SU’s 12 Point Plan boosted by NIH grants

SU’s 12 Point Plan boosted by NIH grantsApril 18, 2003Wendy S. Loughlinwsloughl@syr.edu

Thanks to a collaboration between the College of Human Services and Health Professions (HSHP) and the Division of Student Affairs, faculty members in HSHP have been awarded curriculum infusion grants funded through the National Institutes of Health. Part of University’s 12 Point Plan for Substance Abuse Prevention and Health Enhancement (SAPHE), the grants are intended to advance HSHP’s health mission, broaden knowledge and understanding of health risks among students and create a healthier University community.

“We have made a concerted effort to assume a position of national leadership on addressing alcohol and other drug issues,” says Barry L. Wells, senior vice president and dean of student affairs. “It is our hope and expectation that the continued implementation of the 12 Point Plan with initiatives such as curriculum infusion grants and the social norms marketing campaign will have a positive impact on our students and influence them to make healthy choices in their lives.”

HSHP faculty receiving grants were Tanya Horacek, assistant professor of nutrition and hospitality management; Robert Moreno, associate professor of child and family studies; and Mamie Hensel, instructor of nursing.

Horacek will use the grant to support activities in her Nutrition Education and Nutrition Counseling courses. Students will organize a dining hall-based health fair in March, which is National Nutrition Month. A small group of students will conduct an audience needs assessment, write theory-based objectives, develop a corresponding curriculum and set of activities, test the program, and evaluate the overall effectiveness of the event. All students enrolled in the class will help implement the health fair.

Students will also develop a “Train-the-Trainer” program, through which they will train resident advisors to work with their residents to improve body image and eating habits in order to reduce or prevent eating disorders. Students will also offer the training to representatives from the University’s Greek system.

Students will also offer nutrition counseling for SU students, faculty and staff; Horacek will trains them in the “lifestyles approach” to nutrition counseling, which involves not only an assessment of eating habits but also an examination and understanding of the factors influencing those eating habits. Participants meet with student counselors for two to four one-on-one health promotion and disease prevention nutrition counseling sessions.