Social and Cultural Environments

Mission

The mission of the Social and Cultural Environments Workgroup was to identify existing strategies, and propose new strategies, for community organizations to promote healthy eating and active living at the “individual” or “interpersonal” levels of the socio-ecological model.

Context

The two year objectives listed below describe some of the actions that will be taken by specific organizations.  The workgroup felt that strengthening social and cultural norms and values related to physical and emotional health should also be reflected in the all settings (schools, early childhood care and education facilities, the built environment, healthcare, food outlets, and worksites).

 

Ten Year Vision

By 2020:

Our communities will support the healthy development of our children & families, and the healthy choice will be the default choice in multiple settings.  All people will have access to, and education about, healthy behaviors including physical activity and nutritious eating.  Parents will have access to, and will use, community resources to enrich family life.  In Indian communities in particular, initiatives to improve nutrition and physical activity will be imbedded in holistic efforts to ameliorate historic and current trauma and to nurture community values including a sense of purpose and responsibility to care for one another.  This vision is consistent with the following Healthy People 2020 goals:

  • MICH HP2020–12: Increase the proportion of mothers who breastfeed their babies.
  • PAF HP2020–8: Increase the proportion of children and adolescents that meet guidelines for television viewing and computer use.
  • NWS HP2020–6: Increase the contribution of fruits to the diets of the population aged 2 years and older.
  • NWS HP2020–17: Reduce consumption of calories from solid fats and added sugars in the population aged 2 years and older.
  • NWS HP2020–7: Increase the variety and contribution of vegetables to the diets of the population aged 2 years and older.

  • PAF HP2020–1: Reduce the proportion of adults who engage in no leisure-time physical activity.
  • PAF HP2020–10: Increase the proportion of trips made by walking.
  • PAF HP2020–11: Increase the proportion of trips made by bicycling.

 

Two Year Objectives

By 12/12:

  1. Maintain or increase the number of worksites participating in the Shape Up Montana! spring fitness program.
    Who:  Montana State Games
    Behavior: ↑PA ↓ED

  2. Maintain or increase the number of schools participating in the Big Sky Fit Kids spring fitness program.
    Who:  Montana State Games
    Behavior: ↑PA ↑FV ↓SSB ↓TV

  3. Provide mini-grants to community organizations to increase opportunities for healthy eating and/or physical activity.
    Who:  Eat Right Montana
    Behavior: ↑PA ↑FV

  4. Explore the possibility of developing systems for tracking physical activity behaviors engaged in by children in selected settings on the Rocky Boy reservation, and share success stories and lessons learned with reservation-based Boys and Girls Clubs throughout Montana as appropriate upon request.
    Who:  Boys and Girls Club of the Bear Paw
    Behavior: ↑PA

  5. Explore the possibility of creating and promoting the use of more walking and biking paths, playgrounds, and other safe places for physical activity, including traditional games, on Indian reservations.
    Who:  International Traditional Games Society
    Behavior: ↑PA

  6. Continue publication and distribution of monthly 3-4 page Healthy Families Packets to news outlets, Extension agents, and others throughout Montana.
    Who:  Eat Right Montana
    Behavior: ↑PA ↑FV ↓SSB ↓ED ↑PA ↑BF

  7. Continue to implement and, as possible, evaluate educational and activity-based programs to increase regular physical activity and healthy eating among Montana children.
    Who: 4H
    Behavior : ↑PA ↑FV ↓SSB ↓ED ↑PA

  8. Continue to engage in social marketing and other strategies to increase support for breastfeeding within families and in businesses and other public settings.
    Who:  Montana Statewide Breastfeeding Coalition (a committee of Eat Right Montana)
    Behavior: ↑BF

  9. Continue to pilot, evaluate and disseminate information about efforts to enhance health (including healthy nutrition and physical activity) through initiatives based on the traditional practices of Native Americans in Montana.
    Who:  Salish Kootenai College Community Health and Development, Fort Peck Tribal Health, others
    Behavior: ↑PA

  10. Continue offering physical activity opportunities for people with disabilities.
    Who:  Special Olympics
    Behavior: ↑PA

  11. Expand Bozeman Screen Free Network model to other communities.
    Who:  Bozeman Public Library, NAPA, Others
    Behavior: ↓TV

  12. Provide mini-grants of up to a total $5,000 to support accomplishment of one or more five-year goals
    Who: NAPA
    Behaviors: ↑PA ↑FV ↓SSB ↓ED ↑PA ↑BF

Five Year Goals:

  1. Collaborate with agencies crafting consistent social marketing messages (ie. Billings Clinic, others) to insure that they are culturally appropriate, that they do not promote weight bias or stigma, and that they do promote beneficial behaviors (including the six target behaviors and other healthful practices).
    Who:  To be determined
    Behaviors: ↑PA ↑FV ↓SSB ↓ED ↑PA ↑BF

  2. Explore the possibility of creating an American Indian coalition (including youth) to promote healthy eating, physical activity and other healthy practices in Native American communities.
    Who:  To be determined
    Behaviors: ↑PA ↑FV ↓SSB ↓ED ↑PA ↑BF