Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) operates the NRC on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care Youth On Track for Health: Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice in Local Group Home Settings May 15, 2014 l 12 – 1 pm Creating healthy nutrition environments in various settings is integral to the promotion of healthy eating among different populations. In Middlesex-London, a multi-disciplinary group of health and social service experts have collaborated to create Youth on Track for Health , a manual of best practices designed to enhance the physical environment, create supportive environments to make the healthy choice the easy choice, and provide opportunities for education and skill-building for youth and staff in residential settings. Presenter: Heather Thomas, RD, PhD Public Health Dietitian, Middlesex-London Health Unit Co-Chair, Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health
Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) operates the NRC on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care NRC Grand Rounds Webinar series on Ontario’s most important healthy eating and nutrition issues. Disclaimer: the views expressed are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Nutrition Resource Centre or Ontario Public Health Association.
Youth on Track for Health A collaborative pilot project to create healthy group home nutrition environments
Dr. Heather Thomas, RD, PhD is a public health dietitian at the Middlesex-London Health Unit. Heather attended Western University where she completed her BSc in foods and nutrition in 1993. She has extensive experience in the public health sector, mainly with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. Her portfolio focuses on obesity prevention and food literacy strategies among at-risk youth and adults. She is active in her provincial association, the Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health, serving on the Executive and Advocacy Committees. Heather returned to Western University in 2006 to complete Masters and Doctoral degrees. Her dissertation in health promotion showcased the planning, implementation, and formative evaluation of a food literacy and cooking skills program for at-risk youth. Heather is the very proud mother of two active boys and a menagerie of pets. Finding balance in her busy work and family life can be a challenge at times, but it is what keeps Heather laughing and living life to the fullest.
Youth On Track for Health Webinar • Pilot project overview • Components of the manual • Success Stories • Challenges • Questions/Comments
What is the Youth on Track for Health pilot project? • A project designed to: • Positively influence the nutrition environment in local residential settings. • Have a positive impact on eating habits and the lives of youth in these settings.
Youth on Track for Health Committee • Food environment concerns • The work of this project is being done in collaboration with champion partners: – Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System – WAYS – Anago – Craigwood – Fanshawe College – Middlesex-London Health Unit
Goals • Positively influencing the nutritional quality of meals and snacks served. • Advocating for positive role modeling related to eating. • Advocating for and a safe and sanitary environment for food production. • Providing food literacy education for staff and youth.
Manual
Nutrition Checklist • The Nutrition Checklist in the manual has been developed under four broad categories: – Healthy Physical Environment – Healthy Supportive Environment – Education and Skill Building – Community Partnership • Use the Checklist to identify what is working well. • Use the Checklist to identify priority areas to work on.
Nutrition Checklist • Pick one priority at a time. • Make consistent changes to improve the nutrition environment. • Definitions of success. • Additional resources provide support tools to assist with facilitating change.
Nutrition Checklist • The following are a sample of resources included in the manual: – Recommended Equipment List – Public Health Inspection Report – Food Safety Information – Canada’s Food Guide – Seasonal Availability Guide – Healthy Menu Alternative List – Menu Change Log
Nutrition Checklist • The following are a sample of resources included in the manual: – Table setting and Table Etiquette Guidelines – Nutritious Food Basket Fact Sheet – Preferred Skill Set for Children and Youth Workers (hiring tool) – Glossary of Cooking Terms – Residential Environment Audit Tool – Report Back Form to share success stories.
Positive Partnerships • Fanshawe College: • Manual is used in the course curriculum for Child and Youth Workers. • Food Handler Certification.
Food Literacy Opportunities for Youth • Public health Registered Dietitian provides ongoing opportunities for youth living in these homes to practice and enhance their food skills.
Supports • Quarterly newsletters are also developed and shared with the respective homes. • Topics included in the newsletter include: • Healthy eating information • Role modeling • Recipes • Creating supportive nutrition environments • Content for Nutrition Bulletin boards.
Success Stories from Pilot Sites • Fanshawe College reported: • “The second year curriculum of the Child and Youth Worker Program now includes 12 hours dedicated to teaching students about a healthy nutrition environment with 6 hours is in-class learning including an overview of the Checklist and resources and 6 hours devoted to food skills development.”
Success Stories from Pilot Sites • Fanshawe students reported: • “I have never made a meal from scratch and it really isn’t that hard and tastes so much better.”
Success Stories from Pilot Sites • Another agency reported: • “They used only white flour based grain products and switched to whole grain products. Initially youth were upset but a with time and teaching they have accepted the change and disclosed they don’t mind whole wheat now or notice a difference.”
Success Stories from Pilot Sites • Annotated comments from a third home revealed: • “The salt shaker is no longer placed on the table, youth didn’t appreciate this but with time and teaching they have come to accept this.” • “We have also changed from serving fruit punch to 100% fruit juice.”
Success Stories from Pilot Sites • Annotated comments from a third home revealed: • “ Staff have been purposefully enrolled in food safety certification classes.” • “Grocery shopping lists have been tweaked to ensure ingredients to support menu items are purchased to decrease menu substitutions.”
Identified Challenges from Pilot Sites • Change is difficult and resisted by staff, supervisors, and youth alike. • Takes too much time to implement one more project. • Much of the work is being done “off the sides of the supervisors’ desks.” • “It won’t work.”
Overcoming Challenges • On site “champion” to facilitate issues as the arise. • Make only one change at a time. Focus on strengths and accomplishments already in place. Move forward slowly. • Investing time and energy into healthy eating opportunities for youth improves behaviours, engagement, confidence.
Overcoming Challenges • Further evaluation of the pilot sites and other sites will provide evidence. • Assessments planned for youth, staff, and students in Child and Youth Worker program at Fanshawe College. • Change takes time.
Summary • Creating healthier nutrition environments in pilot group homes through collaboration with local agencies can have a positive impact on eating habits and lives of youth living in residential settings.
Next Steps… • Endorsement of this project from the administration at each agency. • Support to roll the initiative out to homes within respective agencies that show interest. • Ensure that where the project is rolled out there is a “champion” in place to lead and facilitate within the particular home.
Next Steps… • Support to ensure that the champion receives adequate training about the initiative. • Champions in group homes are trained to use the manual and the associated resources and tools. • Training to be facilitated by current champions from the respective homes participating in the pilot.
Next Steps… • Quality assurance using the audit tool in all homes is on going. • Continued collection of success stories compiled by participating homes. • Continued skill building opportunities for youth/staff as identified. • Continued resource development and sharing.
Questions and Comments Rose Santos, Clinical Supports Nurse Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System 519-679-7250 ext. 134 rose.santos@lfcc.on.ca Heather Thomas, Public Health Dietitian Middlesex-London Health Unit 519-663-5317 ext. 2222 heather.thomas@mlhu.on.ca
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