PROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES ON THE FORT PECK INDIAN RESERVATION

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: SERD GRANT
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0218949
• Grant No.: 2009-47002-05559
• Proposal No.: 2009-02047
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2009
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2010
• Grant Year: 2009
• Program Code: [NK]- Extension Tribal College Program

Recipient Organization
FORT PECK COMMUNITY COLLEGE
P. O. BOX 398
POPLAR,MT 59255

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
American Indians and Alaska Natives have much lower health status than other demographic groups in the United States. Compared to overall US rates, infant mortality rates are about 24 percent higher and the death rate from heart disease is about 20 percent higher for American Indians. The alcohol-related death rate is about 7 times higher and the death rate for diabetes is 4 times higher. Montana American Indians, in particular, have high rates of heart disease, lung cancer, and diabetes. Incidence rates for of all of these diseases are closely linked to nutrition and exercise-related health behaviors. The Billings Indian Health Services unit, which covers Montana and Wyoming, reports diabetes rates that are 20 percent higher than the average across all Indian Health Services units, heart disease rates that are 12 percent higher, and lung cancer rates that are about 67 percent higher. Some of these health disparities may stem from differential access to, or quality of, health care. Other health disparities are associated with behaviors and choices that individuals make about maintaining their own health. Such choices, however, are determined by the resources, opportunities, and constraints that an individual faces. The project anticipates serving 750 unduplicated encounters during the project period. Fort Peck Community College and the local health care providers are confident that this level of participation is achievable. This project focuses on four identifiable target populations or groups within the American Indian population on Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Three of these target groups are considered high-risk populations, and consist of obese individuals and diabetics. The fourth group will consist of otherwise healthy individuals with family histories of obesity, diabetes, and/or coronary disease interested in pursuing healthy lifestyles. Fort Peck Community College will utilize a model, similar to the Logic Model and the Northwest Accreditation Assessment Model to evaluate the project. This model has been part of the planning and evaluation procedures within Fort Peck Community College Community Services Division for 10+ years and ensures the success for each individual grant programs. This model will insure an organized approach to planning, recording and the distribution of project results.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
903	6099	3020	100%

Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
6099 - People and communities, general/other;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;

Keywords

obesity

nutrition

fitness

healthy

lifestyles

education

american

indain

Goals / Objectives
This project will directly address the needs of American Indian health care and wellness program professionals on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and other reservations for improved information about nutrition and exercise related health behaviors among adults in the Fort Peck community. The overall goal of this project is to raise the level of awareness regarding health and wellness, and a healthy relationship to life-style, nutrition, and fitness. Objective 1: During the project period of October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010, project staff will recruit a combined cohort of 50 men and 50 women at each of the Wolf Point and Poplar Wellness Center for a total of 200 adults participating in a weight reduction program. At least 50% will result in a 10% long-term weight loss reduction. Objective 2: During the project period of October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010, project staff will promote the development of health and wellness on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation to a minimum of 300 Fort Peck residents on national health related topics. Objective 3: During the project period of October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010, project staff will establish a health enhancement program, through exercise and nutrition education, targeting 200 diabetics, using both Wolf Point and Poplar's Wellness Centers. At least 75 percent of the 200 diabetics will participate in organized exercises and activities a minimum of three times per week, as evidenced by project records. Objective 4: During the project period of October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010 a cohort of 50 adolescents will be recruited for a summer weight loss program. Weight loss will be controlled through programmed physical activities and nutrition education. At least 50% of those recruited will reduce their weight by 5%.

Project Methods
Major strategies to be undertaken during the course of this program will include a systematic approach to participant recruitment of the target audiences, and development of individualized program delivery methods. These methods will be inclusive of the four target populations, all of which will be medically evaluated and professionally assessed for individual health and fitness levels. Individualized exercise programs and nutrition plans will be developed prior to initiating activities, and monthly health assessment and progress evaluations will be conducted and recorded for all participants throughout the project period. Utilizing the Poplar and Wolf Point Wellness Center facilities, project staff will provide critically needed outreach programs for dissemination of health and wellness oriented information on exercise and nutrition. They will also provide health education and exercise programs to outlying American Indian communities, such as Brockton and Frazer. As required, individual referrals for medical evaluations and professional assessments, prior to engaging in program activities will form part of staff responsibilities. Program staff will work closely with the networking partners, which include the Tribal Health Department and the Indian Health Service for patient referrals, medical assessments, and other critical client support mechanisms, including maintaining medical records and dissemination of program information. Network partners for this project will provide project staff with key issues regarding project services and activities, and will provide access to other resources as such resources become available. Regular monthly meetings of the partners will be held, and is expected to play a key and critical role in the long-term success of this project. Stakeholder involvement for this project would appear to be relatively easy given the vast numbers of Indian people of all ages that suffer from one or more of the three defined focus areas detailed in this application. However, recruitment means commitment, and commitment requires effort; so while the target population is definable and approachable, project staff will be required to address recruitment with a focus toward commitment and sustainability. The wellness centers provide services to 30,000+ duplicated visitors each year and these visitors are critical to the success of this program.

Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10

Outputs
The goal of the Fort Peck Community Colleges Health, Diet, and Nutrition program is to raise the level of awareness regarding health and wellness, and a healthy relationship to lifestyle, nutrition, and fitness. The Wolf Point and Poplar Wellness Centers recruited 140 women and 115 men working on reaching their 10% weight reduction goal. Numerous activities were developed and offered to assist in Weight loss reduction and are explained in the dissemination of activities. The FPCC Wellness Center staff, Montana Campus Compact, Community volunteers, and Community entities informed Fort Peck residents on national health themes, distributed and posted calendars/brochures throughout the wellness center, local businesses, Fort Peck Community College Dumont building classrooms, Wolf Point Schools, and the Indian Health Center. Flyers, word of mouth, e-mail and radio also promoted our message in the communities in a strong outreach campaign. The Fort Peck Community College Wellness Centers worked with 340 diabetics who utilize the facility 3 times per week. Wellness Center staff require: a doctor's release prior to exercise, a complete wellness profile, body measurements weight recorded, and a signed liability waiver. At the beginning exercise schedule, the clients are asked to record daily activities, and blood sugar blood pressure. The wellness center partnership includes the Fort Peck Tribal Health Diabetes Program that provided blood sugar and blood pressure checks. The Fort Peck Community Wellness Center staff, Montana Campus Compact, Community volunteers, and Community entities informed over 2,400 Fort Peck residents on national health themes, distributed and posted monthly calendars, brochures, and tri-folds throughout the wellness center, local businesses, Fort Peck Community College Dumont building, classrooms, Wolf Point Schools, and Indian Health Center. Flyers, word of mouth, e-mail, and radio also promoted our message in the communities with a strong outreach campaign. The Fort Peck Community College also began a youth weight loss program. Liability waivers were signed prior to physical activity. The Wellness Staff weighed and recorded body measurements, staff required the students come in 3-4 times per week, and monitor their caloric intake. Pedometers were distributed and amount of steps per day were recorded. The center recruited 82 youth males, and 70 youth females joined in a weight loss program and lost 5% of their weight. PRODUCTS: The FPCC Wellness Center's Health, Diet, and Nutrition project served the community as a rewarding success. The project increased awareness of proper nutrition, motivated numerous community members to achieve weight loss goals and promoted the importance of healthy lifestyles. OUTCOMES: The center recruited 115 women and 140 men working on reaching their 10% weight reduction goal. Of the 115 women, 90 women or 78% have decreased their body weight and measurements totaling by 10%. Of the 90 men, 76 or 54% have decreased their body and measurements by 10%. Out of the 82 youth males 15 have lost weight and continue to live a healthy lifestyle, out of the 70 youth females, 17 have lost weight, became more health conscious, made better eating choices, portion control, and downsized their junk food/pop intake. The Wolf Point Wellness Center had a total of 9,300 youth 4-18 years of age visit the facility. The wellness center recruited 197 female diabetics, and 143 male diabetics to utilize the facility 3 times per week, resulting in approximately 3,900 diabetic visits in the last 12 months at each center. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Numerous programs were implemented to assist in reaching their goal which include: Biggest Loser Contest, open gym, step aerobics, bootcamp, Taebo, interval training-treadmill and elliptical, circuit training, body sculpting, youth basketball tournaments, walking and running clubs, Reservation wide fun runs, Roosevelt County Fair fun run/walk, water aerobics, chair aerobics, yoga-meditation, and stretching, core exercises, strength training, PACE training (stations), personal training, senior fitness, diabetic fitness, Harvest Fest-Health and Nutrition presentation, and Special populations (pregnant mothers, rehabilitation, handicap). Participants were shown how to incorporate: physical activity in low to high levels, nutrition-healthy cooking, shopping to eat right, portion control, foot care, proper shoe selection, healthy cooking, strategic shopping for a balanced diet, weight loss strategies without using drugs, a budget in their meal planning, and knowledge of the digestive process to plan diets that include all food groups. To accomplish this planning, wellness center personnel drew meal strategies from My Pyramid, and the Native American Food Pyramid. Project activities for the youth component included: basketball, scooter races, football, wrestling, proper weightlifting, walking and running clubs, PACE training, cross country, nutrition presentations, reservation fun runs, personal training, "Good Way of Life" camp, ju jitsu, and mixed martial arts. FUTURE INITIATIVES: The Fort Peck Community College Wolf Point Wellness Center staff and volunteers will continue to provide and instill healthy lifestyles to the members of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and surrounding communities.

Impacts
Participants were shown how to incorporate: physical activity in low to high levels, nutrition-healthy cooking, shopping to eat right, portion control, foot care, proper shoe selection, healthy cooking, strategic shopping for a balanced diet, weight loss strategies without using drugs, a budget in their meal planning, and knowledge of the digestive process to plan diets that include all food groups. To accomplish this planning, wellness center personnel drew meal strategies from My Pyramid, and the Native American Food Pyramid. The youth segment of the education campaign also raised nutritional awareness and focused on the eating disorders bulimia/anorexia, presented strategies on building self esteem, offered personalized fitness counseling as well as small and large group counseling, motivated participants, helped increase enthusiasm for working out, and modified workout regimens to meet individual weight loss, fitness, and strengthening goals. The Fort Peck Community College/Wolf Point Wellness Center staff, Montana Campus Compact, Community volunteers, and Community entities informed over 700 Fort Peck residents on national health themes, distributed and posted monthly calendars, brochures, and tri-folds throughout the wellness center, local businesses, Fort Peck Community College Dumont building, classrooms, Wolf Point Schools, and Indian Health Center. Flyers, word of mouth, e-mail, and radio also promoted our message in the communities with a strong outreach campaign.

Publications

• No publications reported this period