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FCS Program Successes

Healthy People

DINING WITH DIABETES

With diabetes as the fifth leading cause of death in Ohio, it's no wonder that Ohio State University Extension prevention programs have proven to be so popular and helpful. According to the Ohio Department of Health, 537,263 Ohioans have diabetes. That amounts to 6.4 percent of men and 6.3 percent of women in the state. There is a higher incidence among African Americans, at 8.8 percent and Latinos, at 10.8 percent. Nationally, it is the sixth leading cause of death, costing $44 billion in direct medical costs and another $54 billion in indirect costs (work loss, disability, premature mortality). That's partly what spurred Anita Pulay, Cindy Oliveri, and others to conduct train-the-trainer Dining with Diabetes programs-originally created by West Virginia University Extension-for Family and Consumer Sciences educators across Ohio. Oliveri and Pulay have reached 60 Ohio counties since 2003, and those counties in turn have educated nearly 1,000 Ohioans in the dangers of diabetes, healthy food choices and preparation, the importance of exercise, and how to choose healthy food when on the road. Participants reported making healthier food choices and losing weight-one reported a 50-pound weight loss as a result of the program.

FAMILY NUTRITION PROGRAM HELPS OHIOANS MAKE WISE NUTRITION DECISIONS

James Gilbert had worked for 25 years at the Foodtown store in Sygnet, Ohio, when it closed in July 2003. "We were scared," said Janice Gilbert, 40. "My husband has never not worked and never needed any kind of assistance from the government. And to make matters more stressful, I was pregnant with our son, Will." Teenagers Blair and Brooke and preschoolers Zachary and Hayley round out the family. Janice found a part-time job at a nearby Hardees, and the family turned to the Ottawa County Department of Jobs and Family Services. James, 46, went through a Personal Occupational Development class and, as Hardees closed down a few months later, Janice did, too. That's where she first encountered Ohio State University Extension's Family Nutrition Program.

Angie Ruth, the local FNP educator, leads a half-hour session on wise food choices during the day-long program.

"The class really helped me become more organized with shopping," Janice said. "You look at the ads for the sales and specify the things you want, then you have an action plan." As a result, Gilbert makes her food stamps last longer and is eating better, too, buying more fruits, vegetables, and lean meats-and less junk food: "It's so expensive," she said. Ohio's Family Nutrition Program reached 51,000 participants from October 2003 through September 2004. In pre-program surveys, nearly 35 percent of participants reported running out of food by the end of the month at least "sometimes." More than 80 percent reported learning new information, and more than three-quarters said they planned to make changes in their food purchases and diet as a result. Considering family members and other indirect beneficiaries, the program reached more than 261,000 Ohioans that year.

Although they are both working again (James part-time at Kroger's and Janice parttime at Subway), the Gilberts' income isn't back to pre-layoff levels. Janice knows they are not alone. Their job losses were part of the 234,000 jobs lost in Ohio between 2000 and 2003.

"People are experiencing a lot of loss right now, and it may feel like you're sinking," she said. "But there are people and programs that can throw you a life preserver. The FNP program really helped us out, and I hope more people can take advantage of it."

FILL UP WITH MORE THAN FOOD AT THE DINNER TABLE

Families who eat together tend to have a higher level of communication, better nutrition at mealtime, and have teens who do better in school and are less likely to use alcohol and drugs. However, studies suggest that fewer than half of children eat with their family every day. That's why the Lucas County office of Ohio State University Extension puts a special focus on "Families Dining Together Day" during Ohio Parents' Week each September, joining with the local "Parent Community Partnership," which sponsors Parents' Week activities. During Parents' Week 2003, Extension distributed 2,460 fact sheets on families sharing meals and sent more than 100 posters to businesses, schools, and community centers. The posters included easy, nutritious recipes to encourage families to eat at home. But Extension's efforts don't end there, said Extension educator Susan Zies. "Throughout the year, we work with schools, worksites, community centers, the housing authority, small businesses, and grocery stores to encourage families to eat together. It can be a challenge to adjust schedules to share meals, but people need to know how important it is."

GOOD NUTRITION ALL SUMMER LONG

Nationwide, 16 million students qualify for free or reduced meals at school, and for many, they are the most nutritious and balanced meals of the day. But once June arrives, school meals aren't available, and only about 2 million low-income children participate in the Summer Food Service Program, also offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2004, Ohio State University Extension piloted a program to expand the reach of the Summer Food Service Program in the state.
Extension's Family Nutrition Program staff in seven counties (Guernsey, Greene, Logan, Lorain, Marion, Shelby, and Van Wert) partnered with sponsors offering nutritious meals. In all, 8,377 children and teens participated at various locations, including schools, parks, nonprofit and faith-based agencies, and even parking lots where lunches were dropped off by a sponsor. They often offered more than a free lunch-with the help of volunteers the county's Family Nutrition Program livened up mealtime, offering fun and educational nutrition activities. A total of 346 individuals volunteered their time in some capacity to help the program be a success.

HELPING KIDS STAY FIT

Over the past 30 years, the prevalence of overweight children (ages 6-19) in the United States has more than tripled. During 1999-2002, 31 percent of children ages 6-19 were considered at risk for becoming overweight, and 16 percent were considered overweight. OARDC human nutrition faculty member Gail Kaye is looking for answers. In an effort led by the Children's Hunger Alliance, which calls obesity one of the most prevalent forms of malnutrition, Kaye conducted focus groups with parents to determine whether they thought childhood obesity was a problem; what their perceptions are of the consequences; what they see as barriers to overcoming the problem; and ideas they have for solutions. Some highlights of her findings: "Parents are interested; it's not a lack of concern on their part," Kaye said. But they need more information on safe places their children can go to engage in physical activity, as well as what resources are available in communities to get good information about nutrition and health. The Children's Hunger Alliance is using the findings to develop a community-wide plan to address the problem of overweight children. The effort could benefit both health and wealth: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that in 2003, obesity-related medical costs amounted to $75 billion.

HIGH-RISK GROUPS BECOME FOOD-SAFETY FOCUS

An estimated 5,000 people die annually because of food-borne illness. Among the most at risk are people with chronic diseases or who are otherwise immunocompromised.

Thanks to a $588,000 grant from the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, OARDC researcher Lydia Medeiros of the Department of Human Nutrition and colleagues in Washington and Colorado have teamed up to target food safety messages to high-risk groups, including pregnant women, HIV/AIDS patients, organ transplant patients, bone marrow transplant patients, and people undergoing chemotherapy. Using information from focus groups and interviews with members of high-risk groups, the researchers created fact sheets specifically targeted to them, as well as an on-line training course for registered nurses, social workers, environmental health inspectors, Extension educators, registered dietitians, and anyone who works with high-risk groups on how best to frame food safety messages to those audiences.

Healthy Finances

Ohio Saves

MAKING HOME BUYING EASY AND AFFORDABLE

For most, buying a home will be life's biggest purchase, and many low to-moderate income families feel they can't afford it. But an Ohio State University Extension housing services program is helping to make dreams come true. The Home Buyer Assistance Program targets homebuyers whose incomes fall between 65 percent and 80 percent of Housing and Urban Development's Section 8 Income guidelines. Many families and individuals who fall within this category have satisfactory credit backgrounds to qualify, but lack the sufficient down payment. The Extension program offers a four-week training program in budget and credit management, homebuyer counseling, and links to lenders to help provide additional support and housing rehabilitation. In Washington County alone, the Ohio State University Extension program helped 16 families share $241,267 to purchase a home between 2001 and 2003.

FAMILY LIFE IMPACTS HOME-BASED BUSINESSES

About half of all U.S. privately held businesses are home-based, and these business owners face unique challenges in managing both work and family life. For 15 years, consumer economist Kay Stafford of the Department of Consumer Sciences has studied home-based businesses with colleagues in other states to examine the impact families and home-based businesses have on each other. According to the 1997 National Family Business Survey, over 8.6 million
households-or one of 10 households-owned a business, and these families generated over $10 trillion in gross revenues, Stafford said. Her research found
something startling: Family life appears to have more of an impact on the business than the business has on the family. The researchers found that lower levels of family tension tended to increase business income, as did living in a two- or three-generation family; sleeping less in order to take care of business matters; and hiring temporary help during hectic periods. The researchers coach financial consultants, lawyers, and other professionals who work with home-based business owners to raise awareness that family issues are not peripheral, but are increasingly relevant to the businesses' bottom line.

Healthy Relationships

STEPPING OUT TO HELP FAMILIES

About one in three Americans is a member of a stepfamily, and the American Psychological Association says children from ages 10 to 14 may have the most difficult time adjusting. To help, Ohio State University Extension Educators Lois Clark in Auglaize County, Nancy Recker in Allen County, and, before she retired, Ruth Anne Foote in Mercer County developed "My Families and Me," an after school program targeting third- through sixth-graders. Locally, the program has reached 77 children, and it is spreading far and wide. Professionals at 15 international, national, regional, and state conferences have learned about the project and 412 professionals in 27 states have requested further information.

" My Families and Me" uses games and a journaling scrapbook to teach about stepfamily dynamics. It allows children to express their feelings and share common experiences, all designed to turn an uncomfortable topic into something positive. In evaluations, children showed they learned about stepfamily life and situationsemphasizing empathy, awareness, feelings, communication, and interpersonal skills. Most of all, they learned they are not alone-a powerful message even today.

Family and Consumer Sciences