2006 Annual Report 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? Why does it matter? The Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD) area of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi is characterized by high rates of poverty, low education attainment, and food insecurity. There is a high prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, anemia, and heart disease, all of which are influenced by nutrition. We are attempting to resolve these problems through the efforts of the Lower Mississippi Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative (Delta NIRI). The Delta NIRI Consortium consists of the original partners: scientists from Alcorn State University, Alcorn State, MS (ASU); Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, AR (ACHRI); Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA (PBRC); Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA (SU); The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR (UAPB); The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS (USM); and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of USDA, Little Rock, AR. The Delta NIRI Consortium also now includes representatives from the Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service; the College of Public Health of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR; a private researcher, Jackson, MS; and members from the Delta communities of Marvell, AR; Hollandale, MS; and Franklin Parish, LA. The ARS has initiated agreements with other scientists with needed expertise for specific research requirements. For example, the Children's Nutrition Research Center (CNRC) in Houston is collaborating with a Baylor College of Medicine scientist that has nutrition epidemiology skills, and the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University in Boston is providing expertise on the development of an original adult food frequency questionnaire. These scientists, Extension, and community members participate fully in the Delta NIRI Consortium. The Consortium is diverse in its composition: including minorities, many research disciplines (nutrition, food science, family economics, sociology, medicine, community development, community grass root, agriculture, etc.), and a variety of professionals (nutritionists, pediatricians, nurses, food scientists, sociologists, agriculture economists, etc.). This diversity is necessary because of the complexity of the food concerns, poverty, isolation, and low educational attainment in parts of the Delta region. The Delta NIRI Consortium is evaluating the nutritional health in the LMD, to identify nutritionally responsive problems, and to design and evaluate interventions using a community participatory research model. Use of this model will promote capacity-building and sustainability at the community level. Lessons learned about successful intervention approaches will be disseminated in order to facilitate implementation on a larger scale in similar areas of the United States. Rates of rural poverty and nutrition-related chronic diseases in the LMD are among the Nation's highest. Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana traditionally rank at or near the bottom in health rankings of the United States and continue to worsen compared with other states. Food insecurity, adult and child obesity, and high blood pressure and diabetes among adults are higher in each of these states than for the national average. The area is underserved by food and nutrition and other health professionals, thus the burden of food-related health problems is carried by minority, low-income, and educationally disadvantaged individuals and families in the Delta communities. The presence of these problems severely limits the quality of life, productivity, and the future of this rural, at-risk population, while propelling them into the high-user category for nutrition assistance programs and high-cost health care and treatment of nutrition-related disease. The Lower Mississippi Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative is aligned with the National Program 107 - Human Nutrition, and addresses ARS Strategic Plan performance goal 4.1.1 through developing and transferring effective nutrition intervention strategies. 2.List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress) Year 2005 Objective 1. Develop nutrition interventions in Hollandale, MS, through community-based participatory research. Milestone a) The Hollandale NIRI community-based research team will be in place in MS. Milestone b) The Hollandale research worksite will provide a neutral site in Hollandale, MS, and enhance visibility of the Delta NIRI. Milestone c) An assessment of community resources and environmental conditions in Hollandale, MS, relevant to nutrition interventions will be complete. Objective 2. Design the nutrition intervention research for Hollandale, MS, using a Comprehensive Participatory Planning and Evaluation (CPPE) process. Milestone a) Potential interventions and strategies will be identified and evaluated. Milestone b) A research protocol for each of the selected interventions in Hollandale, MS, will be written. Milestone c) New and modified data collection instruments will be developed as needed for each intervention. Milestone d) Manuscripts will be completed by Alcorn State University (ASU) scientists describing the CBPR/CPPE processes, development of the Hollandale research worksite, community readiness, resource assessment, and other elements of the pilot testing and preparation for each intervention. Milestone e) ASU will participate in the planning and implementation of one regional conference of scientific and lay communities. Objective 3A. Implement nutrition intervention strategies in Hollandale, MS. Milestone a) A well-written research protocol for a nutrition intervention in Hollandale, MS, will be finalized. Milestone b) Appropriate data collection instruments and procedures necessary for the intervention research will be pre-tested if necessary. Milestone c) Hollandale residents and individuals from ASU will be trained to collect data and to monitor data collection. Milestone d) A detailed operational plan for the implementation process for the intervention in Hollandale, MS, will be completed. Milestone e) Appropriate institutional review board approval for human subject's participation will be in place for ASU. Milestone f) Manuscripts describing pilot testing intervention strategies, data collection procedures, and training of data collectors will be completed for peer reviewed journals by ASU scientists. Year 2006 Objective 3A. Implement nutrition intervention strategies in Hollandale, MS. Milestone a) Implement nutrition intervention strategies specific to Hollandale, MS. Milestone b) Monitor data collection and progress of intervention strategies. Milestone c) Evaluate process variables associated with nutrition interventions Hollandale, MS. Milestone d) ASU scientists will prepare and submit manuscripts to peer reviewed journals for publication. Year 2007 Objective 3B. Evaluate nutrition intervention strategies implemented in Hollandale, MS. Milestone a) Evaluate nutrition intervention strategies in place in Hollandale, MS. Milestone b) Develop measures to evaluate the impact of the CBPR/CPPE processes on the community of Hollandale, MS. Milestone c) Monitor the effects of other activities within Hollandale on the nutrition intervention. Milestone d) Utilize appropriate qualitative and quantitative statistical techniques to evaluate objectives and test hypotheses of the interventions in Hollandale, MS. Milestone e) The participation of the Hollandale NIRI (community group) in the analytical process will be documented. Milestone f) A data monitoring and evaluation system will be in place for continuous monitoring of data collection and quality of processes used. Milestone g) Manuscripts describing the status of interventions in Hollandale, MS, with regards to process and outcome variables will be completed by ASU scientists and submitted to peer reviewed journals for publication. Milestone h) ASU will participate in the convening of a national symposia for scientific and lay communities on CBPR/CPPE, and nutrition intervention strategies for at-risk populations in rural communities. Year 2008 Objective 4. Initiate the process of adapting the successful nutrition intervention strategies from Hollandale, MS, to other Lower Mississippi Delta communities. Milestone a) At least one additional community in MS will be targeted and recruited for community-based nutrition intervention research to duplicate the successful strategies and interventions. Milestone b) Manuscripts describing the research process and intervention outcomes will be prepared by ASU scientists and submitted to peer reviewed journals for publication. Milestone c) ASU will participate in the convening of a national symposia for scientific and lay communities on CBPR, CPPE, and nutrition intervention strategies for at-risk populations in rural communities. 4a.List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. This accomplishment is aligned with the National Program 107 - Human Nutrition Action Plan Component 7. Health Promoting Intervention Strategies for Targeted Populations. Action Plan Problem Statements: Identify, implement and test nutrition and physical activity interventions in low-income communities. Walking and Nutrition Education Intervention (Fit for Life Steps): Through Community-Based Participatory Research, the Hollandale, Mississippi, NIRI identified that health of community residents could be improved through an increase in physical activity and nutrition knowledge and that interventions should be designed to address these concerns. Researchers from Alcorn State University, in collaboration with faculty and staff from the University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi State Cooperative Extension, USDA-ARS, and the Hollandale community completed the physical activity and nutrition intervention, 'Fit for Life Steps' that addressed these concerns. Hollandale community members were trained in data collection techniques such as: confidentiality, interview/survey instruments, anthropometric measurements, biological measurements and data recording. Community members, with direction from faculty and staff from ASU, USM and USDA/ARS successfully collected anthropometrical, biological, psycho-social, and socio-economic data. Data was collected at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Significant improvements in systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and HDL were shown. These results suggest that a CBPR approach to intervention design and implementation can result in significant improvements in health related parameters and that community residents, through training, can serve as a viable component in performing future data collections and other research protocols. 4b.List other significant research accomplishment(s), if any. None. 4c.List significant activities that support special target populations. None. 5.Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact. Alcorn State University (ASU), University of Southern Mississippi (USM), Mississippi State Cooperative Extension, and the USDA, ARS continue to actively collaborate with the city of Hollandale, MS. In 2003, through Community Based Participatory Research, the Hollandale NIRI identified problems in the community that interventions could be designed to address. Two of these were lack of physical activity and lack of nutrition knowledge. We began a physical activity and nutrition intervention in April 2005. Community members were trained in data collection techniques such as: confidentiality, interview/survey instruments, anthropometric measurements, biological measurements and data recording. Data was collected at baseline, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. Significant improvements in systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and HDL were seen. The Delta NIRI project continues to build capacity in the community as evidenced through the training of community members in data collection techniques. This additional capacity will result in sustained capability by the community to perform similar data collections in future interventions. In addition, the capacity of Hollandale residents to perform future data collections, using both survey instruments and biological/anthropometrical measurements, will be increased. The primary objectives of the Youth Summer Work Program were to provide an opportunity for high school students to work with Delta NIRI staff and the Hollandale NIRI to develop and implement nutrition intervention research in the local community. Eight youth ranging from ages 15 to 19 were selected to participate. Students worked 20 hours a week for 5 weeks, which included 20 hours of nutrition education. The students toured the USDA/ARS Research facility in Stoneville, MS. Summer Soccer Camp: The Hollandale NIRI Soccer Team was designed to promote the game of soccer and physical activity among youth in grades 1-6. It was also designed to provide information that may be used in designing nutrition and physical activity intervention for this school age group. This sport provided a pleasant, safe, and rewarding experience for youth. The Hollandale NIRI soccer activity promoted the physical and mental health and social well-being of the community's youth. Approximately 100 youth signed up for participation and were divided into 8 teams with a maximum of 15 members per team (teams A through-H). Teams were divided into two groups, grades 1-3 and grades 4-6. Teams were named for a Fruit or Vegetable, example, the Mighty Orange. The Honor's Internship program was a summer employment program through the Lower Mississippi Delta NIRI. These positions were reserved for the honor students from Simmons High School, Hollandale, MS. One female and one male were selected, both minorities, who were located in the Hollandale NIRI office to assist with various research activities. They attended nutrition enrichment seminars, assisted with summer camp, and attended various meetings. The students collected data for two projects funded through the Delta NIRI. Data analysis from the 'Song, Music and Nutrition Education in Pre-School Children' is complete. There was a significant increase in some of the knowledge areas as a result of the intervention. This was a pilot project to assess the efficacy of using song and music to increase nutrition knowledge in preschool children conducted collaboratively by students and faculty in the Dept. of Fine Arts and the Dept. of Human Sciences at ASU. All accomplishments made under this project are fully consistent with relevant milestones listed in the Delta NIRI Project Plan, and with the relevant research components as defined in the National Program 107 Action Plan. 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? Results from the Fit for Life Steps intervention have been presented to the community. Nutritional and physical activity information has been transferred to the residents of Hollandale, MS. The Delta NIRI project continues to build capacity in the community as evidenced through the training of community members in data collection techniques. 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). None.