Healthy
Beginnings
Resources to help families learn about feeding children healthy foods
Videos and Cookbooks in your Language
Local Food Pantries and resources
Information for Providers and Community Health Workers
Whether you work in a clinic, community center, faith organization, or classroom, these resources are designed to help you reach families anywhere
Data collected at Ethne Health, a clinic serving refugee families in Clarkston, show that 24.5% of patients aged 12 to 24 months have anemia based on hemoglobin testing, compared with a national average of 4.7%.
The Evidence Behind this work
Prevelance of Anemia in Refugee Infants living in Clarkston vs the National Average
Breakdown of Anemia Cases by Ethnicity
Among anemic children ages 12 to 24 anemia, 28% were Afghan, 28% were Congolese, and 11% were Burmese. These findings underscore the need for culturally responsive nutrition education and support tailored to the communities most affected.
Healthy Beginnings Developed Community-Centered Resources Grounded in Science
Starting with Community
To better understand the causes of this disparity, Refugee Women’s Network conducted a community assessment with refugee mothers. Mothers highlighted challenges including limited access to culturally appropriate nutrition education, food insecurity, language barriers, and transportation.
Responding to Community Guidance
In response to what mothers shared, the Multicultural Pediatric Nutrition Taskforce was formed through the Clarkston Health Equity Coalition. A partnership between Refugee Women’s Network, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Emory Global Pediatrics, and Ethne Health Clinic, the taskforce worked with Emory MPH students to develop surveys and focus groups to understand the knowledge and learning styles of the Congolese community. With support from the Georgia Health Initiative, the team expanded its work, creating a series of community-led health education discussions alongside Afghan and Burmese communities.
The Process
Mothers from Congolese, Afghan, and Burmese communities participated in recurring sessions over several months. Focus groups guided discussions about iron deficiency, cultural food preferences, and safe infant feeding practices. Sessions included a knowledge-sharing discussion, a community potluck featuring iron-rich dishes, and a cooking demonstration showing how to prepare iron-rich meals and distinguish healthy snacks from less nutritious options. In the final session, participants filmed educational videos with a culturally responsive videographer, designed to share practical nutrition guidance with the wider community.
Programming Details
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The initial focus group brings the team and mothers together to build trust and introduce the project. We explore what mothers already know about iron deficiency anemia and discuss their current feeding practices at home. The conversation helps us understand cultural food traditions, common concerns, and daily routines. These insights directly inform what we prepare and prioritize for the community potluck session.
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The community potluck creates space to share and celebrate iron-rich cultural dishes. Mothers discuss what they typically feed their babies, including how foods are prepared and served. For example, clinicians like Dr. Laurie Boden at Ethne Clinic have observed that while some diets are iron-rich, babies may only receive broth rather than the meat or iron-containing components. We explore comfort with mashing family meals for infants and ensuring cultural foods are represented in iron education. These sessions deepen understanding while honoring food traditions.
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The cooking demonstration focuses on practical, iron-rich recipes requested by mothers. We demonstrate culturally relevant dishes such as enriched rice, quinoa overnight oats, chickpea-enhanced shorba, and spinach meatballs with iron-fortified pasta. We also address specific interests, such as using an oven more confidently. The session creates space for mothers to ask broader nutrition questions while learning hands-on strategies to increase iron intake.
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Videos were chosen because women consistently identified them as the most effective way to share information within their communities. Platforms like YouTube make the content easily accessible and familiar. The videographer adapted to cultural needs, such as using voice-overs when Afghan participants preferred wearing masks during filming. This flexible, culture-centered approach ensured comfort, representation, and accessibility while maintaining educational quality
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The snack table addresses questions raised by mothers about packaged foods and children’s snacks. Created by our global pediatric resident, Karin, it highlights iron-rich snack options and demonstrates different food textures and consistencies. We discuss safe feeding practices, including choking hazards and allergen introduction. The table also encourages feeding time as an exploratory and positive experience for both parent and child, while clarifying which snacks may be less nutritious.
Measuring Effectiveness
To understand whether Healthy Beginnings was working, we conducted a mixed-methods evaluation with 40 mothers from Afghan, Burmese, and Congolese communities, recruited through the Refugee Women’s Network MothersxMothers, Wellness group, and Ethne Health Clinic. Participants completed surveys before and after watching the videos, and six focus groups explored how they experienced them. The share of participants who said they knew “a lot” about iron deficiency anemia and iron-rich foods rose from 22% to 74%. Mothers found the videos understandable, culturally appropriate, and worth sharing with other families, and they offered ideas for improving recipes and expanding social media outreach.
What Mothers Have to Say
“I have all the programs we did on my mind when I'm cooking. There's a lot of changes that came. I'm looking at what I add, and what ingredients have which benefits"
"I am pregnant, and I am using more iron rich recipes, and I feel good"
-Healthy Beginnings Mothers
"I am also a new mom. I am learning which food is good for my kids, especially the essentialness of iron and which food has iron”
Interested In supporting this Work?
We welcome conversations with individuals and organizations who are passionate about improving child health outcomes. Please contact us to learn more about partnership and funding opportunities.
To contact us please email Temple Moore, Director of Community Wellness, at temple.moore@riwn.org
Healthy Beginnings Partners
Global Health Office of Pediatrics at Emory
Healthy Beginnings was made possible by the mothers from Afghan, Burmese, and Congolese communities who shared their experience, recipes, and wisdom, and by the volunteers and partners who gave their time and energy