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 sustainable nutrition intervention strategies in the Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD) through community-based participatory research (CBPR). A specific objective of this cooperative project is to establish and support a cooperative partnership between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College represented by the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (AgCenter) through its Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service (LCES), which will work with ARS and other Delta NIRI partners to coordinate, assist, design, organize, support, interpret, and evaluate community-based participatory nutrition intervention research established within Franklin Parish, Louisiana, (Franklin NIRI), to evaluate nutritional health, identify nutritionally responsive problems, and develop and evaluate nutrition interventions which are sustainable at the community level to prevent obesity and achieve improved nutritional status of children and families in the LMD region of Louisiana. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) The LSU AgCenter will appoint an Assistant/Associate Professor and Specialist in Community Nutrition in the School of Human Ecology at LSU AgCenter who will work part time on the project in the Northeast Region. The AgCenter will also appoint a local Extension agent with an office at the Scott Research and Extension Center in Franklin Parish to work part time on the project. Both persons will support nutrition intervention research initiatives in the Franklin Parish community and will work with the Franklin NIRI and with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and other Delta NIRI Consortium partners to conduct, support, and facilitate nutrition intervention research to prevent obesity and improve the nutritional health of the Franklin Parish community. In addition they will collaborate on other mutually agreed nutrition related research in other areas of the LMD in Louisiana. Following implementation and evaluation of these nutrition intervention research strategies in the Franklin Parish community, the Delta NIRI Consortium, with cooperation from the AgCenter Community Nutrition Specialist and Agent, will publish the research results in peer-reviewed journals, identify successful intervention strategies, evaluate the impact of community participation, and determine specific characteristics of the community that contributed to intervention success. Additionally, the AgCenter Community Nutrition Specialist and Agent will work cooperatively with Delta NIRI and other AgCenter personnel, key stakeholders, community leaders, school personnel and civic leaders to establish strong and sustainable community nutrition and health programs in selected parishes in the Delta. 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 review of publications and manuscripts in progress; community visits to determine progress at research sites and numerous conference calls and emails. 4.Accomplishments Strategies for a Strong, Healthy Family: PUSH (People United to Sustain Health) Intervention: Interventions targeting the family structure are needed to address nutrition related factors, such as cooking preparation, stress, communication, and family meal time, that may contribute to overweight or obesity. The LSU AgCenter assisted the Lower Mississippi Delta NIRI and cooperative partners with the implementation of the PUSH Intervention by developing six family coping lessons to be used with the intervention groups through the use of peer educators. Peer educators were trained in the background information for each lesson and provided with activities that could be completed during class and at home with family members. The anticipated impact is that the family becomes a stronger family and is more supportive of all members. In turn, a strong family support structure will increase the PUSH participant's self-esteem, thus reinforcing the likelihood of sustained weight loss and the adoption of a healthier lifestyle. (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) Partner in Camp SHINE: Overweight and obesity in children are higher than the national average in Franklin Parish, LA, one of the target community research sites of the Lower Mississippi Delta NIRI. To address this problem, the LSU AgCenter in conjunction with the Lower Mississippi Delta NIRI assisted with the Camp SHINE (Sharing Healthy Innovative Nutrition Experiences) feasibility project for elementary students, which addressed childhood obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy eating habits. The LSU AgCenter prepared eight interactive nutrition-related activities (water consumption, eating in moderation, calcium and building bone density, body diversity, choosing healthier options with fast food, physical activity, and breakfast) called "Nutrition Nuggets" for the 40 participants. Camp SHINE was a success as it increased the public'a awareness of the Franklin NIRI program throughout the parish (county), provided the students a positive environment to try new fruits and vegetables, and increased the parental support of their child's participation in a nutrition/physical activity program. This program was significant as it created a positive environment for the ethnically diverse students to try healthy foods and to become activite with new friends, and it serves as a means to promote healthy eating habits within the family. (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 8 Number of newspaper articles and other presentations for non-science audiences 3