Health Department

Durham Region’s Durham Region’s Community Food Advisor Community Food Advisor

ProgramProgram

...Promoting Food Safety and ...Promoting Food Safety and Healthy EatingHealthy Eating

alPHa WorkshopalPHa Workshop

November 12, 2004November 12, 2004

Health Department

Provincial History of the CFA Program

The CFA Program is an initiative started in 1991 by OMAFRA and the MOHLTC

CFA Program is now housed with the Nutrition Resource Centre of the Ontario Public Health Association

Currently 18 CFA Programs in Ontario, 12 public health sites

Health Department

Program Goal

The Community Food Advisor Program aims to improve and promote safe and nutritious food selection, preparation and storage by increasing individual and group access to reliable information and education

Health Department

Who are the Community Food Advisors?

CFAs are trained volunteer peer educators who have received 70 hours of instruction and 20 hours of community practice activities about healthy eating, safe food handling, preparation, selection, storage and preservation of food along with communication and leadership skills

Health Department

History of Durham Region CFA Program

Fall 2002 - Durham Region CFA Advisor Steering Committee formed, members include: Durham Region Health Department Ajax-Pickering Social Development Council Whitby Mental Health Centre Heart and Stroke Foundation Durham Lives! Pre & Postnatal Nutrition Project The Youth Centre Family & Community Action Program Durham’s Child Nutrition Project The Federation of Women’s Institutes Durham Region Dietician’s and Home Economist’s Network Canadian Red Cross Salvation Army Community Services Upstairs at Loblaws North Durham Social Development Council

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Winter 2002 - 51 applicants selected

Recruitment & Training

Health Department

Spring 2002 - 48 potential CFAs entered training

Trainers included Public Health Nutritionists, Registered Dietitians, Home Economists, Chefs, Public Health Inspectors

Recruitment & Training

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Recruitment & Training

Durham Region CFAs trained as certified food handlers

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January 2003 - 41 CFAs graduated from training

Trillium Foundation Grant

Graduation

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September 2003 - official program launch

Implementation & Launch

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Durham Region Social Services Community Partners Grant

5 Depots with cooking equipment and resources at churches, fire hall, Loblaws

On-line inventory - equipment and resources

Implementation & Launch

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Re-certified on an annual basis

Minimum of 3 service requests completed

Two educational update sessions

Volunteer Commitment

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Volunteer Appreciation Week

Re-certification Event

Appreciation BBQ

Of original 41, 33 are active, 1 on LOA

Volunteer Recognition & Retention

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Each year, one large promotional event

Service Requests

Health Department

Spring 2003 - information packages sent to community groups and agencies

2003 - 66 community requests, 45 fulfilled 2004 - 59 requests, 35 complete, 12 pending 2005 - 4 requests received

Service Requests

Health Department

Community requests from: Schools, libraries, church groups Family and Community Action programs Prenatal programs Community health centres Seniors centres Brownies Non-profit weight loss groups Food banks Parks and recreation groups Collaboration with Health Department staff on specific activities

Service Requests

Health Department

Sample topics: Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating Cooking for one/two Food storage Safe food handling Proper hand washing techniques Menu planning How to read food labels Cooking with beans/legumes Low fat cooking Incorporating more vegetables and fruits Quick healthy meals Healthy snacking

Service Requests

Health Department

Agency and audience feedback forms Many groups have submitted repeat requests Peer component has been well received by

community groups Statistics collected - volunteer hours,

resources distributed Annual Provincial Report

Evaluation

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Schools

Prenatal Health Fair

Community Festival

CFAs in Action

Health Department

Team-building

Recruitment?

Promotion

Future