PROMOTION OF THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM: APPLICATION OF THE STAGES OF CHANGE MODEL

Elaine McDonnell, MS, RD, Claudia Probart, PhD, RD, Charles Orlofsky, BA, J.Elaine, Weirich, M Ed, Pat Birkenshaw, MA Vonda Fekete, MS, RD

Objective: Participants will be able to describe how the Stages of Change model was applied to a school breakfast promotion project.

Abstract: Despite reported academic, behavioral, and nutritional benefits of the School Breakfast Program (SBP), participation in the SBP lags behind that of the National School Lunch Program. This project applied the Stages of Change model to promote the SBP through Project PA, a collaboration between the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Penn State University. School foodservice (SFS) directors in Pennsylvania were segmented based on interest in and need for assistance in initiating and/or improving SBPs. For those SFS directors interested in initiating SBPs, but in need of assistance, a one-on-one approach was initiated. Nine SFS directors with expertise in school breakfast were recruited to serve as “Breakfast Brigade” members and provide consultation for their SFS colleagues. Workshops were offered through a Master Instructor program for SFS directors in need of information and action steps. A statewide teleconference was developed and presented targeted primarily to provide motivation for SFS directors least interested in initiating SBPs. Breakfast Brigade members have made contact with 37 school districts, assisting with initiation of SBPs in 13 districts. Workshops have reached 159 SFS employees in 49 school districts. The teleconference reached 350 SFS employees. Teleconference participants indicated a high likelihood (7.4 on a 10-point scale with 10 being “very likely”) of implementing one or more of the strategies for increasing SBP participation presented during the teleconference. This project demonstrates how the Stages of Change model can be used to promote the SBP. This project was funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through State Administrative Expense funds.

Interactive Presentation Approach How will you make the educational session or individual oral presentation interactive? Be specific. For guidance on making your session or oral presentation interactive, click here.

The audience will be asked to share their feedback on application of the Stages of Change model and successful promotion of school breakfast. Question and answer periods will be used to actively engage the audience

Evidence-based Success If your presentation is intended to describe successful nutrition education projects, approaches or materials, describe the scientific evidence of the quality and effectiveness of the projects, approaches or materials that you will be presenting. Briefly provide scientific data or findings from evaluations performed that demonstrate quantitatively or qualitatively the success of the project.

Breakfast Brigade members have made contact with 37 school districts, assisting with initiation of SBPs in 13 districts. Workshops have reached 159 SFS employees in 49 school districts. A 56-item pre/post test was developed to evaluate the teleconference. Eighty-three percent of teleconference participants (n = 291) returned completed evaluation forms. Teleconference participants indicated a high likelihood (7.4 on a 10-point scale with 10 being “very likely”) of implementing one or more of the strategies for increasing SBP participation presented during the teleconference. Seventy percent, 41%, and 39% of teleconference participants indicated intent to implement “Grab ‘n Go” breakfast, Universal free Breakfast, and “Breakfast in the Classroom” respectively.