Recognizing Outstanding Social Work Students

Jessica Aguilar Presenting Her Research

Graduate student Jessica Aguilar was selected as a Graduate Research Fellow for the USDA Sanos y Fuertes: Healthy & Strong project conducted through the NCLR/CSULB Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation & Leadership Training.

Jessica is a vital part of the project staff where she is learning to use Community Based Participatory Research skills to improve health and nutrition and reduce obesity among Latino children ages 2-8 as well as their family members. Jessica is also involved in the development of a culturally and linguistically competent Sanos y Fuertes toolkit which will be administered to Latino families regarding childhood obesity, nutrition, and physical activity. This toolkit will provide valuable information to more than 350 Latino families with children encouraging healthy nutrition and physical activities to prevent obesity and chronic diseases.

This is an outstanding honor for Jessica as she has already had the opportunity to present a poster of this work at the 5th Annual National Conference on Health Disparities in Charleston, South Carolina. Jessica’s goal is to continue her graduate studies with a Ph.D so she can eventually conduct further community-based research to benefit the Latino community of Southern California. Congratulations to Jessica Aguilar for her outstanding accomplishments with the CSULB School of Social Work!