History of Programs

Year Three focused on assisting community coalitions in addressing the need for more physical activities and healthier food choices at cafeteria and vending foods at schools. During year three, DPI also worked to collaborate with grocery stores and restaurants in helping provide consumer information identifying foods that are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals and low in sugar and fat content.

Doņa Ana Diabetes Action Coalition (DADAC)

DADAC Through funding by the Paso del Norte Health Foundation the Diabetes Prevention Initiative (DPI) program is entering its fifth and final year. The DPI staff will continue to serve Doņa Ana and Otero Counties with programs such as Stanford Chronic Disease Self Management trainings, Diabetes friendly Foods, and support of the Doņa Ana County Diabetes Coalition (DADAC) and Otero County Diabetes Education Prevention Collaborative (OCDEPC) to bring networking and collaboration among diabetes programs in each county. DPI facilitates health literacy, cultural competency trainings, and  Fitness and Fun programs. Fitness and Fun is a community outreach program for kids that teaches nutrition, physical activity and healthy lifestyle messages while engaging participants fun and inexpensive ways to stay active. DADAC is comprised of a group of health professionals, educators and community members that come together to make a difference around diabetes prevention in Doņa Ana county. DADACs mission and goal are the following:
Mission: Improving the lives of people in Doņa Ana County who have or are at risk for diabetes.
Goal: To bring the community together to prevent diabetes and enhance diabetes self-management.

OCDEPC

The Otero County Diabetes Education & Prevention Collaborative, a coalition of business person, individual social agencies, civic organizations, industry, education, and community members working to improve diabetes awareness and risk factors through healthy nutrition, lifestyles and management in Otero County. Otero Path staff recognizes the need for diabetes prevention and collaboration among local agencies to identify solutions for the ever-increasing diabetes and obesity epidemic. Otero Path staff has participated in OCDEPC since its inauguration in 2004. Otero Path has the capacity to take leadership of the collaborative and make it into an even larger group with additional participation and involvement from other community groups and agencies. Otero Path will increase the quantity of activities and projects developed that are aligned with the OCDEPC Strategic Plan as finalized in July 2008.

Diabetes-Friendly Foods

The Diabetes-Friendly Food Program brings healthy lifestyle messages and useful information to consumers in restaurants and grocery stores willing to participate in Doņa Ana and Otero counties.

These posters were posted in local restaurants and grocery store windows sending a healthful messages and information about local community resources