December 10, 2007
Priester call for presentations deadline extended
The Call for Presentations deadline for the 2008 Priester National Extension Health Conference has been extended to Dec. 14, 2007.
The conference is April 8-10, 2008 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center, which serves Raleigh and Durham. It is sponsored by the North Carolina State University Family and Consumer Sciences Program, North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the United States Department of Agriculture-Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (USDA-CSREES).
The 2008 Priester National Extension Health Conference theme, "Building Healthy Communities, One Person at a Time," celebrates Cooperative Extension's long history of promoting health and preventing disease for individuals of every age and background, in families of all types, living in rural, suburban, and urban communities. The conference showcases the successful programs of Extension professionals, their community and organizational partners, and their students.
Conference Tracks are:
- Successful Aging
- Global Health
- Growing Up Healthy IRL (in real life)
Presentations that share health-related educational programs and resources, applied research, collaborative strategies and integrated programming ideas are welcome.
More information about the Priester Conference, including presentation proposal submission information, is available on line at http://continuingeducation.ncsu.edu/PNEHC/index.html
Named in honor of retired CSREES National Program Leader Jeanne Priester, the conference has drawn participants from the Cooperative Extension System state and county offices, CSREES/USDA, departments of public health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Rural Health, Bureau of Primary Health Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. EPA, HUD Healthy Homes Program, National Cancer Institute, National 4H Council, National Rural Health Association, public school systems, local governments, non-profit and private organizations, faith-based organizations, and other university departments of health-related disciplines.
Priester Conference Coordinating Committee members are Dr. Sandy Wiggins, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Specialist for Environmental Health and Housing (sandy_wiggins@ncsu.edu); Dr. Robert Williamson, Extension Natural Resources Specialist (robertw@ncat.edu); and Ms. Julia Storm, agromedicine information specialist (julia_storm@ncsu.edu).
Posted by Dave at 11:24 AM
November 29, 2007
New guide brings snacking health to consumers
Many of us make poor food choices when we turn to vending machines or snack bars in search of a quick bite to eat. Now there's a free guide to help busy consumers make better decisions when facing rows of colorful snacks and drinks.
The N.C. Division of Public Health and N.C. Cooperative Extension has announced the release of Eat Smart North Carolina: Snacks and Drinks, available online on the Eat Smart, Move More…NC consumer website at www.MyEatSmartMoveMore.com.
"Calories from snacking can wreck someone’s best intentions," said Carolyn Dunn, a nutrition specialist with Cooperative Extension and one of the co-authors. "We are trying to raise people's awareness that something as simple as the beverage you choose at a coffee shop can make a big difference in total calories eaten for a day."
Read more from WNCT - Eyewitness News.
Posted by Suzanne at 02:49 PM | Comments (0)
November 19, 2007
Priester Conference issues call for presentations
A “call for presentations” has been issued for the 2008 Priester National Extension Health Conference to be held April 8-10 in Raleigh/Durham. The deadline for presentations submission is November 30. The presentations instructions and forms are attached are available at http://continuingeducation.ncsu.edu/PNEHC/presentations.html
The 2008 Priester National Extension Health Conference theme, “Building Healthy Communities, One Person at a Time,” celebrates Cooperative Extension's long history of promoting health and preventing disease for individuals of every age and background, in families of all types, living in rural, suburban, and urban communities. The conference showcases the successful programs of Extension professionals, their community and organizational partners and their students.
This year's conference tracks are:
* Successful Aging
* Global Health
* Growing Up Healthy IRL (in real life)
The conference focuses on programs that address today's challenges. Our communities, families and youth are facing challenges such as baby boomer retirement, caregiving for aging parents and other sandwich generation issues, new immigrant health, global consumer product safety, green living and growing up healthy in a world of unprecedented affluence and communication technology, yet growing disparities among rich and poor.
Please respond to the call for presentations for the opportunity to share your health-related educational programs and resources, applied research, collaborative strategies and integrated programming ideas with your colleagues. Named in honor of retired CSREES National Program Leader Jeanne Priester, the conference has drawn participants from the Cooperative Extension System state and county offices, CSREES/USDA, Departments of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Housing and Urban Development's Healthy Homes Program, Office of Rural Health, Bureau of Primary Health Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. EPA, National Cancer Institute, National 4-H Council, National Rural Health Association, public school systems, local governments, private non-profits, faith-based organizations and university departments of health-related disciplines.
Thank you! We look forward to hearing from you.
Dr. Sandy Wiggins
Dr. Robert Williamson
Julia Storm
North Carolina Cooperative Extension, N.C. State University and N.C. A&T State University
Posted by Natalie at 10:45 AM
January 17, 2007
'Families Eating Smart and Moving More' offers training
Those who missed 'EFNEP's Families Eating Smart and MovingMore' curriculum training last August are welcome to attend a repeat training on Friday, Feb. 16, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Onslow County Extension Center in Jacksonville. By attending the training, you will receive the curriculum CD and a copy of the new EFNEP cookbook. Please register for the training using the LMS system. Note that you do not have to have EFNEP in your county to attend.
Posted by Natalie at 09:38 AM
November 16, 2006
'WAGES Gets Fit'
Wayne employees set health goals
On a warm September afternoon in Wayne County, employees of WAGES –- Wayne Action Group for Economic Solvency -- celebrated a day away from the office by walking the track of a nearby school, playing volleyball or basketball and participating in an aerobics class. This was the kickoff of WAGES Gets Fit, a workplace wellness program developed with the help of Christine Smith, family and consumer sciences agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Wayne County.
Employees who registered to participate in the first quarterly wellness program set their own goals for lifestyle changes. They were asked to choose at least one goal for improving physical activity, healthy eating or work/life balance, though some chose more than one goal.
At the kickoff, WAGES employee Jackie Baldwin told the story of her wakeup call last summer. Baldwin was on the agency’s Royall West playground with a group of children when she got stuck while trying to crawl through a tunnel with her young charges.
Baldwin told her story, giggling at the memory, but said the experience made her realize she needed to make lifestyle changes to lose weight. The following week, she planned to attend her first WAGES wellness meeting. “My goal,” she said, “is to get through the tunnel at Royall West.”
WAGES is a private, non-profit organization in Wayne County that administers community programs such as Head Start for children and Meals on Wheels for senior adults. Last fall, the group turned to Smith to help develop a wellness program for employees.
Brownie Doss, leader of WAGES’s Older Adult Services Division, said the organization has been concerned for several years about obesity among staff members. But with recent publicity about the epidemic of overweight youth, employees decided it was time to get their own house in order.
They called on Smith, with whom they had partnered on other projects because of her community involvement and passion for helping citizens improve their health. WAGES asked Smith to help develop a workplace wellness program. She told employees that in order to be successful, the program had to have buy-in from administration and staff. A planning group made up of representatives from every WAGES program area helped plan the program.
At the WAGES Gets Fit kickoff, Smith invited the employees to “get on board with us today, to go on a journey for better health.” Yet Smith cautioned them to take small steps and choose an achievable goal. “The journey of a lifetime begins with just one step,” she said. “We will help you to live your best life.”
WAGES Gets Fit was patterned after Cooperative Extension’s “Moving Towards a Healthier You” curriculum. Wellness sessions have been offered twice on Wednesdays every other week. The 27 planned sessions cover topics like “What Should I Eat?” “Fill Up, Not Out” and “Cooking with the Light Touch.”
“Moving Towards a Healthier You” is a statewide initiative implemented by Smith and Geissler Baker, Guilford County family and consumer sciences agent. The program was designed to challenge, motivate and inspire fellow agents, support staff, nutrition program associates and specialists to start practicing what they preach.
Smith said the rationale behind the effort was to help agents become more effective educators by modeling appropriate behaviors that help consumers move toward a healthier lifestyle. This statewide effort has been supported by Dr. Sandy Zaslow, Cooperative Extension’s retired associate director for youth and family programs, and Dr. Carolyn Dunn, associate state program leader and nutrition specialist.
Dunn provided technical expertise in the design of the project and support materials. There are 158 agents and nutrition assistants across the state participating in the challenge to “get fit,” inspired by Smith and Baker.
Among the first WAGES group to register, 38 people set physical activity goals; 36, both physical activity and healthy eating goals; one person set a healthy eating goal; two people set both physical activity and work/life balance goals; and 25 people set goals for physical activity, healthy eating and work/life balance. Physical activity was by far the most popular, with 101 employees choosing that as their goal.
Smith will lead most of the sessions, in conjunction with a select group of WAGES employees. Four train-the-trainer sessions will be conducted for WAGES staff to provide them with the subject expertise, support materials and tools to enhance participants’ experience of the program.
WAGES Director Bryan Sutton has agreed to provide incentives for employees who make changes: 30 minutes per workday for physical activity, drawings for cash prizes for those who met their wellness goals and days off for wellness success.
In addition to attending wellness programs, participants are asked to keep a journal documenting their efforts to meet their goal. Each quarter, those who meet their goals will be entered into a drawing for $100 prizes.
Smith is committed to helping other Wayne County businesses and organizations implement wellness programs for their employees. Since the WAGES Gets Fit kickoff, two other local agencies have asked for her help in developing similar programs.
“As healthcare costs continue to rise, more and more employers are realizing that a short-term investment in their employees’ health will yield long-term savings,” Smith said.
And with education, support and personal determination, by spring Jackie Baldwin may be able to crawl through that tunnel at the Royall West playground.
-N. Hampton
Posted by Natalie at 02:23 PM
June 28, 2006
Master Gardeners help students learn
Brunswick County Master Gardeners helped teach youth at Supply Elementary School about growing things during a special education event held in April. Supply is the only Brunswick County school to receive a U.S. Department of Agriculture Fresh Fruits and Vegetables grant, designed to introduce students to fresh fruits and vegetables. Brunswick’s North Carolina Cooperative Extension center provided education for the program, combining the efforts of 4-H, family and consumer sciences and Master Gardeners.
“Extension has been involved from the beginning,” said Susan Morgan, family and consumer sciences agent in Brunswick County. “The success of this program has been that it involved students, parents, teachers and a number of volunteers who reinforced or enhanced the classroom activities and instruction.”
A total of 669 students, 55 teachers and staff members and more than 30 volunteers were involved in three outdoor workshops, led by Brunswick Master Gardeners. One session provided was a "hands on" opportunity for students to see a worm bin, where earthworms aerate soil. Students also learned about recycling kitchen wastes through composting, and everyone got to pot a tomato seedling to take home and plant.
-N. Hampton
Posted by Natalie at 11:35 AM
June 27, 2006
Youth, leaders participate in SESAMM
About 100 youth and adults participated in a statewide summit on Students Eating Smart and Moving More, held May 5-7 in Greensboro. A total of 24 county groups were selected participated in this first-ever summit. Teens and adults worked together at the summit as advocates for healthy eating and physical activity in North Carolina's schools and communities. County groups returned home to implement a program to improve the health of citizens in their home communities. The program is a partnership of the State 4-H Project and 4-H’s 2005 TRY-IT! Obesity-Overweight initiative, the state Department of Public Instruction's Child Nutrition Services, and the state Department of Health and Human Services.
-N. Hampton
Posted by Natalie at 11:34 AM
June 15, 2006
Six FCS agents participate in 'Move More Scholarship Institute'
Six family and consumer sciences agents with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, along with 22 other health educator/wellness coordinators from across the state, recently participated in the Inaugural Move More Scholars Institute: North Carolina’s Course for Physical Activity Professionals. The course was held May 8–11 at the O. Henry Hotel in Greensboro.
Selection to the course was highly competitive because it was open to all North Carolina health promotion coordinators, physical activity and nutrition coordinators, and FCS Extension agents. Agents attending were Margaret Allsbrook, Halifax County; Arthenia Booth, Bertie County; Ann Simmons, Iredell County; Phyllis Smith, Chatham County; Sandi Sox, Polk County; and Robin Taylor, Onslow County.
The institute was coordinated by the N.C. Division of Public Health and sponsored by Get Kids in Action, a partnership between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and The Gatorade Company, which aims to increase physical activity among children to reduce and prevent obesity.
The institute featured state- and national-level speakers who focused on taking a multi-level approach to creating communities that promote and support physical activity for North Carolina families.
All participants learned to collect data, bring together interested parties, conduct needs assessments and evaluations within a community, educate the public and advocate for specific policy and environmental change strategies. A cornerstone of this course was the opportunity for networking and small-group interaction with other participants and faculty.
Posted by Natalie at 02:06 PM
May 18, 2006
Haywood County program helps participants 'Shake off the Holidays'
Most Americans find their pants fitting a little tighter after the holidays, resulting in those well-intentional New Year’s resolutions to lose a few pounds. Jean Burton, Haywood County family and consumer sciences agent, developed a nutrition education program called “Shake Off the Holidays,” to help people shake it off and keep it off longer.
In January, Burton began the 10-week program to help participants develop long-term healthy lifestyles to help with weight management. Many members of the original group of about 20 chose to participate in the program because of concern over serious weight-related health problems.
Out of the 20 original participants, only one or two had a normal body mass index, two were considered overweight, while most were extremely overweight or obese, Burton said, adding, “This is truly a health issue with them.”
Twelve participants completed the entire course, with an average weight loss of 8 pounds. The average was lower because a few participants did not have much to lose, Burton said. However one participate lost 20 pounds and another lost 17.
Participants reported a variety of behavior changes as a result of the class, including eating smaller portions, reading food labels, watching fats, drinking more water and increasing activity. One participant reported having less back pain as a result of weight loss.
After the first class, participants were encouraged to record everything they ate. The second class offered participants a chance to make observations about changes they could make in eating or exercise pattern changes. Other class topics included physical activity, facts about fat and cholesterol; water, fiber and sleep; grocery shopping, holidays, restaurant dining. They wrapped up with a class on “shaking it off: how to keep it up.”
Burton, who has a nursing and health education background, has decided to continue the class through 2006, meeting in the evening every other week. New members of the community continue to join the group.
“These classes have helped to support and encourage changes I had already started making,” one participant said. “I am very happy the classes will continue.
-N. Hampton
Posted by Natalie at 10:50 AM
May 11, 2006
Extension helps seniors with Medicare drug benefit
Cooperative Extension has a history of involvement with North Carolina’s older adults, so it comes as no surprise that Extension agents and volunteers have been heavily involved in helping seniors in their counties register for the new federal Medicare prescription drug benefit.
Enrollment in the program began in November and continued through mid-May. Through a long-standing relationship with the state Department of Insurance’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), several Extension agents, staff and local volunteers provided assistance and information on the new Medicare Part D plan.
The Medicare Part D enrollment, which ends May 15, is very complex, with more than 30 plans to choose from in North Carolina alone. SHIIP volunteers help enrollees examine their choices in relation to the prescription drugs they purchase regularly.
SHIIP provided counties with training, a laptop computer and $1,000 to counties participating in the program.
The effort in some counties has been overwhelming. Several agents reported spending as much as 95 percent of their time helping seniors enroll in the program.
In Stanly County, Extension Director Lori Ivey reported that her trained staff and volunteers worked one-on-one with nearly 700 seniors between November and mid-December. Candy Murray in Wilson County alone had registered about 175 seniors by mid-March, with two months yet to go.
Murray says that normally SHIIP offers a six-week training for volunteers, who then provide assistance. For the Medicare Part D, few volunteers felt they had the necessary computer skills to assist seniors with the program. So as the county’s SHIIP contact, Murray took on the program herself.
“I started making appointments, and I can honestly says that since Nov. 15, this program has consumed just about 95 percent of my time,” Murray said. “It has been both rewarding and stressful. I have learned something new about the program everyday.”
Each one-on-one enrollment session takes about one to two hours. In Wilson County, FCS agent Murray reports that seniors save an average of $2,000 each year under the prescription drug plan. She estimates that savings for those Extension has enrolled to be about $380,000 with two months enrollment yet to go.
Marilyn Gore, area specialized FCS agent in Gaston County, said the time required to do an enrollment depends on the number of prescriptions that have to be entered. One client she enrolled required 17 medications. Most clients in her county also save an average of $2,000.
In Lincoln County, FCS agent Melinda Houser said that a dedicated group of nine volunteers had been busy since December answering questions and helping seniors enroll in the new drug plan. Houser has been involved with the SHIIP program for many years, and the program helped train enrollment volunteers.
“We’ve reached individuals who never would have walked in the door of Extension. This is one of the most successful things we’ve done,” Houser said.
In addition to the information seminar, Houser got word out through radio programs, newspaper announcements and speaking engagements.
“The volunteers are busy and they are dedicated,” she said. “They’ve saved clients thousands of dollars (in prescription drug costs).”
Chowan County’s Shari Farless enrolled about 200 people by mid-March, in addition to presenting information to groups totaling about 500. She estimates average savings at about $1,200. Most importantly, the program has made a difference.
“This has been one of the most high-impact efforts I have done in a long time, and it is getting me a lot of mileage. I have met some wonderful people during this process and have reached an audience I may not of had before,” Farless said.
Georgia Kight of Currituck County had the help of three volunteers, an Extension program assistant and an intern from Elizabeth City State University for enrolling seniors in Medicare Part D. She estimates the average savings per individual to be about $2,000, though clients have saved as much as $20,000.
“I had one example of a disabled individual on Medicaid, who was auto-assigned a plan,” Kight said. “When I did his individual assessment, he was enrolled in a plan that would have cost him $21,916, and the plan that I enrolled him in only cost about $168 for the year. Now that is a success story!”
In Stanly County, Ivey said volunteers and Extension staff members were busy throughout November and December, sometimes enrolling as many as 35 to 40 people a day.
“Extension is the only source in the county for information,” Ivey said. “We’re the resource in the community. Even some pharmacists have called us for information.”
Stanly County clients have generally saved some money – usually hundreds of dollars, Ivey said. She knew of a man who had saved $9,000 on an expensive medication, though some saved as little as $100 or less.
The system is complicated, Ivey said, and enrollment can only be done by computer or by telephone. She believes the program should have been test-piloted to avoid some of the glitches that have occurred.
Yet, she and the others involved in the effort are glad to be of help.
“This is good for Extension because people don’t traditionally see us involved in Medicare,” Ivey said. “We’ve seen lots of new faces.”
Greene County FCS agent Shenile Rothwell said the experience gave her new appreciation for what seniors are paying for prescription drugs. “It was astronomical -- I honestly do not see how they were paying for their medications,” she said.
“I feel that this was the most rewarding work that Extension could do and see firsthand how putting knowledge to work can improve the lives of citizens,” Rothwell said. “There are still some glitches in the system, but it has saved seniors a lot of money in prescription drug costs.”
-N. Hampton
Posted by Natalie at 04:00 PM
April 17, 2006
EDEN provides West Nile Virus site
With all the news related to avian influenza, the Extension Disaster Educaton Network urges Extension professionals to remember the efforts being made to combat West Nile Virus (WNV). As a human health concern, it only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to transfer the disease.
Thanks to Kim Cassel – EDEN's point of contact for South Dakota State University – EDEN now has a complete Issue page on WNV: www.eden.lsu.edu/wnv. This is an informative page that provides an overview of the virus and answers the following questions:
* How many kinds of mosquitoes are in the United States?
* Why do mosquitoes bite?
* What disease-causing microorganisms can mosquitoes transmit?
* What is the most effective way to prevent mosquito bites and control mosquitoes at home?
A number of helpful and informative resources are accessible through this page, including a report titled "Public Health Confronts the Mosquito: Developing Sustainable State and Local Mosquito Control Programs."
As the summer season approaches and mosquitoes once again become the seasonal obstacle, this page may prove a valuable resource for Extension professionals.
Posted by Natalie at 08:02 AM
February 17, 2006
4-H, FCS departments to merge July 1
In keeping with the spirit of Cooperative Extension’s change management and marketing initiative, the departments of 4-H Youth Development and Family and Consumer Sciences will become one department within N.C. State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences on July 1.
The merger was announced Feb. 16 by Dr. Jon Ort, director of North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. (Dr. Ort's message -- opens in PDF) Dr. Marshall Stewart, head of the 4-H Youth Development Department, and Dr. Sandy Zaslow, head of the Family and Consumer Sciences Department, announced the change to their staffs that morning. County agents in both programs received the announcement by email.
Stewart and Zaslow said their faculty and staff members had reacted well to the news. Stewart will head the new department, which will retain both department names. Zaslow, who also announced on Feb. 16 her intention of retiring from the university in October, will serve as Extension’s associate director of family and youth programs. When she retires, the title will be added to the title of department head and state program leader for the combined department.
“We began strategic dialogue about the future of CALS departments at the dean’s retreat in October 2005,” Ort said in his announcement to Extension. “When Dr. Sandy Zaslow notified me of her retirement this fall, it made sense strategically to think about how we might move ahead with bringing these two departments under one administrative umbrella.”
Stewart read Ort’s prepared statement to his faculty and staff. “They were positive,” he said. “This had been in some people’s minds for a number years and so seeing it was not a total surprise.”
Zaslow and Stewart praised Ort and Dean Johnny Wynne for their efforts to move the merger along and address concerns that employees would likely have, including leadership, department name and titles. Employees of both departments will retain their rank and titles. And both disciplines will continue to have their distinct identities on campus and in county centers.
Zaslow said the merger news, coupled with the news of her retirement, came as a double
surprize for campus and field faculty and staffs. She shared with them that “when they wake up on July 2, their world will seem very much like it was on July 1 – and that was the intent of both department heads.
“Marshall and I have a very strong commitment to making this a positive transition for all our employees. We are very aware of the strong program identities and brands that agents, their associations and their foundations have worked to develop. Each program has many assets and resources to bring to the table,” Zaslow said.
“We believe there will be a synergistic effect that will occur from new opportunities to collaborate and be advocates for youth and family issues,” she said.
Zaslow was pleased that an associate director’s position had been created for youth and family programs and that she will help set the direction for that position to benefit youth and family programs. In the Cooperative Extension Service at N.C. State, there has been an associate director’s position for agricultural programs.
“Adding an associate director’s position truly indicates the value that Dr. Ort and Dean Wynne place on youth and families and their relationship within agricultural programs,” Zaslow said.
She looks forward to working with Stewart in merging the two departments. “I really want Marshall to be successful and for the programs to be successful,” Zaslow said. “Our intent is to look for the best environment to support and sustain the programs.”
Both programs have traditionally shared some programming initiatives. The Expanded Foods and Nutrition Education Program includes youth and adult components and has faculty in both the 4-H and FCS departments. And with growing concern over the issue of child overweight/obesity, the two departments have discussed collaborating on the issue, bringing together their strengths in youth programming and nutrition education.
“This puts Extension, the college and the university in the strongest position to address families and youth,” Stewart said. “Statewide, no one has the network of paid staff and volunteers focused on these issues that Extension has.”
The combined department also will have a stronger academic component, Ort said in making the announcement. FCS and the Department of Human Environmental Science at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro are creating a master’s degree program in parenting education. Dr. Karen DeBord, FCS associate professor of child development, has been active in the initiative and serves as the department’s director of graduate programs.
In addition, 4-H Youth Development has created a youth development leadership specialization within N.C. State’s College of Education. Courses are taught by faculty in 4-H Youth Development.
“The degree programs that we bring to the table and the one that 4-H offers bring new opportunities for our agents to earn advanced degrees,” Zaslow said.
Stewart and Zaslow praised each other, as well as Extension and college administrators for creating a smooth plan for the merger. “Sandy has been a champion for this,” Stewart said. “She sold me on it. She wanted to create a structure that will endure, and this will endure.”
“Marshall is a perfect match, with his energy, enthusiasm and genuine commitment to both programs,” Zaslow said. “Our vision has been the same from the beginning.
“This is a very bold step forward, and I salute Dr. Ort’s leadership to support us and for the vision to create an associate director’s position for youth and families,” she added.
“I wanted to credit Jon (Ort) and administration for having the courage and foresight to put us in a stronger position,” Stewart said. “They led the charge, and I appreciate their vision.”
Questions or comments? Scroll down to post your response. Online News will work with Stewart and Zaslow to answer your questions.
--N. Hampton
Posted by Natalie at 01:20 PM | Comments (0)
January 03, 2006
Agents join forces to teach food safety
"Step right up, and test your food safety knowledge" was the shout from Molly Alexi, Stanly County family and consumer sciences agent, and Lisa Childers, Harnett County family and consumer sciences agent, at the recent SandHills Mental Health Wellness Day held at the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst. Taking over the display in the afternoon were Agnes Evans, Moore County FCS agent, and Susan Condlin, Lee County Extension director. The group presented food safety information using "the Wheel of Fortune" format. Prizes were awarded for correct answers. The agents answered questions about food safety and fighting bacteria during the event that reached more than 350 employees of SandHills Mental Health.
Posted by Natalie at 09:39 AM
December 22, 2005
Color Me Healthy wins national award
The "Color Me Healthy" nutrition program has received the 2005 Nemours Vision Award for Excellence in Child Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. The award was presented to Dr. Carolyn Dunn, nutrition specialist with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, and Cathy Thomas with the North Carolina Division of Public Health, co-authors of Color Me Healthy.
The Nemours Vision Award recognizes the work of one U.S. community organization or government agency from outside of Delaware that have developed visionary and effective programs for children and their families. Debbie Chang, Senior Vice President and Executive Director, Nemours Health and Prevention Services presented the award at an awards ceremony in Wilmington, Delaware on December 9, 2005. "Color Me Healthy" received a crystal statue and $5,000 to be used for the program in the coming year.
"Color Me Healthy" is a program developed to reach children ages four and five with fun, interactive learning opportunities on physical activity and healthy eating. It is stimulates all of the senses of young children: touch, smell, sight, sound, and, of course, taste. Through the use of color, music, and exploration of the senses, Color Me Healthy teaches children that healthy food and physical activity are fun.
To date, more than 6,000 North Carolina child care providers have been trained to use the program. "Color Me Healthy" is being used in 40 states across the nation.
Posted by Natalie at 08:37 AM
August 30, 2005
Extension is partner in 'Move More' standards
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and two partner organizations announced new standards last week to get the state’s K-12 students out of their desks and moving more in schools.
Cooperative Extension, the Division of Public Health and the N.C. Department of Public Instruction announced the new “Move More: North Carolina’s Recommended Standards for Physical Activity in School” on Aug. 26 at Carroll Middle School in Raleigh. These standards follow last year’s standards regarding all foods sold in schools.
“Serving as a partner in this ‘Move More’ initiative for public schools is a natural fit for us,” said Dr. Jon Ort, Cooperative Extension Service director. “We all realize that to truly have a healthy lifestyle, we must ‘eat smarter’ and ‘move more,’ the focus of these two initiatives.”
The physical activity standards relate to teacher qualifications, class size, school time spent in physical activity, equipment and facilities. Based on these criteria, schools can rate their programs from “needs improvement” to “minimum standard” to “superior standard.” The standards also call on school personnel and students’ families to model healthy lifestyles for students.
Ort described how Cooperative Extension’s long history in nutrition education and its commitment to improving the lives of young people made the “Move More” initiative a natural fit. Extension’s involvement in the “Move More” standards includes the expertise of professionals like Dr. Carolyn Dunn, N.C. State nutrition specialist, and Dr. Carol Mitchell, Cooperative Extension in Wake County, who helped develop the standards.
Throughout the state, a number of Extension professionals serve on their local School Health Advisory Councils – or SHACS – to help implement the school food and physical activity standards in their communities, he said.
Ort also described how the Pamlico County schools and Cooperative Extension had partnered to pay the salary of Sherry Howlett, program assistant, who teaches nutrition and activity lessons to the school system’s 1,700 students. School officials report that, as a result of the program, students perform better in school and make healthier choices in the cafeteria.
More than 30 percent North Carolina’s children struggle with overweight or are at-risk for being overweight, according State Health Director Dr. Leah Devlin who hosted the “Move More” standards announcement. Increasingly, children are diagnosed with type-2 diabetes, a disease normally associated with middle age. The costs of obesity and overweight to North Carolina exceed $2 billion.
Delvin said the “Move More” program is not about rating schools with “A’s and F’s. This is about moving everyone forward.”
Howard Lee, chairman of the State Board of Education, related his personal experience with diabetes and the discipline it requires to exercise and eat well. Visiting schools across the state, he says, he sees a number of students who are overweight.
“Youngsters who put on a lot of weight are toying with getting diabetes, and it is a dangerous and chronic disease,” he said.
That is why the State Board of Education has passed a requirement that students must spend 30 minutes a day in physical activity, Lee said. The rule will go into effect for the 2006-07 school year.
“The password of the day must be ‘activity,’” he said. “Unfortunately, the password seems to be ‘passivity:’ television, computers, video games, cars and fast food.”
More information on the "Move More" standards can be found on the Web at http://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/.
--Natalie Hampton
Posted by Natalie at 03:50 PM