New Mexico Resource Returns Search Results

Program Title:  El Regalo De Salud (The Gift of Health): A Radio Obesity Education Campaign Targeting Latino Parents

Project Type:  OUTREACH

Unit:

Importance:  El Regalo de Salud (The Gift of Health) is a public education radio
campaign targeted at Spanish-speaking parents. The purpose of the campaign
is to help parents address their children’s weight, nutrition, and physical
activity in positive and culturally-appropriate ways.

Sixty-three radio capsules will be developed, each lasting one minute long.
Beginning in summer 2005, these capsules will air on over one hundred
Spanish-language radio stations across the nation. Topics to be addressed
include meal planning, celebrations, family mealtime, snacks, and physical
activity.

Each radio spot will reference a toll-free phone number that will be
staffed by a Spanish-speaking operator. Listeners will be able to request
written materials specifically designed for this campaign. They will also
be connected with Food Stamp Nutrition Education programs in their locality.

Program Objectives:  Specific objectives of the El Regalo de Salud project are: 1) To develop a
research-based childhood nutrition and obesity public education campaign
targeting Latino parents; 2) Based on this campaign, to develop
Spanish-language informational radio capsules and fact sheets; 3) To
produce and pre-test pilot radio capsules and fact sheets using focus
groups of Latino parents; 4) To broadcast nationally a series of 100
informational radio capsules; 5) To provide a national toll-free
information and referral help-line whereby radio audiences can receive
further information, free publications, and referrals to appropriate
community service organizations located in their areas; 6) To evaluate the
effectiveness of the campaign, assessing the number of individuals reached
and the success of the campaign in providing information and bringing about
behavioral changes.

Program Outcomes and Progress:  To date, five pilot radio capsules have been produced. These pilot capsules
focus on several different topics and utilize a variety of formats
(interview with an expert, interview with a parent, dialogue between
actors, straight narration). The capsules have been pilot tested by
Spanish-speaking communications experts in San Antonio, Houston, Miami,
Phoenix, and Los Angeles. The final focus groups will take place in
Chicago. In each city, local Extension Service agents and FSNE/EFNEP
employees have set up two to three focus groups with Spanish-speaking
parents and service providers.

Focus group participants listen to each capsule, fill out a short survey
about the capsule, and then participate in a group discussion about the
capsule. Audio recordings of the discussions are in the process of being
transcribed. Feedback regarding both the subject matter and the format of
the capsules has been collected. In particular, feedback about the
relevance of the capsules to the participants’ cultures, traditions, and
life experiences has been especially helpful, as well as suggestions for
how to appeal to all Hispanic cultural groups while including specific
cultural references.

Has a national impact

Has a state-wide impact

Keywords:  

Strategic Plan Goals:  

For more information contact:
Dr. Martha Archuleta
Extension Home Economics Department
New Mexico State University
PO Box 30003 / MSC 3AE
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003

Phone: (505) 646-3516
Fax: (505) 646-1889
E-mail: maarchul@nmsu.edu