MODELS FOR PRACTICE
FOCUS
AREA: NUTRITION AND OVERWEIGHT
Location: Poplar, Montana
Problem
Addressed: Nutrition and Diet
Healthy People 2010 Objective: 19
Web Address: None
SNAPSHOT
The Daya Tibi,
“House of Good Living,” Wellness
Center was established to
combat the problem of obesity in Native Americans. The Wellness Center
delivers several programs to address the problems of obesity. Generally, the Wellness Center focus is directed toward
nutritional matters.
Initially, the
city of Poplar
received a grant from the Kellogg Foundation to create a wellness center. The Wellness Center is now funded by a United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nutrition, Diet, and Health grant and benefits
from collaboration with other health groups. Those groups involved in the
growth and establishment of Daya Tibi Wellness Center include the Fort Peck
Tribal Health Department (638 Contract Diabetic Program), USDA Commodity
Program – Fort Peck Tribes, USDA Food Stamp Nutrition Program, and the Native
American Hunger Program through Phillip Morris Companies, Inc.
THE
MODEL
Blueprint:
The Wellness Center,
associated with Fort Peck Community College (FPCC), is located on a Indian reservation in
the city of Poplar, which is located in the
northeastern corner of Montana and bordered on
the south by the Missouri River. The
reservation is 110 miles east to west and 40 miles north to south, encompassing
2,093,318 acres. The initial objective for creating the Daya Tibia Wellness Center
was to address the problem of obesity and diabetes. The Wellness Center
was built to serve toddlers, adolescents, adults, and the elderly of Native
American descent. The Wellness
Center created a
nutrition awareness program, which is a six-week program where a nutritionalist
assists individuals with their nutrition intake level, cholesterol level, food
choices, etc. In conjunction with the nutrition program, the Wellness Center
implemented the “Cooking for Kids Program” that teaches children proper food
usage, kitchen safety, meal planning, table setting, and sufficient food
preparation. It shows children the proper usage of the food pyramid and other
visuals related to their nutritional intake. Furthermore, the Wellness Center
provides an exercise physiologist to assist those individuals who participate
in the six-week program.
Making
a Difference: During the six-week program, the exercise physiologist makes
assessments of the individual’s physique and health. A personal wellness
profile is used to measure the success of the program. The profile consists of
pre- and post-tests of fat levels; blood sugar; cholesterol check; blood
pressure; and measurement of arms, biceps, hips, and waist. It also records
participation in nutrition classes. The personal wellness profile helps individuals
attack their problems through weight loss or by reducing their risks of
developing diabetes. The overall goal of the personal wellness profile is to
motivate participants in the program to stick with a nutritional diet
supporting a healthier lifestyle. One of the USDA grant objectives measured the
success of 86 participants’ weight and health improvements. Of the 86
participants, 44 showed improvements in several categories (i.e., weight; blood
pressure; blood sugar; and arm, wrist, and chest measurements).
Beginnings: The Fort Peck
Community College Department of Community Services and several key community
leaders observed the growing trends of obesity and diabetes among the
community’s youth and adults. This recognition led to the development of the Wellness Center program to address the problem of
obesity, diabetes, and poor nutritional habits.
Challenges and Solutions: Implementation of the
nutrition awareness program was viewed as a trial to see if the community was
ready to change its nutritional habits. The goal of the nutritional program is
to change participants’ behavior toward living a better life. Demonstration of
the program led to applying for the USDA Nutrition, Diet, and Health Grant for
2001-2002 and 2002-2003.
The
Wellness Center monitors the success of the
participants after completing the six-week program by conducting regular
follow-ups and health screenings. Currently, the Wellness Center
is modifying its objectives and goals for the program and plans to build two
more wellness centers for the west and east sides of the reservation, based in
Poplar and Wolf Point.
PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION
Daya
Tibi “House of Good Living”/FPCC
Wellness Center
P.O. Box 398
Poplar, MT
59255
Phone:
(406) 768-5630
Fax:
(406) 768-5552