For information about registering to our AMY classes, visit here.
What is Abuela, Mamá y Yo (AMY)?
Abuela, Mamá, y Yo is a state-wide Latina/x program that provides information on:
- Healthy eating that helps create strong and healthy children
- The impact of the food we eat on our bodies
- Advocacy for better nutrition
- The impact that climate change has on mental health
- How healthy foods reduce the risk of diabetes and chronic diseases
Classes are for members of the Latina/x community who care for children ages 0-5, pregnant women, and anyone interested in gaining knowledge about nutrition and food equity.
Why is this so important?
Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) research tells us that a baby’s health is impacted by three generations of their family. This genetic chain is also modified by environmental issues and social determinants of health (SDH), such as poverty, driving the increase of chronic diseases among our populations. Currently Latinos are experiencing an epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes. In the US today,, about 25% of US Latino children ages six to 11 years of age are obese, and over 33% of Latino children live in poverty.
Our project responds to an urgent need to build Latino advocacy and knowledge between social inequalities and healthy families. Current public health education programs often focus on individual responsibility for having a healthy family. However, it is equally important to develop equitable public policies to improve the social, physical, and economic environments so that Latino families can build healthy lives.
Listen to what class participant Luz Gaytan has to say about our AMY classes:
Food Equity for healthy Latino families differs from traditional nutritional programs because it addresses the root causes of health inequities. The curriculum enhances knowledge of the role of the community environment in the availability of appropriate nutrition and level of social stress experienced prior to and during pregnancy. Participants build their knowledge about the health impacts of poverty, racial discrimination, social disadvantages, and overall toxic stress on themselves and their children. Self advocacy skills in food justice will build self-sufficiency for participants.
PARTNERSHIP: In 2018, Familias en Acción started this project in collaboration with the OHSU Moore Institute for Nutrition and Wellness. Through Focus groups we gathered data and information about eating habits, food access and health education. With this information and research on epigenetics, nutrition and the developmental origins of Health and Disease we created our curriculum that is currently used today.
AMY NEWSLETTER: In our Abuela, Mamá y Yo Newsletter, we will share news about AMY trainings, public policies relevant to food and health equity, advocacy days, healthy recipes and more! Sign up now.
EVALUATION & FEEDBACK: Hear what our community has to say about our AMY program.
