GROW Healthy Kids and Communities' first aim was to understand the rural obesogenic environment. To do so we partnered with Extension Services in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Washington to engage rural people in community-based participatory research efforts.
Our second aim was to plan, implement, and evaluate a multi-level intervention targeting rural home, school, and community behavioral settings to promote healthful eating and increase physical activity, and thus improve body mass index among rural children aged 5-8 years old. Toward this end, we developed and tested the GROW-HKC obesity prevention program in rural Oregon communities from Clackamas, Columbia, and Klamath County.
Our Oregon communities
We partnered with families, schools, and communities of Clatskanie, Rainier, Molalla, Estacada, Bonanza, and Chiloquin to help us understand characteristics of rural communities that support or hinder healthy eating and physical activity.
Clackamas County
Contact your local Clackamas County Extension office to learn more about GROW Healthy Kids and Communities in Molalla and Estacada.
Columbia County
Contact your local Columbia County Extension office to learn more about GROW Healthy Kids and Communities in Clatskanie and Rainier.
Klamath County
Contact your local Klamath County Extension office to learn more about GROW Healthy Kids and Communities in Bonanza and Chiloquin.
Our western state partners
We partnered with Extension Services in five states to engage rural people in community-based participatory research efforts.
Colorado
Contact Laura Bellows, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at Colorado State University, to learn more about GROW Healthy Kids and Communities in Fleming, Ignacio, Leadville, and Wray.
Idaho
Contact Martha Raidl, Professor and Extension Nutrition Speicalist at the University of Idaho, to learn more about GROW Healthy Kids and Communities in Fruitland and Preston.
Nevada
Contact Anne Lindsay, Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada Reno, to learn more about GROW Healthy Kids and Communities in Caliente, Carson Valley, Laughlin, and Wells.
New Mexico
Contact Sonja Koukel, Community and Environmental Health Specialist at New Mexico State University, to learn more about GROW Healthy Kids and Communities in Tucumcari.
Washington
Contact Shirley Calodich, Program Manager for Washington State University Extension Health Promotion and Diabetes Education, to learn more about GROW Healthy Kids and Communities in the Connell, Kalama, Port Townsend, and Fairfield.