Funded Projects

Community Partners in Gardening

Project Year

2024

City & State

Denver, Colorado

Program Name

CATCH Resident

Topic

Overweight & Obesity (LHI)

Program Description

The Problem  Childhood obesity is a known serious issue in the United States. Children struggling with obesity face an increased risk for developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and fatty liver disease. Racial and socioeconomic inequities further exacerbate this issue, placing low-income and racially minoritized people at higher risk for obesity and worse health outcomes. A recent study in Pediatrics demonstrated that severe obesity is rising among children from lower-income backgrounds. Current CDC data indicate a significantly higher prevalence of obesity among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children compared to non-Hispanic White counterparts. The data underscores the correlation between food insecurity, lower food quality, reduced access to fresh foods and an elevated risk of obesity in children. Research indicates that gardening programs can play a crucial role in enhancing fruit/vegetable availability and consumption among children.  Primary Setting  This project will take place at the Ruby Hill Community Garden, located in Southwest Denver. This community garden is part of Denver Urban Gardens, a non-profit organization and one of our community partners.  Number of children affected  Denver is home to more than 140,000 children, with 20,000 residing in Southwest Denver, defined by the zip code encompassing Ruby Hill Community Garden. Recent data from Denver Public Health revealed that approximately 30% of Denver’s children are overweight or obese, with Southwest Denver’s community at an elevated rate. Approximately 8,000 children in Southwest Denver have elevated BMIs and 3,000 children live in low-income households and face an increased risk of developing obesity. The Southwest Federico Peña Family Health Center, where our clinical staff is based, currently serves 2,551 pediatric patients with BMIs above the 85th percentile.  Project Goal  The goal of this project is to improve access to fresh fruits/vegetables and secondarily to increase engagement with urban gardening for children living in Southwest Denver. The objectives are to encourage active participation in garden programming, instill healthy habits, foster youth leadership, and actively embrace cultural humility, mutual respect and openness to reciprocal learning amongst all participants and community partners.   Proposed Intervention  Our project involves a 6-month urban gardening curriculum scheduled between June and November, developed collaboratively with community partners Re:vision and Denver Urban Gardening. This curriculum is designed to impart education on dietary habits, demonstrate practical ways to integrate healthy produce into meals, distribute fresh fruits/vegetables at the conclusion of each session, and impart gardening skills through bi-weekly classes and engaging activities.  This initiative aims to recruit children ages 0-17 who receive care at Southwest Federico Peña Family Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that is part of Denver Health and Hospital Authority as well as children who reside within the greater Southwest Denver community. The project aims to enroll children with BMIs greater than 85th percentile or metabolic disorders and those enrolled in the Healthy Lifestyles Clinic, situated within the Southwest Federico Pena Family Health Center. This specialized clinic focuses on weight management, utilizing nutrition-based interventions to foster healthy habits.  To facilitate larger community recruitment, we plan to leverage recruitment “chiefs” identified during our pilot program. Families participating in the program will receive gift cards for class attendance and a certificate to commemorate their completion of the program.   Anticipated Outcomes  We expect that by enhancing awareness of fruits/vegetables through a combination of hands-on experience and structured learning, we will see a corresponding increase in the consumption of healthy fruits/vegetables among participating children. Through exposure to gardening and promotion of wholesome approaches to incorporating fruits/vegetables into their diet, we believe children will be empowered to explore and integrate these options more extensively in their diet, reinforcing enduring patterns of healthy eating.  

Project Goal

Collaborate with local organizations dedicated to enhancing food access and urban gardening to provide children and families in the Southwest Denver Community a safe and inviting space to gain access to fresh fruits and vegetables and empower them with knowledge on maintaining healthy lifestyles, ultimately promoting long term health and wellness. 

Project Objective 1

By April 1st, a formal committee between CATCH grant applicants, Re:vision, and Denver Urban Gardens will meet to review project timeline and proposed curriculum for upcoming growing season (June-November) and formalize roles and responsibilities for each partner. 

Project Objective 2

By May 30th, have 20 participants (children and their families) enrolled in a 12 class-curriculum at the garden between June and November 2024.

Project Objective 3

By July 30th, participants will report an increase in daily fruit/vegetable intake by at least one serving per day and have improve knowledge and understanding of how to start a garden.

AAP District

District VIII

Institutional Name

Denver Health Medical Center

Contact 1

Kathryn Hawrot, MD

Contact 2

Elizabeth Stein, MD