Familias Joins Statewide Collaboration to Reduce Risk of Chronic Diseases!
The Nutrition and Food Equity Program participated in a three-day retreat, in October, to discuss program strategies to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and obesity. The retreat was sponsored by the Nutrition Oregon Campaign (NOC), which is part of the OHSU Bob and Charlee Moore Institute for Nutrition & Wellness, whose purpose is to end chronic disease before it starts.
Since 1990, diabetes rates have tripled, especially among people of color and rural populations. 70% of people with diabetes will eventually get heart disease. This is an epidemic that we can stop! The NOC statewide campaign is driven by communities and grounded in the science of Developmental Origins of Health & Disease. This science shows us how risk for developing chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart disease are established before birth and in the first years of life based on nutrition and exposure to toxic stresses like poverty, racism and abuse.
Familias worked with the Moore Institute and in 2018, developed a culturally specific curriculum to share with our Latiné families called Abuela, Mama y Yo (AMY) to address this issue. We offer this class, as well as Walk with Ease and other exercise, gardening and cooking classes to share ideas about healthy lifestyles and accessing more fruits and vegetables. The program also includes information on advocacy and accessing government programs such as SNAP and WIC.
The purpose of the retreat was to connect with the statewide HUBS and share our programs with the Latiné they serve from Yamhill County, Douglas County, Klamath County and the Western Treasure Valley area near Ontario, Oregon and Payette, Idaho. Familias has a three-year, $299,000 grant from the Ford Family Foundation to serve rural areas with our Nutrition and Food Equity Program.
For more information, contact Alejandra Gurrola at Alejandra@familiesenaccion.org or go to our website at Nutrition and Food Equity Program.
