Family Health Initiative‘Healthier Choices, Healthier Families’

Diane Boyd Community Health Co-ordinator

Our Vision

Children are:

• Strong, competent & visible in their communities• Physically & emotionally healthy• Eager & able to learn• Respectful of difference

Our Values We Believe in:

• Childhood - in its own right• Listening to children – and those who care for them• A strong voice for children• Play, fun & creativity• Parenting• Participation• Community• Partnership• Inclusion & diversity• A professional, committed & recognised workforce• Excellence & evidence based innovation• Effective stewardship & governance• Valuing staff, members & their commitment

Obesity – Statistics: 27% of children aged 2-15 years are obese/overweight in Northern Ireland (NI H&WS 2010/11)

1 in 5 (22%) of children under 5 are overweight/obese. 17% are overweight

5% are obese (CHS 2008/9)

1 in 4 (27%) of children aged 11-13 years are overweight. 20% of these children are overweight and 7% are obese (2008/9 BMI measurements)

61% of adults are either overweight or obese (2011/12 Health Survey NI)

Programmes

• Healthy lifestyle – Prevention programme for families with children under 5yrs (8wks)

• Making a Difference – Healthy lifestyle programme for families with children aged 8-11 yrs aimed at targeting obesity (12wks)

• 3 Key Areas: Healthy Eating

Physical Activity

Emotional Wellbeing

• Whole Family Focused Approach

Partnership

• Multi component community based partnership

• Design Team

• Steering Group

• Referrals

• Specialist – Dietetics, Active Communities Coaches, Wellbeing lead, Storyteller

Overall Aims

Empower families to:•Understand importance of balanced diet & make healthier food choices•Understand importance of exercise & increase physical activity levels•Understand physical & emotional consequences connected to obesity•Build skills & confidence of parents to model healthy lifestyle choices for children

Healthy Lifestyle Programme

• 8 week Programme - Each session 1 ½ hrs

Consists of:

Parent Time (45 mins) – Discussion in group setting

Food Time (15 mins) – Families try new foods

Family Time (30 mins) – Families engage in activities together

Puppets

BEN

MEGAN ORLA

STEFAN

Meet the healthy living gang!

Children identify well with puppets:

• Gain knowledge of healthy lifestyles

• Help express feelings & emotions

Storybooks & Puppets

Each family taking part receives a copy of each book

FREE Incentives each week

Evaluations

• Prevention Programme: Dr Katrina Collins

• Methods: Pre & Post Surveys

Goal SheetsPost it Feedback

Facilitator Journal Tracking Interviews Attendance Sheet Community Map

Prevention Programme• 124 families engaged: 81 completed (65%

completion rate)

• 11 programmes: Day Care, Playgroup, Parent & Toddler, Childminders,

TravellersAdult Number

Mothers 97

Fathers 0

Grandmothers 12

Child-minders 21

Other Family member 1

Pre & Post Surveys

Pre programme expectations:“I want to better myself and my kids”

“I want to eat healthier so my family eat better”

Post programme impact:“We now eat healthy and try lots of new foods”

“I feel like a much better parent”

“We now do a lot more exercise as a family”

Goal Setting

- Eat more fruit & vegetables

- Eat less fatty & sugary foods

- Turn off TV for a certain amount of time

- Do things together as a family

- Go for walks together

- Find out what on in local community

- Cook healthy meals from scratch

‘Trackers’• 2 participants from each group • Every 6-8 weeks - semi structured interview• Journey of change tracked across 1 year period

Changes in family life were embedded in daily

events - meal times, shopping trips, food purchases & physical activity.

“I cannot believe how much I have learnt and the

difference it has made in how we eat”

‘Making a Difference’• 12 week Family Healthy Lifestyle Programme• Target: 8-11yr olds with a BMI>91st centile• 8 week Programme - Each session 1 ½ hrs

Consists of:

Discussion Time (45 mins) – Discussion in group

Food Time (15 mins) – Families try new foods

Family Time (30 mins) – Family physical activity

Evaluations

• Making a difference: University of Ulster, Coleraine

• Methods: Pre & Post Surveys

Measurements

Goal SheetsPost it FeedbackFacilitator JournalCase StudiesAttendance SheetCommunity Map

Change in children’s BMI z-score T1 to T7

P<0.001

Core completers - T1 64% children classified as obese, 56% at T3

Full completers – T1 58% children classified as obese, 46% at T7

Change in children’s waist circumference z-score T1 to T7

P<0.001

Core completers – T1 to T7 1cm decrease

Full completers – T1 to T7 1 cm decrease

Self-esteem of child

P<0.001

Significant improvement in self esteem in children

Child – feelings about how they look - Yes

T1 T3 T7

I really like what I weigh 33% 49% 63%

My weight makes me unhappy 47% 39% 12%

I wish I were thinner 73% 64% 42%

I think I have a good body 56% 71% 84%

Other people make fun of the way I look

31% 22% 10%

I'm as nice looking as I’d like to 68% 71% 86%

I worry about the way I look 33% 24% 19%

ConclusionCombined evaluation evidence points to the impact of the Family Health Initiative on improving health outcomes.

Specifically: Eating & exercise habits

Family routines

Attitudes to healthy lifestyles

Impact can be traced to three factors:

1. Service Design Manual

2. Resources

3. Facilitation & Delivery

style

Video

If you would like more information:

Diane Boyd

Community Health Co-ordinator

dianeb@early-years.org

www.early-years.org