Progress 05/01/10 to 04/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The project targets at-risk middle school youth in Kansas City & Topeka, KS. Using a systems change approach (Choice, Control, and Change, Teachers College, Columbia University) that engages youth with science, their personal food systems, and community engagement opportunities, youth will increase their positive personal health decisions with greater autonomy. The communities will work to improve the food environments near the CYFAR SCP sites. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Kansas State University Research & Extension CYFAR Strengthening Communities Project leadership (6 individuals) participated in the CYFAR Grantee Professional Development Event in Crystal City, VA during June 2014 with other personnel from across the United States to discuss partnerships and collaboration with a focus on sustainability. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Local: Site Coordinators and Assistants created new partnerships, recruited participants and volunteers and conducted new and existing programming with the 3C curriculum at Robinson Middle School FACS Classroom 7-8th grade, Girl Scout Garden 2014, Community Teaching Garden 2015, Topeka Rescue Mission, Weekly 4-H Spin Club & Weekly CYFAR Program, Summer Camps, Gardening at Wyandotte County housing authority, KidsZone, and After School Program USD 500. Goal: Improved Dietary Choices: Youth will be able to: increase physical activity; increase fruit and vegetable consumption: decrease caloric intake from sweetened beverages; decreased consumption of low density foods; improved self-efficacy and mattering. Participants were introduced and tasted unusual fruits and vegetables. Tastings often lead to interactive discussions regarding fruits and vegetables. 49% improved in their responses to: Yesterday, how many vegetables? 58% improved in their responses to: Yesterday, how many fruits? 36% improved in their responses to: Yesterday, how many drinks of milk? 56% improved in their responses to: Yesterday, how many sugary drinks? 50% improved in their responses to: How often whole grains? 47% improved in their responses to: Choose a low-fat food? 38% improved in their responses to: How many days active at least 1 hour? 35% improved in their responses to: How many days very active? 38% improved in their responses to: How many hours not active? Goal: Improved Food Preparation Skills: Youth will be able to: understand basic principles of food safety; able to identify the parts of a recipe; prepare a nutrition snack; express positive attitudes toward cooking. One 6th grade Topeka Rescue Mission participant shared how much he liked CYFAR classes. Lessons made him enjoy learning and laugh. Programs at the Topeka Rescue Mission support their life both in the center and in the future when they move out. Lessons focus on inexpensive, easy recipes with visual appeal. A system of lab sheets for the daily lessons was developed to incorporate rules for using the kitchen, leadership, job descriptions, and evaluation. Behavior change of participants was observed in their general classroom behavior, leadership skills, recipe reading and meal preparation skills. Students learned basic skills of equipment use, how to read a recipe, recite basic knowledge of nutrition, food safety.Participants expressed enjoyment making educated choices about sweeteners. Participants relished in being able to express their own opinions about food and tell about their experiences with food. Participants enjoy and are motivated by the glo-light activity. Post test results show hands are much cleaner. 71% improved in their responses to: Washed my hands before eating? 65% improved in their responses to: Wash fruit and vegetables before eating? 59% improved in their responses to: Foods back in the refrigerator within 2 hours? 73% improved in their responses to: Using measuring cups and spoons? 71% improved in their responses to: Following directions in a recipe? Goal: Community Involvement: Increase volunteers involved in program efforts; increase businesses and organizations involvement in program efforts. Volunteers have been identified at both sites to continue programs past grant funding availability. The CYFAR grant collaborated with local 4-H efforts in the Topeka Rescue Mission Hope Center. Lessons and activities complimented both programs. Meeting once a week for 2 hours lessons included a 4-H meeting, nutrition lesson and cooking. Unintended outcomes: General classroom behavior improved in order to participate in the grant activities. A student frequently being disciplined loudly declared that he was not going to get kicked out. He was motivated to behave for the class's entirety in order to be able to make ice cream and modified his behavior so he could. It was observed that students were learning to apply what they learned during grant activities in other classrooms. Students improved their math skills when they read and used a recipe by changing or doubling it. State: Gathered staff and key partners input on program components & evaluation. Staff attended CYFAR workshop. Discussed future sustainability efforts with local program staff.
Publications
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Progress 05/01/13 to 04/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The project targets at-risk middle school youth in Kansas City and Topeka (KS). Using a systems change approach (Choice, Control and Change, Teachers College, Columbia University) that engages youth with science, their personal food systems, and community engagement opportunities, youth will increase their positive personal health decisions with greater autonomy. The communities will work to improve the food environments near the CYFAR SCP sites. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Kansas State University Research and Extension CYFAR Strengthening Communities Project leadership (5 individuals) participated in the National CYFAR SCP Workshop in May 2013 in Crystal City, VA, with project personnel from across the United States to updated, evidence based best practices and evaluation methods. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Direct youth contact is well established at both sites. Year 5 begins the “final countdown” into launching the projects as community sustainable efforts. Dr. Barbara Woods, Federal CYFAR SCP Liaison, provided an informative site visit in October of 2013 to meet with Project Directors, Coordinators, Youth, Parents, and Community Partners and was able to see “C3” programs in action. Both sites integrated food systems into their educational delivery strategies in Year 4, including enhanced inquiry-based experiential learning in working with fresh/raw food ingredients, community gardening, and introduction to foods not traditionally on the plates of participant-families. The project officials will participate in the CYFAR Event in Crystal City, Virginia, in June 2014. The key to community integration at both sites is clearly a function of the significant relationships the local Project Directors and local Project Coordinators have already developed with councils, other agencies, local educational authorities, and government. The Topeka site is prepared to creatively expand the use of technology with the use of a 10 piece IPad2 mobile lab. This assists them in exploration of the geospatial elements of their local food systems. Cash Middle School is partnering with science and family and consumer science departments and afterschool programming to operate a multi-component food science laboratory made up of raised bed gardens, a green house, aquaculture and pond/wetlands growing environments. Students continue to engage in taste tests, expanding their palate and understanding of developing a varied diet of healthy edibles. Wyandotte county is focusing on the technologies of food preparation, both on the commercial scale and within households. Much of the Technology Integration plan is incorporated into the purposes, construction, and appropriateness of food preparation machines. Affectionately called “Kitchen Gadgetology,” students explore why certain kitchen tools are designed to maximize their intended performance. Youth also consider ways to improve upon existing food preparation and preservation technology. Wyandotte County has also youth-created demonstration container and raised bed garden, experimenting with culturally appropriate fruits and vegetables for the various ethnicities in Kansas City. Data will be summarized and a final report will be issued in order for the sites to become a statewide resource for enabling youth in making positive conscious food choices.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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Progress 05/01/12 to 04/30/13
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Program Implementation: Direct youth contact was well initiated by May 2012 at both sites. Local Program Coordinators used Supplements prepared to augment the experiential learning content of the 19 lesson in the "Choice, Control, and Change" curriculum. Dr. Barbara Woods, Federal CYFAR SCP Liaison, plans a site visit in Summer/Fall of 2013 to meet with Project Directors, Coordinators, Youth, Parents, and Community Partners and was able to see "C3" programs in action. Both sites integrated food systems into their educational delivery strategies in Year 3, including enhanced inquiry-based experiential learning in working with fresh/raw food ingredients., community gardening, introduction to foods not traditionally on the plates of participants' families. Community Integration: The project officials participated in the CYFAR Evaluation Workshop in Crystal City, Virginia and the CYFAR Core Competencies Workshops in Chicago and San Antonio. The key to community integration at both sites is clearly a function of the significant relationships the local Project Directors and local Project Coordinators have already developed with councils, other agencies, local educational authorities, and government. Technology Integration: The Topeka site is prepared to creatively expand the use of technology with the recent acquisition of a 10 piece IPad2 mobile lab. This assists them in exploration of the geospatial elements of their local food systems. Video making has also been incorporated into their curriculum with the production of commercials. Wyandotte county is focusing on the technologies of food preparation, both on the commercial scale and within households. Much of the Technology Integration plan is incorporated into the purposes, construction, and appropriateness of food preparation machines. Affectionately called "Kitchen Gadgetology," students explore why certain kitchen tools are designed to maximize their intended performance. Youth also consider ways to improve upon existing food preparation and preservation technology. PARTICIPANTS: Race,Various Ethnicity, Both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic, including ESL students. Age Various, primarily Middle School aged. 1)Topeka,KS The Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods Coalition, Common Ground Community Gardening and Topeka Schools(TPS) Wellness Council will serve as the CYFAR SCP Advisory Coalition in Shawnee County (KS). All middle schools in the Topeka School District are eligible for the free and reduced lunch programs. The CYFAR SCP collaboration was expanded to include the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Topeka and the Topeka Rescue Mission. The Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods Coalition,Common Ground Community Gardening and Topeka Schools (TPS) Wellness Council will serve as the CYFAR SCP Advisory Coalition in Shawnee County. The Choices curriculum was offered at Jardine Middle School and Chase Middle School to Family & Consumer Sciences students. Following several meetings with TPS teaching groups (education, and family and consumer sciences, etc.),additional school sites may be identified in Year 4. All middle schools in the Topeka School District are eligible for the free and reduced lunch programs.Shawnee County CYFAR will provide media equipment large screen TV and iPads for interactive technology, and CYFAR staff will assist with on-site activities at health and fitness fairs. Identifying the CYFAR SCP advisory committee in Year 1,our project has a collaborative body to help us direct resources and programs to neighborhoods of most critical need in Topeka. 2)City & County of Kansas City-Wyandotte, Extension's principle partner is the Kansas City, KS Housing Authority which houses approximately 500 school age children. This project focuses on those living in Public Housing Residents and the Rosedale and Argentine neighborhoods in cooperation with the Kansas City, KS, School District. The unemployment rate in this area in 2008 was 8% while the state average was 4%. The Argentine Middle School is designated as an English as a Second Language school. Coalition partnerships have increased with the addition of afterschool programs at Blessed Sacrament Church, Chalet Manor, Rosedale Congregational Church and three schools in the USD 500 Kidzone After School program. Information technology has not been used as a key component of this project. Technologies associated with food production and preparation,such as those in gardening and kitchens are a vital component.The staff feels it is a success when the participants ask for a recipe. The middle school participants are becoming more adept at reading recipes and preparing food from scratch. The raised gardens did provide some fresh foods for the participants. The drought did cause a reduction in the vegetable output. Involvement in the Choices Program has increased. The core group of middle school participants is from Cyrus K. Holliday, Grandview Plaza, and (a new site) Chalet Manor Apartment Complexes in the Kansas City, KS Housing Authority. An additional Section Eight family complex, Gateway Plaza Complex, has been solicited. It has been observed that Pamela McKnight has a core group of approximately 25-30 youth whose attendance is consistently at approximately 80% of the sessions. TARGET AUDIENCES: The project targets at-risk middle school youth residents of the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Housing Authority, Parochial Schools of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Public School District 500, and KU APEX GEAR UP (Dept of Education TRIO Program-Until Sept 30 2012) and Topeka, Kansas, Public School District 501, Boys and Girls Clubs and Neighborhood Centers, and the YWCA. Using a systems change approach ("Choice, Control and Change, Teachers College, Columbia University) that engages youth with science, their personal food systems, and community engagement opportunities, youth will increase their positive personal health decisions with greater autonomy. The communities will work to improve the food environments near the CYFAR SCP sites. Year 3 of this 5 Year effort was the second full year engaging implementation youth. Direct youth contact began in January 2011. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 05/01/11 to 04/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Program Implementation: Direct youth contact was initiated in January 2011 at both sites. Local Program Coordinators were hired and Supplements were written by a contractor to increase the experiential learning content of the 19 lesson in the "Choice, Control, and Change" curriculum. Dr. Barbara Woods, Federal CYFAR SCP Liaison, made site visits in September 2011 and met with Project Directors, Coordinators, Youth, Parents, and Community Partners and was able to see "C3" programs in action. Both sites integrated food systems into their educational delivery strategies in Year 2, including enhanced inquiry-based experiential learning in working with fresh/raw food ingredients, community gardening, and introduction to foods not traditionally on the plates of participants' families. Community Integration: The project officials participated in the CYFAR/Military Families & Children Resiliency Conference in Chicago in April. The key to community integration at both sites is clearly a function of the significant relations the local Project Directors and local Project Coordinators have already developed with councils, other agencies, local educational authorities, and government. Technology Integration: The Topeka site is prepared to creatively expand the use of technology with the recent acquisition of a 10 piece IPad2 mobile lab. This will assist them in exploration of the geospatial elements of their local food systems. Wyandotte county is focusing on the technologies of food preparation, both on the commercial scale and within households. Sustaining: At the time, both sites have sufficient initial experience to begin to capitalize on their successes. Results have been demonstrable in the local neighborhoods and opinion leaders are positively impressed. PARTICIPANTS: 1) Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas: The Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods Coalition, Common Ground Community Gardening and Topeka Schools (TPS) Wellness Council will serve as the CYFAR SCP Advisory Coalition in Shawnee County (KS). Beginning in January 2011, The Choice, Control and Change curriculum will be offered at Jardine Middle School to Family & Consumer Sciences students. All middle schools in the Topeka School District are eligible for the free and reduced lunch programs. Topeka has a Community Distress Index of 10 (10 point scale) as calculated by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, US Department of Justice. Discussions are currently underway to extend the CYFAR SCP collaboration to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Topeka, and YWCA. The "Choice, Control, and Change" curriculum has been integrated into the middle school wellness curriculum at Jardine Middle School. Students have increased their understanding of where the food they and their families eat and will be gaining understanding regarding the amount, types, and energy content of foods they will choose in the future to maintain healthy weight. Community Integration: The Common Ground Community Gardening program has join the CYFAR SCP collaboration to strengthen both the science and the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables into the food environment of the students, should they choose. The Science Department at Jardine Middle School has traditionally operated the gardening experiences by themselves. New planning will result in an integrated curriculum, even during the winter months when growing must be done indoors, with the Family and Consumer Science Department as students identify a clearer linkage between classroom science education and the impact on their personal lives. 2) City & County of Kansas City-Wyandotte, Kansas Description: Extension's principle partner is the Kansas City, Kansas Housing Authority which houses approximately 500 school age children. This project focuses on those living in Public Housing Residents and the Rosedale and Argentine neighborhoods in cooperation with the Kansas City, Kansas, School District. The unemployment rate in this area in 2008 was 8% while the state average was 4%. The Argentine Middle School is designated as an English as a second language school. In the past ten years, the housing authority has struggled with having over ten languages spoken within its developments. The Rosedale neighborhood has a Community Distress Index of 8 (10 point scale) as calculated by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, US Department of Justice. The curriculum "Choice, Control, & Change," was introduced to youth at risk for obesity in January 2011 at all of Kansas City, Kansas, Housing Authority Residents. The curriculum teaches science and decision making related to personal dietary choices based upon the food environment the student finds themselves. Community Integration: The United Presidents' Board of the Housing Authority has enthusiastically received the program for implementation among youth residents. USD 500 has now implemented the program in afterschool curriculum at Rosedale Middle School. TARGET AUDIENCES: The project targets at-risk middle school youth residents of the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Housing Authority, Public School District 500, and KU APEX GEAR UP (Dept of Education TRIO Program) and Topeka, Kansas, Public School District 501, Boys and Girls Clubs and Neighborhood Centers. Using a systems change approach ("Choice, Control and Change, Teachers College, Columbia University) that engages youth with science, their personal food systems, and community engagement opportunities, youth will increase their positive personal health decisions with greater autonomy. The communities will work to improve the food environments near the CYFAR SCP sites. Year 2 of this 5 Year effort is first full implementation youth. Direct youth contact began in January 2011 PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 05/01/10 to 04/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Program Implementation: Year 1 has been designated for planning. Direct youth contacts in communities will begin in January 2011. The PI (at the time) Dr. Carol Fink and Dr. Gary Gerhard (new PI who continues at this time as Evaluator) participated in new project orientation in Washington D.C. in April 2010. Sub-contracts were awarded to K-State Research and Extension in Wyandotte and Shawnee Counties. County Extension Directors, and each of the CYFAR SCP Site Directors attended the CYFAR Conference in San Francisco in May 2010. Orientation regarding funding, reporting, establishing community coalitions, and hiring local Site Coordinators was conducted in June 2010. A curriculum consultant, Professor Emeritus Marcia McFarland, was hired to increase the experiential component of the identified evidence-based curriculum, "Choice, Control and Change." Site Directors have met with her to review the adaptations, provide critique, and support in three meetings over the Summer and Fall of 2010, in preparation for initiating local delivery in January 2011. The logic model for the project was revised per suggestions of the National CYFAR SCP Evaluation Specialist in cooperation with our project liaison, Barbara Woods. Community Integration: The Food Science Institute and the Department of Human Nutrition at Kansas State University have identified faculty liaisons to the project to provide content expertise in food safety and dietary choices. The Site Coordinators were invited to participate in the first KSU Food Science Camp held in August 2010, to familiarize themselves with this element of the project and its fit into the total initiative of improving dietary choices and teaching science within the contest food. Technology Integration: More sophisticated technology implementation will commence in Year 2, per our proposal. Sustaining: In 2011, the Kansas 4-H Family and Consumer Sciences Action Team (committee) and the CYFAR SCP site personnel will participate in professional development from the Kansas 4-H Science Academy Team in order to increase inquiry based learning in their experiential learning in food science and youth dietary behaviors. The curriculum guide sheets to increase the hands-on component of each C3 lesson will be finalized for replication. The University will prepare a "professional" progress report in Year 1 to inform possible future partners within the community and state-wide, to assist in maintaining support and sustainability of the sites. PARTICIPANTS: Program Implementation: This is Year 1 of the project and has provided time and resources for the building of a community coalition, becoming oriented with the curriculum and hiring a Community Project Coordinator. Community Integration: Meetings with the Community Project Direct have been held with very positive acceptance with: Rosedale Healthy Kids Initiatives United President Council of the KCK Housing Authority Management staff of the KCK Housing Authority Principle of Rosedale Middle School Univ of Kansas Apex GEAR UP Program KSRE Staff The agencies assisted with advertising for the successful search for a Community Project Coordinator who begins work October 1, 2010. Technology Integration: The technology integration strategy outlined in the proposal will begin implementation in Year 2. Sustaining: The new Community Project Coordinator, Mr. Ste Petrehn was hired at .5% beginning October 1, 2010. He along with the CYFAR SCP Office Professional will participate in "4-H 101 Training" in Kansas City, MO, in October 2010. Program Implementation: This is Year 1 of the project and has provided time and resources for the identification of a community coalition, identifying appropriate sites within the Topeka Public Schools, becoming oriented with the curriculum and hiring a Community Project Coordinator. Community Integration: Meetings have been held with very positive acceptance with: Heartland Healthy Neighborhood Coalition Topeka Public Schools (TPS) Wellness Council Master Food Volunteers TPS middle school faculty in science, physical education, and family and consumer sciences Heartland Healthy Neighborhood Coalition and TPS Wellness Council will serve as the CYFAR SCP Food Science Coalition. A Community Site Coordinator, June Martin, has been identified to begin work in January 2011. She holds a college degree, is a Master 4-H Volunteer, a Master Food Volunteer and has provided youth programs through 4-H for the Topeka Public Library. She participated in 4-H 101 training provided by CYFAR in Kansas City (MO) in October 2010. Technology Integration: The technology integration strategy outlined in the proposal will begin implementation in Year 2. Sustaining: The new Community Project Coordinator, Ms. June Martin, was hired at .5% beginning January 1, 2011. The Heartland Healthy Neighborhood Coalition has set aside $15,000 for additional staff, if needed, to help implement the CYFAR SCP program in the Topeka middle schools. The Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods will fund vertical garden equipment to 4 Topeka Public Schools for schoolyard gardens. TARGET AUDIENCES: The project targets at-risk middle school youth in Kansas City, Kansas, Public Housing Authority and Topeka, Kansas, Public School District 501 and Neighborhood Centers. Using a systems change approach ("Choice, Control and Change, Teachers College, Columbia University) that engages youth with science, their personal food systems, and community engagement opportunities, youth will increase their positive personal health decisions with greater autonomy. The communities will work to improve the food environments near the CYFAR SCP sites. Year 1 of this 5 Year effort is a planning year. Direct youth contact began in January 2011. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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