Progress 08/01/00 to 07/31/05
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? There is a critical need to improve the nutritional status of underserved populations, thereby allowing them to have a productive, healthful lifestyle. Over 15% of the U.S. population lives at or below the poverty level, and this percentage is increasing. Approximately 20% of Louisiana residents live in poverty, and approximately 31% of persons less than 18 years of age live in poverty. Poverty rates among elderly women as well as children are increasing. These groups are at increased risk for problems related to nutrition, diet, and health. Louisiana's prevalence of hunger and food insecurity is fourth highest in the Nation according to food security data released in 1999. Other studies have shown that the Lower Mississippi Delta region is among the poorest, most disadvantaged area of the entire United
States. Rates of hunger, rural poverty, infant mortality, and low birth weight infants are among the Nation's highest. The Lower Mississippi is also plagued by a large number of health problems that are linked to a lack of nutrition and health education. The incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer is also higher than the national average. The burden of diet- related disease is carried by many minority, low-income and educationally disadvantaged individuals, families, and communities in the Delta. The presence of these problems seriously limits the capacity of this population to be fully productive citizens. The Center of Excellence for Food, Nutrition and Health Promotion a university-based nutrition information research Center, focused on developing new approaches, tools, and technologies to produce new knowledge to motivate underserved citizens in rural communities to change their dietary and physical activity patterns. The mission of the Center of Excellence is to
improve the well-being of individuals and families through teaching, research, and outreach in food and nutrition. The Center will conduct intervention efforts to improve the nutritional status of underserved populations in rural communities; train and develop future food and nutrition professionals; and provide a critical mass of resources to conduct research for use by programs and State and local agencies. Activities of the Center will be accomplished over a multi-year period. Limited one-time funding has restricted the staffing of the Center for ongoing activities to support research, outreach, and education needs of diverse audiences. The Lower Mississippi Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative falls under the National Program 107 - Human Nutrition, and addresses established performance goals through developing and transferring effective nutrition intervention strategies. 2. List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Year 1 (2001) Establish
functional operation of the Center of Excellence for Food, Nutrition, and Health Promotion. Year 2 (2002) Convene focus groups in Madison Parish, LA, to assist the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service's Partnership for change to assure access to the nutrition assistance programs. Acquire additional funding for faculty and graduate students. Year 3 (2003) Further test acceptability and production of cereal products. Prepare culturally diverse undergraduate and graduate students to assume leading roles as food and nutrition professionals. Collaborate with the Delta Food Security Alliance, USDA/FNS, Southwest Region to reduce food insecurity in the rural Lower Mississippi Delta. Solicit funding from the Agricultural Research Service, Food and Nutrition Service, and related agencies to support ongoing activities of the Center of Excellence for Food, Nutrition and Health Promotion. Year 4 (2004) Prepare culturally diverse undergraduate and graduate students to assume
leading roles as food and nutrition professionals. Collaborate with the Delta Food Security Alliance, USDA/FNS, Southwest Region to reduce food insecurity in the rural Lower Mississippi Delta. Solicit funding from the Agricultural Research Service, Food and Nutrition Service, and related agencies to support ongoing activities of the Center of Excellence for Food, Nutrition and Health Promotion. Establish a summer research apprenticeship program for undergraduate students. Year 5 (2005) Prepare culturally diverse undergraduate and graduate students to assume leading roles as food and nutrition professionals. Establish a graduate program focused on producing food and nutrition professionals to meet the manpower needs of a changing food and nutrition environment. Design and scientifically test intervention strategies to reduce hunger and food insecurity in diverse populations. Evaluate best practices in nutrition education for nutrition assistance programs. 3a List the milestones that
were scheduled to be addressed in FY 2005. For each milestone, indicate the status: fully met, substantially met, or not met. If not met, why. 1. Prepare culturally diverse undergraduate and graduate students to assume leading roles as food an nutritional professionals. Milestone Fully Met 2. Establish a graduate program focused on producing food and nutrition professionals to meet the manpower needs of a changing food and nutrition environment. Milestone Substantially Met 3. Design and scientifically test intervention strategies to reduce hunger and food insecurity in diverse populations. Milestone Substantially Met 4. Evaluate best practices in nutrition education for nutrition assistance programs. Milestone Fully Met 3b List the milestones that you expect to address over the next 3 years (FY 2006, 2007, and 2008). What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? No future milestones are listed as the Specific Cooperative Agreement
expired on 7/31/2005. 4a What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? Prepare culturally diverse undergraduate and graduate students to assume leading roles as food and nutrition professionals. Minorities are under-represented in human nutrition and food professions. Two summer programs were implemented by Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA, to expose students to career opportunities in this area - the Food, Nutrition and Health Promotion Summer Institute (FNHPSI) and the Food, Nutrition and Health Promotion Undergraduate Research Institute (FNHPUI). FNHPSI is aimed for high school students and FNHPUI is geared for undergraduate students. These programs highlight possible careers, educational opportunities, graduate school, and research training in nutrition. This is accomplished through activities that include mentors, classroom instruction, workshops and field trips. Based on feedback from the students, an increase is expected in the
number of students entering the Human Nutrition and Food Program, graduate school, and careers in human nutrition and food. The pool of students will be increased to enter graduate programs or employment. 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. Southern University scientists and ARS collaborated with a graduate student in the Department of Food Sciences at Pennsylvania State University on a consumer acceptability study of a ready-to-eat cereal utilizing foods grown in the Delta: soybeans, rice, sweet potatoes, and nonfat dry milk. The resulting cereal product was deemed acceptable by the children through sensory research, allowing this cereal product to be available for further testing and possible production in the Lower Mississippi Delta. Two additional projects have been completed: Consumer acceptance of the cereal product in a group 8-18 years of age, and a study of knowledge and attitudes toward fiber in an
adolescent group. Since food insecurity is more prevalent in the Louisiana Delta, Southern University scientists and ARS collaborated with the Delta Food Security Alliance, USDA Food and Nutrition Services, Southwest Region in the Partnership for Change Initiative to increase participation in USDA nutrition assistance programs. Meetings with community and agency leaders and low-income residents were conducted to discuss barriers and reasons for nonparticipation, as well as possible solutions. This collaboration has established an ongoing relationship with Southern University, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, and the Agricultural Research Service. The Center came into existence in August 2000 through a Cooperative Agreement with USDA/ARS who served as the conduit for the base funding of $100,000 from the Food and Nutrition Service. No additional funding was received during the fiscal period of 2001-2003, which led to a delay in staffing of the Center to implement proposed objectives.
The Center received funding in 2004. Funding was not continued in 2005. On-going funding would provide stability and would enhance recruitment efforts to fully implement the teaching, research, and outreach functions of the Center. A letter of intent was developed to establish this program, the University Graduate Council has approved, and approval will be sought through the various administrative levels. Completion of this initial stage of program development will move the process one step closer in meeting our goal of preparing students to take leading roles as food and nutrition professionals in communities where nutrition education is most needed. Southern University continues to participate in the USDA,ARS Food and Nutrition Summer Institute (FNSI). A Southern University scientist served as faculty participant and advisor for Southern University's student researchers. Southern University students designed a year-long project, 'Nutrition, Physical Activity and Diabetes: A
Community Model,' which focused on the community infrastructure and neighborhood characteristics with respect to opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity. Results were presented at the 6th annual FNSI conference, June, 2004 at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. An abstract reporting the project was accepted for a poster presentation at the 2005 annual American Public Health Association. Two summer programs were implemented in during 2005 to expose students to career opportunities in this area - the Food, Nutrition and Health Promotion Summer Institute (FNHPSI) and the Food, Nutrition and Health Promotion Undergraduate Research Institute (FNHPUI). FNHPSI is for high school students and FNHPUI is for undergraduate students. These programs exposed students to careers, educational opportunities, graduate school and research training in nutrition. All accomplishments made under this project are fully consistent with relevant milestones listed in the Project
Plan, and with the relevant research components as defined in the National Program 107 Action Plans performance goals through developing and transferring effective nutrition intervention strategies. Accomplishments under this project contribute to the achievement of ARS Strategic Plan Goal 4, Objective 1, Performance Measure 1, in that project accomplishments contribute substantially to attainment of the Agency FY 2007 target of executing and reporting nutritional interventions. 6. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end- user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Knowledge of nutrition and food science has been transferred to participants of the Food, Nutrition and Health Promotion Summer Institute, and the knowledge of food science and research has been transferred to participants of
the Food, Nutrition and Health Promotion Undergraduate Research Institute. 7. List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Eugene, J. 2005. Diet Habits among Residents in the Lower Mississippi Delta: FOODS 2000 Findings. Delta NIRI All Delta Conference, "Collaborating Communities: Creating a Healthy Climate for Change," June 6-8, 2005. Robinsonville, Mississippi. Laws, A. 2005. Assessing the Acceptability of a Lifestyle Modification Intervention Designed for African American Women in the Lower Mississippi Delta at High Risk for Type 2 Diabetes. DDelta NIRI All Delta Conference, "Collaborating Communities: Creating a Healthy Climate for Change," June 6-8, 2005. Robinsonville, Mississippi. Bardell, K. 2005. Media Use, Physical Inactivity and Obesity among Lower Mississippi Delta. Delta NIRI All Delta Conference, "Collaborating Communities: Creating
a Healthy Climate for Change," June 6-8, 2005. Robinsonville, Mississippi.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? There is a critical need to improve the nutritional status of underserved populations, thereby allowing them to have a productive, healthful lifestyle. Over 15% of the U.S. population lives at or below the poverty level, and this percentage is increasing. Approximately 20% of Louisiana residents live in poverty, and approximately 31% of persons under 18 years of age live in poverty. Poverty rates among elderly women as well as children are increasing. These groups are at increased risk for problems related to nutrition, diet, and health. Louisiana's prevalence of hunger and food insecurity is fourth highest in the Nation according to food security data released in 1999. Other studies have shown that the Lower Mississippi Delta region is among the poorest, most disadvantaged area of the entire
United States. Rates of hunger, rural poverty, infant mortality, and low birth weight infants are among the Nation's highest. The Lower Mississippi is also plagued by a large number of health problems that are linked to a lack of nutrition and health education. The incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer is also higher than the national average. The burden of diet- related disease is carried by many minority, low-income and educationally disadvantaged individuals, families, and communities in the Delta. The presence of these problems seriously limits the capacity of this population to be fully productive citizens. The Center for Food, Nutrition and Health Promotion a university-based nutrition information research Center focused on developing new approaches, tools, and technologies to produce new knowledge to motivate underserved citizens in rural communities to change their dietary and physical activity patterns. The mission of the Center of Excellence is to
improve the well-being of individuals and families through teaching, research, and outreach in food and nutrition. The Center will conduct intervention efforts to improve the nutritional status of underserved populations in rural communities; train and develop future food and nutrition professionals; and provide a critical mass of resources to conduct research for use by programs and State and local agencies. Activities of the Center will be accomplished over a multi-year period. Limited one-time funding has restricted the staffing of the Center for ongoing activities to support research, outreach, and education needs of diverse audiences. The Lower Mississippi Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative falls under the National Program 107 - Human Nutrition, and addresses established performance goal 3.1.2 through developing and transferring effective nutrition intervention strategies. 2. List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Year 1 (2001)
Establish functional operation of the Center of Excellence for Food, Nutrition, and Health Promotion. Year 2 (2002) Convene focus groups in Madison Parish, LA, to assist the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service's Partnership for change to assure access to the nutrition assistance programs. Acquire additional funding for faculty and graduate students. Year 3 (2003) Further test acceptability and production of cereal products. Prepare culturally diverse undergraduate and graduate students to assume leading roles as food and nutrition professionals. Collaborate with the Delta Food Security Alliance, USDA/FNS, Southwest Region to reduce food insecurity in the rural Lower Mississippi Delta. Solicit funding from the Agricultural Research Service, Food and Nutrition Service, and related agencies to support ongoing activities of the Center of Excellence for Food, Nutrition and Health Promotion. Year 4 (2004) Prepare culturally diverse undergraduate and graduate
students to assume leading roles as food and nutrition professionals. Collaborate with the Delta Food Security Alliance, USDA/FNS, Southwest Region to reduce food insecurity in the rural Lower Mississippi Delta. Solicit funding from the Agricultural Research Service, Food and Nutrition Service, and related agencies to support ongoing activities of the Center of Excellence for Food, Nutrition and Health Promotion. Establish a summer research apprenticeship program for undergraduate students. Year 5 (2005) Prepare culturally diverse undergraduate and graduate students to assume leading roles as food and nutrition professionals. Establish a graduate program focused on producing food and nutrition professionals to meet the manpower needs of a changing food and nutrition environment. Design and scientifically test intervention strategies to reduce hunger and food insecurity in diverse populations. Evaluate best practices in nutrition education for nutrition assistance programs. 3.
Milestones: A. List the milestones that were scheduled to be addressed in FY 2004. How many milestones did you fully or substantially meet in FY 2004 and indicate which ones were not fully or substantially met, briefly explain why not, and your plans to do so. Prepare culturally diverse undergraduate and graduate students to assume leading roles as food and nutrition professionals. This objective has been substantially met. A letter of intent was developed to establish a graduate program in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Community Nutrition. The University Graduate Council has approved the letter of intent, and approval will be sought at the next administrative levels. Collaborate with the Delta Food Security Alliance, USDA/FNS, Southwest Region to reduce food insecurity in the rural Lower Mississippi Delta. This objective has not been fully met. The Delta Food Security Alliance, USDA/Food and Nutrition Service, was not active during 2004. Solicit funding from
the Agricultural Research Service, Food and Nutrition Service, and related agencies to support ongoing activities of the Center of Excellence for Food, Nutrition and Health Promotion. This objective has been fully met. Establish a summer research apprenticeship program for undergraduate students. This objective has been substantially met. A proposal was developed, students will be involved during academic year 2004-05. B. List the milestones that you expect to address over the next 3 years (FY 2005, 2006, & 2007). What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? Year 2005 Prepare culturally diverse undergraduate and graduate students to assume leading roles as food and nutrition professionals. Develop academic opportunities for aspiring students. Establish a graduate program focused on producing food and nutrition professionals to meet the manpower needs of a changing food and nutrition environment. It is anticipated that the program
will continue to develop through the University administrative process to secure a student nutritional graduate program. Design and scientifically test intervention strategies to reduce hunger and food insecurity in diverse populations. Initial design stages will be developed and pilot tests will be initiated. Evaluate best practices in nutrition education for nutrition assistance programs. Maintain and complete a database of various nutrition assistance programs. 4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? A. Single most significant accomplishment during FY 2004: A graduate program at the Southern University and A&M College is needed that will focus on the Family and Consumer Sciences that will prepare diverse undergraduate and graduate students to assume leading roles as food and nutrition professionals. Nutritionists at the Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA, accomplished the initial step in the process of establishing a graduate program in
Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Community Nutrition. A letter of intent was developed to establish this program, and the University Graduate Council has approved, and approval will be sought through the various administrative levels. Completion of this initial stage of program development will move the process one step closer in meeting our goal of preparing students to take leading roles as food and nutrition professionals in communities where nutrition education is most needed. B. Other significant accomplishment(s), if any. None. C. Significant activities that support special target populations. None. 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. Southern University scientists and ARS collaborated with a graduate student in the Department of Food Sciences at Pennsylvania State University on a consumer acceptability study of a ready-to-eat cereal utilizing foods grown in the Delta: soybeans, rice,
sweet potatoes, and nonfat dry milk. The resulting cereal product was deemed acceptable by the children through sensory research, allowing this cereal product to be available for further testing and possible production in the Lower Mississippi Delta. Two additional projects have been completed: Consumer acceptance of the cereal product in a group 8-18 years of age, and a study of knowledge and attitudes toward fiber in an adolescent group. Since food insecurity is more prevalent in the Louisiana Delta, Southern University scientists and ARS collaborated with the Delta Food Security Alliance, USDA Food and Nutrition Services, Southwest Region in the Partnership for Change Initiative to increase participation in USDA nutrition assistance programs. Meetings with community and agency leaders and low-income residents were conducted to discuss barriers and reasons for nonparticipation and for possible solutions. This collaboration has established an ongoing relationship with Southern
University, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, and the Agricultural Research Service. The Center came into existence in August 2000 through a Cooperative Agreement with USDA/ARS who served as the conduit for the base funding of $100,000 from the Food and Nutrition Service. No additional funding was received during the fiscal period of 2001-2003, which led to a delay in staffing of the Center to implement proposed objectives. The Center received funding in 2004. It is uncertain whether this funding will continue in 2005. On-going funding will provide stability and will enhance recruitment efforts to fully implement the teaching, research and outreach functions of the Center. 7. List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. Eugene, J. A Perspective on the Delta NIRI Focus Group Study. MANNRS Conference, Des Moines, IA, March 2004.
Impacts
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Publications
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