2007 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) A primary objective of the Lower Mississippi Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative (Delta NIRI) Consortium mission being conducted in part under this cooperative agreement is to develop nutrition intervention strategies in the Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD) through community-based participatory research. The specific objective of this cooperative research project is to establish a community participatory structure (Marvell Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative [Marvell NIRI]) that will evaluate nutritional health in the Marvell, Arkansas community, identify nutritionally responsive problems, and design, conduct, and evaluate interventions which may be sustained at the community level. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Developing capacity as necessary, the Marvell NIRI will consist of a community group working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and other Delta NIRI Consortium partners, to design, develop, conduct, support, and facilitate nutrition interventions related to the nutritional status of the Marvell community. Following implementation and evaluation of these nutrition intervention strategies in the Marvell community, the Delta NIRI Consortium will identify successful intervention strategies, evaluate the impact of community participation, determine specific characteristics of the community that contributed to success, and evaluate the feasibility of adapting those successful intervention strategies to other communities with similar needs. 3.Progress Report Monitoring of cooperator’s performance and adherence to conditions of the agreement was by: a strategic planning session; two site visits (one for data collection and one for technical assistance); quarterly reports consisting of budgetary material, progress towards goals and objectives, and lists of personnel employed under the agreement; community visits to determine progress at research sites and numerous conference calls and emails. 4.Accomplishments Marvell NIRI Youth Obesity Prevention Intervention: The prevalence of obesity in children and youth in the US continues to increase, and the obesity rates in children living in the Delta are higher than the national average. The Lower Mississippi Delta NIRI facilitated the Marvell NIRI (AR) in developing and implementing an obesity prevention pilot feasibility study that addressed healthy eating and increasing physical activity of children enrolled in a 6-week Summer Youth Program. The program included nutrition education, the SPARK physical activity intervention, and "WillTry" which exposed participants to new healthy snacks including fruits and vegetables. Seventy-one participants completed the program. It is anticipated that the children will make some positive changes by increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables and healthy snacks and increasing physical activity. (NP 107, Human Nutrition Action Plan 2004-2008: Component 7: Health Promoting Intervention Strategies for Targeted Populations: ARS Strategic Plan Objective 4.l: Promote Healthier Individual Food Choices and Lifestyles and Prevent Obesity: and Performance Measure 4.1.1: Execute and report on two completed Delta NIRI project) Community Research Workshop Initiative: Community members of the Marvell NIRI (AR), a research site of the Lower Mississippi Delta NIRI, identified a need for training that addressed specific aspects of research (institutional review board processes, ethics, community-based participatory processes, confidentiality, etc.), and upon thorough review of existing literature, nothing was available to present to a rural community audience. The Lower Mississippi Delta NIRI and cooperative partners developed a curriculum (with input from the community) and provided a thorough research presentation to approximately 100 community and Delta NIRI partners in the three rural regions of AR, LA, and MS. Preliminary evaluation indicates that attendance and participation in research projects has increased as a result of this informative presentation. A publication is being prepared for a peer reviewed journal, and the curriculum will be posted on the internet for other rural communities to use. (NP 107, Human Nutrition Action Plan 2004-2008: Component 7: Health Promoting Intervention Strategies for Targeted Populations: ARS Strategic Plan Objective 4.l: Promote Healthier Individual Food Choices and Lifestyles and Prevent Obesity: and Performance Measure 4.1.1: Execute and report on two completed Delta NIRI projects) Marvell NIRI Walking Club and Sustainability Intervention: The prevalence of obesity in adults in the US continues to increase, and the obesity rates in adults living in the Delta are higher than the national average. Community members of the Marvell NIRI (AR), a research site of the Lower Mississippi Delta NIRI, provided leadership and the coordination of activities for 52 participants enrolled in a physical activity walking intervention. This intervention focused on the positive outcomes of walking, including weight maintenance, reduction of blood pressure, and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, and incorporates successful strategies to increase and maintain physical activity to a minimum of 30 minutes, 5 days a week. University partners served as resource persons, collected follow-up measurements, and assisted with monthly accomplishment meetings. Implementation of this intervention is important, since it signifies the leadership of rural citizens to coordinate a research intervention with the goal of creating positive lifestyle changes related to nutrition and physical activity that can be sustained in the community after the research is completed. (NP 107, Human Nutrition Action Plan 2004-2008: Component 7: Health Promoting Intervention Strategies for Targeted Populations: ARS Strategic Plan Objective 4.l: Promote Healthier Individual Food Choices and Lifestyles and Prevent Obesity: and Performance Measure 4.1.1: Execute and report on two completed Delta NIRI projects) 6.Technology Transfer Number of non-peer reviewed presentations and proceedings 6 Number of newspaper articles and other presentations for non-science audiences 4