Public Health

When we Have Better, We Can do Better': Building Community Capacity to Improve the Health and Well-Being of Women and their Families

2011-2012 Policy & Social Engagement Fellowship Project

Faculty Partner: Angela Odoms Young, Kinesiology, odmyoung@uic.edu
Community Partner: Greater Englewood Health Start Initiative/Chicago Department of Public Health Engelewood Neighborhood Health Center

The focus of this project is to collaborate on a culturally appropriate, community-focused curriculum for lay nutrition educators. This curriculum will address strategies for improving dietary behaviors, addressing risk factors for poor nutrition in pregnant, postpartum, and women of childbearing age (ages 15 to 44) and their families, and building the nutrition capacity of residents in the Englewood and West Englewood communities. Specifically, we will

1. work together to identify the specific nutrition needs of the target population;
   
2. involve a group of community members in a photovoice project to generate photos and narratives focused on the multi-level (individual, interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy level) barriers to healthy eating and
   
3. train a group of 10-15 clients to serve as lay nutrition educators.