title: Stepping up to the challenge: the development, implementation, and assessment of a statewide, regional, leadership program for school nutrition directors.
abstract: A statewide professional development program was developed and implemented throughout California for school nutrition directors with the goal of creating healthy school environments and regional networks for collaboration and healthy school environment sustainability. Needs of school nutrition directors were identified through a needs assessment questionnaire. Results of the needs assessment questionnaire (n = 256) identified (a) planning cost-effective menus; (b) reducing calories, sodium, saturated fat, and trans fat in menus; and (c) using U.S. Department of Agriculture foods cost-effectively as the most useful topics. Highest rated topics informed the content of the professional development program. A post-professional development questionnaire identified key "insights, inspirations, and strategies" as (a) marketing of school foods program, (b) expansion of salad bars, and (c) collaboration with community partners. A 6-month follow-up questionnaire identified that 86% of participants made progress toward implementing at least one of their five insights, inspirations, and strategies in their school districts. Most common areas that were implemented were marketing and branding (32%), revamping salad bars (18%), and motivating staff (16%). School and Community Actions for Nutrition survey analysis showed a significant increase in the use of marketing methods in school nutrition programs from baseline to 6-month post-program implementation (p = .024).
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Center for Nutrition in Schools, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Center for Nutrition in Schools, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Marilyn M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.affiliation: California Department of Education, Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Beall
authors.affiliation: Ventura Unified School District, Ventura, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Curwood
authors.affiliation: Fort Bragg Unified School District, Fort Bragg, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Turlock Unified School District, Turlock, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soiseth
authors.affiliation: Riverside Unified School District, Riverside, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Rodney K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Center for Nutrition in Schools, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA sazidenbergcherr@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Sheri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zidenberg-Cherr
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005522:Food Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008612:Menu Planning; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013192:Staff Development / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States
keywords: behavior change; career development/professional preparation; child/adolescent health; chronic disease; coordinated school health programs; health education; health promotion; needs/assets assessment; nutrition; obesity; program planning and evaluation; school health; social marketing/health communication