont Elementary School District was
one of the 7 original pilot sites for the Youth Empowerment Project.
Lamont Demographics
Pop. ~13,640 Rural,
unincorporated farming community
District Enrollment
96.4% Hispanic65.4% English Language
Learners
78.3% Free/Reduced meals
Background
First group Mt. View Motivators 2006-2008 Junior High students Researched the community and found that
there were not many healthy options available in the area.
The majority of the students reported that their families would travel to Bakersfield (20 minute commute) to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
Because of their research findings, their goals were to:
Increase availability of fruits and vegetables in the community
Increase awareness of the health benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables and being active
Look at the possibility of opening
a Farmer’s Market in Lamont
Participated in health promotion activities 2007-2008
Health Fair, Harvest Festival, Walk to School Day, and a community wide campaign called “Eat Right, Exercise!”
720 families were reached during this campaign
Event ended with a ‘mini health fair’ where people were screened for high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and BMI –
Nutrition Education-healthy snack demonstration, games for children
Eat Right, Exercise! Campaign
Walk to School Day, 2007
More than 200 students participated
20-30 staff members walked with the students
~15 Parents came to walk with the students
Motivator Plot in the School Garden
Mt View Motivator Successes
• They learned about research, public speaking, collaboration, and took a closer look at nutrition and health promotion.
• They learned how to assess their community from a new perspective.
• They discovered they could help create positive changes in their community.
• Most of them reported making lifestyle changes in their own lives and influenced their own families to have healthier habits.
Most importantly, they left a ‘foot print’
Communicated their research findings to: Other students, School staff, The School Board of Trustees, South Valley Neighborhood Partnership, ‘Eat Right, Exercise Campaign’ partners
Started developing partnerships and creating awareness about their goals.
Developing Partnerships
The partnerships developed are helping the new group achieve their goals now.
South Valley Neighborhood Partnership Cesar Chavez Service Learning Dolores Huerta Foundation (HS Group) Community Action Partnership of Kern Kern County Dept. of Public Health LSD Migrant Program After School Program KCSOS
The end and a new beginning.
At the end of the school year, the Mt. View Motivators interviewed potential team members and made recommendations for the new team.
Also needed new adult ally
for the new school year 2008-2009
Choosing the Right Team
Student selection requirements- Good students, eager to learn, enthusiastic, have an interest in science/health, good attitude! Need recommendation by science teachers Students apply for the position
Adult ally qualifications needed- Good connection with students, respected well by the community, cares about the community, cares about health promotion, positive role model, good attitude!
New Adult Liaison
Mr. Ramirez Had helped with Mt. View Motivator selection Knows the district staff, community, and
student body very well. 30 years of experience in Lamont School
District as teacher and administrator. Science teacher ASP Lead teacher for Mt. View Middle Already aware of all previous Motivator
activities, goals, challenges, and successes.
Begin with Team Building
Build a sense of professionalism in the group, use meeting agendas to help stay on task.
Team needs to ‘gel’ well together Ice-breakers, team building exercisesWork on group agreements
S.A.S.H.Stay Alive, Stay Healthy
• Maintain old name or forge new identity?• Voted in a new name for themselves:
‘S.A.S.H.’ • Healthy snacks and taste testing in every
meeting• Embedded nutrition lessons in everything
we do; taste testing, reviewing brochures, posters, cookbooks
Next step is to help them assess their community
Community Mapping Ideal vs Real Look at all of the communities;
Home, school, and the larger community Lots of discussion- about nutrition and
opportunities for physical activity (or lack of) What influences the choices we have and
make? individual, family, community, policies, laws
What’s does the team want to work on?
The team begins to set goals Explore their own view of their
community“Youth led” ideasChallenge- Too many ideas and
opportunities for projects, and not enough time
Vote on what should take priority
Stay Alive, Stay Healthy Goals
Increase community awareness of healthy living habits; benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables, and benefits of being active everyday.
Peer education to lower grades. Community service projects.Promote healthy fundraising in the
school community.Physical activity promotion in school.
Fund-raiser Fruit on a Stick for $1.00 Free veggie cup
Adding a twist of lime and chili powder!
Raised $150 (twice!)
SASH team voted to donate money to a community service project-
“United Against Hunger” Used money from the second fund raiser
to purchase raffle prizes
(used as incentive for students to participate in a food drive)
“United Against Hunger” A Student Run Food Pantry
Project idea from the Cesar Chavez Service Learning Foundation leader
Idea discussed at the youth meetingEveryone wanted to help! SASH named the project:
“United Against Hunger” “Unidos Contra el Hambre”
“United Against Hunger”
Many partners came together to help with weekly project that will run from October 2008 through May 2009
Space- local church Volunteers- many other community youth
groups Food –local food bank CAPK Funding- fundraising, food drive Lets add nutrition education and a cooking
demonstration – partnered with Kern Co. Department of Public Health
“Stuff the Bus” Food Drive
Partnered with KERO TV, TV Azteca, Boys Scouts, CAPK Food Bank, KRAB Radio, and other partners
>11,000 lbs of food, and $3,300 were collected
We collected over 2000 lbs food for the food bank!
Other projects planned
School wide ‘track and field’ dayNutrition education activities Create short video to take to lower
grades and do a fun, short nutrition/PA lesson
Give teachers additional lessons/activities to do with the class,
(Harvest of the Month or MyPyramid)
Successes and Outcomes
Public speaking experience Experience with planning and conducting
presentations to the Lamont School District Board and other agencies in the South Valley Neighborhood Partnership
The opportunity to produce a video promoting the food drive which was viewed by all of the LSD students
Sense of accomplishment and connection with the community
One of our Team members received the Young Champion for Change Award
Media Exposure
TV coverage of the opening day of the pantry MAS! Magazine article Cesar E Chavez Service Learning Newsletter Lamont Reporter Article TV coverage of the “Stuff the Bus” food drive
in Bakersfield Meeting with Senator Dean Flores’ Staff at the
Capitol and received beautiful certificates
Stay Alive, Stay Healthy
Resources
ExCel After School Programs
How to Start a Student-Run Food Pantry At your School: A Resource Guide created by AmeriCorpsVista Volunteers
SFUSD • California Project Lean @
www.CaliforniaProjectLean.org
Jump Start Teens
Resources cont.
Youth in Focus Curriculum
Handouts given out at the food bank are:Discover the Secret to Healthy Living How many cups of Fruits and Vegetables do I need?Guide to Physical Activity Loving Your Family, Feeding Their Future, A Guide to a Healthy Family All available in English/Spanish
(California Department of Public Health, Network for a Healthy California)
(MyPyramid, USDA)
Thank You!
Contact Information
Yolanda Ramirez PHN, MSN Lamont School District , Nutrition Program Coordinator [email protected]
Manuel Ramirez Mt View Middle School 661-845-2291
This material was funded by USDA’s Food Stamp Program through the California Department of Public Health’s Network for a Healthy California. These institutions are equal opportunity providers and employers. The Food Stamp Program provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help buy nutritious foods for a better diet. For information on the Food Stamp Program, call 1-888-328-3483.