Skip navigation.
New Mexico State University

2006 results

FY 2006 Accomplishments:

Program as Implemented:
The program coordinator position description was written and the program coordinator was hired. Three county advisory board meetings were held to discuss the time frame and procedure for the project, use of resources, and curriculum revision. Field trip nutrition and fitness educational workshops were conducted and 600 pre/ post knowledge tests were administered. The program advisory group chose two elementary schools to serve as control group schools and four schools to serve as treatment groups. Pretests on nutrition knowledge, activity level, and fruit and vegetable intake were administered to 150 students in the treatment and control groups. Educational programming was provided to the treatment group. Updating the Just Be It! curriculum was begun. Equipment which will increase activity levels in the classroom was chosen.

Progress on Integrating Community:
The Just Be It! program was introduced to the 3 participating communities by holding a 1/2 day field trip in September, 2006. A total of 600 fifth grade students were transported to 5 community sites for educational workshops on nutrition education, healthy snacks, and food safety. Community members assisted with coordinating activities for the workshops.

Progress on Integrating Technology:
The Technology Specialist held 3 meetings: 1 with Project Director, 1 with Program Coordinator, and 1 with entire advisory group to design computer activities for experimental group to increase activity levels. The technology specialist is developing a proposal for equipment needs to go to computer educational game companies for funding. The project is being integrated with NMSU's game play initiative. In addition, computer games for increasing knowledge have been selected. The New Mexico CYFAR web site was registered as .org, .net, and .com through 2011.

Progress on Sustaining Program:
School personnel were included in planning and implementing educational field days. Students for the control and treatment groups were selected by public school personnel. County Extension agents applied for and received grant funding for the field day portion of the project from the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation and a National 4-H Council Healthy Lifestyles Grant funded by Kraft Foods. News releases for each county and a state wide news release on the project was submitted to newspapers. A poster presentation proposal for the CYFAR 2007 Annual Conference was submitted. The Project Director participated in the August 22 CENTRA technology training. The Project Director and two Community Project Directors participated in the Nov. 2 parent involvement training.

Progress on Short Term Results:

  1. Fifth grade students in three schools (one per county) will increase their knowledge level on nutrition education and physical activity during the school year.
    • Number of participants in evaluation: 150 youth
    • Evaluation type: Pre/post test
    • When evaluation was conducted: Pretest in Fall, 2006
    • Analysis: Pre/post knowledge test validity was established with a panel of 5 experts. The test for reliability has been identified. The coding schema was written. The specific procedure for data analysis, which is a t-test, was confirmed with the statistician.
    • Findings: Based on preliminary results from the pre/post tests administered at the Fall field trip workshops, it is expected that students will show a knowledge gain when the post test is administered in Spring 2007. In addition, it is expected that control group subjects will not show an increase in nutrition knowledge when compared to the treatment group.
    • Implications: It is expected that students will benefit from the educational experiences provided by the program and develop a healthy lifestyle.
  2. Fifth grade students in three schools (one per county) will increase their intake of fruits and vegetables during the school year.
    • Number of participants in evaluation: 150 youth
    • Evaluation type: Block Kids 2004 Food Frequency Survey
    • When evaluation was conducted: Pre-survey in Fall 2006
    • Analysis: Because this instrument is owned by Block Dietary Data Systems, the surveys are being sent to them to be analyzed. When these data are received they will be coded for comparisons to post test surveys using a t-test.
    • Findings: It is expected that students will show an increase in the intake of fruits and vegetables when the post surveys are administered in Spring 2007. In addition, it is expected that control group subjects will not show an increase in fruit and vegetable intake when compared to the treatment group.
    • Implications: It is expected that students will acquire knowledge about the role fruits and vegetables play in developing a healthy lifestyle and begin eating more fruits and vegetables.
  3. Fifth grade students in three schools (one per county) will increase their physical activity during the school year.
    • Number of participants in evaluation: 150 youth
    • Evaluation type: Block Kids Physical Activity Survey
    • When evaluation was conducted: Pre-survey in Fall 2006
    • Analysis: Because this instrument is owned by Block Dietary Data Systems, the surveys are being sent to them to be analyzed. When these data are received they will be coded for comparisons to post test surveys using a t-test.
    • Findings: It is expected that students will show an increase in activity level when pre-survey scores are compared to the post surveys, which will be administered in Spring 2007. In addition, it is expected that control group subjects will not show an increase in activity levels when compared to the treatment group.
    • Implications: It is expected that students will acquire knowledge about the role activity level plays in developing a healthy lifestyle and become more active.
  4. Teachers and parents of fifth grade students in three schools (one per county) will increase their knowledge level on nutrition education, how to promote nutritious food choices, and how to encourage physical activity for children during the school year.
    • Number of participants in evaluation: 50 parents and teachers
    • Evaluation type: Pre/post survey
    • When evaluation was conducted: The survey will be administered in Spring 2007.
    • Analysis: The survey will be a numerical rating of knowledge level before the program started and rating of present level of knowledge related to program activities. A t-test will be used to compare pre/post scores.
    • Findings: It is expected that parents and teachers will show an increase in knowledge level of nutrition information and how to provide an environment to help youth eat more healthy foods and become more active.
    • Implications: It is expected that parents and teachers will help youth develop a healthy lifestyle.

Progress on Long Term Results:

The New Mexico Extension System will integrate the Just Be It! Healthy and Fit Program into education programs which are offered statewide.

  • Number of participants in evaluation: 30 Extension Agents
  • Evaluation type: County reports and program evaluation data
  • When evaluation was conducted: Evaluations will be conducted in Spring 2009.
  • Analysis: A frequency count from county reports will show the number of agents who deliver the program to audiences. Evaluation data from program participants will be collected and analyzed.
  • Findings: As a result of statewide trainings on the Just Be It! program, it is expected that one-third of the county agents will offer the program in their county and show positive results for youth.
  • Implications: As more agents deliver the program, more youth will develop a healthy lifestyle, thus reducing risk factors for obesity.