ASU diabetes prevention program receives grant from Dignity Health

A new grant from Dignity Health Arizona’s Community Grants Program will extend the reach of a long-standing collaboration between Arizona State University and several key community partners to reduce diabetes risk for pediatric patients.

The $100,000 award will support ¡Viva! – A Family-Centered Obesity and Diabetes Prevention Program. 

The program, launched through ASU’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation’s Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, has seen success thanks to its dedicated community partnerships.

For years, the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention has been collaborating with the Valley of the Sun YMCA and the St. Vincent de Paul Center for Family Wellness to successfully develop, test, refine and expand diabetes prevention programs for children and families.

With this new grant, Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Pediatrics is joining the team and expanding the program to new communities.

Engaging St. Joseph’s outpatient pediatrics clinic will increase the potential for impact of the collaboration to reduce diabetes risk and improve the quality of life for high-risk pediatric patients.

The pediatrics clinic will refer patients with weight or obesity issues and their families to a 12-week program that includes physical activity classes at a local YMCA and hands-on nutrition education classes led by registered dietitians and community health workers from St. Vincent’s Center for Family Wellness.

“We are excited about the opportunity to expand family-centered diabetes prevention programming, and with the Valley of the Sun YMCA serving as the lead agency, we are moving evidence based-interventions into the community where they can have the biggest impact,” said Allison Williams, research program manager at the center.

Left to right: Sister Margaret McBride, vice president, Missions Integration, Dignity Health Arizona Division; Gabriel Shaibi, ASU; Allison Williams, Elva Hooker, St. Vincent de Paul: Jason Heetland, YMCA; Shannon Clancy, St. Vincent de Paul: Dr. Lilia Parra-Roide, Dignity Health Medical Group - St. Joseph’s Outpatient Pediatrics Clinic; Steve Conrad, YMCA; and Maria Spelleri, community board member, Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.