Poor diet and physical inactivity contribute to excessive weight and related diseases in the United States. Given the increasing rates of adult overweight and obesity among Americans, there is a need to develop and implement effective prevention and treatment strategies to decrease the public health burden of obesity-related chronic diseases. Faith-based organizations (FBOs) provide a unique setting and partnership opportunity for delivering evidence-based programs into communities that can be sustained. The federally funded Virginia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) delivered through Virginia Tech's Cooperative Extension and Family Nutrition Program, utilizes evidence-based programs to promote healthy eating and physical activity among limited income populations. The Virginia SNAP-Ed Volunteer Led Nutrition Education Initiative uses SNAP-Ed agents and educators to reach limited income populations by training and coordinating volunteers from communities to deliver nutrition education programs. However, these partnerships and training initiatives have been underutilized in FBOs across Virginia. This dissertation research describes four studies conducted to better understand how to facilitate collaborative partnerships and health-promotion programming initiatives between academic/extension educators and FBOs to build capacity and inform future initiatives within VCE. Study one conducted a literature review to examine FBO characteristics and multi-level strategies used to implement nutrition and physical activity interventions. Study two examined VCE SNAP-Ed agents' perspectives on FBO partnerships to deliver health programming. Study three assessed three FBOs and their member health needs to identify policies, systems and environments to support healthy lifestyles. Study four examined the acceptability of Faithful Families, a faith-based nutrition and physical activity program delivered in a rural church, and explored ways to build capacity for program sustainability through input from stakeholder partners. Results across studies yielded information which helped to identify and prioritize strategies for promoting FBO partnerships within VCE and helped to generate questions that merit further investigation to identify specific culturally relevant strategies for promoting health in FBOs. This exploratory body of research contributes to the field by describing relevant opportunities for academic sectors to partner with FBOs using participatory approaches to increase partnership readiness and build capacity to carry out and sustain health programs within faith settings. / Ph. D. / Unhealthy eating and lack of exercise can lead to obesity and diseases which might have otherwise been prevented. Given the growing population of obese people across the United States, coming up with new ways for treating and preventing obesity is key to help improve the health of Americans. Faith-based organizations (FBOs), like churches, mosques and temples, are becoming popular places for delivering health promotion programs. Given that most of these settings are around for a long time in communities, health programs can potentially impact a large number of people and be sustained over a long period of time. The Virginia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) is an educational program funded by the government, which provides low-income people and families with health education programs to help them eat better on a budget and live more active lives. In Virginia these SNAP-Ed programs are delivered through Virginia Tech’s Cooperative Extension. Agents who work with Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) are hired to train volunteers from different communities in their areas to deliver nutrition education programs. Agents who partner with FBOs can train people from the FBO to deliver health programs in a way that can be sustained. However, few of these training initiatives have taken place across FBOs in Virginia. This dissertation is made up of four studies conducted to identify strategies and opportunities for promoting health and increasing partnerships between VCE and FBOs. Study one involved a literature review to identify strategies used in nutrition and physical activity programs taking place in FBOs. Study two examined SNAP-Ed agents’ perspectives towards partnering with FBOs to deliver health programs. Study three surveyed three FBOs to identify health interests and opportunities to support healthy lifestyles. Study four conducted a faith-based nutrition education program in a small rural church and interviewed partners involved in the program planning and delivery regarding various components of the project. Collective results from this body of dissertation research informed new and better ways for VCE staff to partner with faith communities throughout Virginia and identified strategies for promoting health in FBOs that better fit their unique needs and culture.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/82927 |
| Date | 26 April 2018 |
| Creators | Kinney, Kimberlee Ann |
| Contributors | Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Serrano, Elena L., Hosig, Kathryn W., Kraak, Vivica, Williams, Jay H. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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