THE LONG-TERM GOALS OF THIS INTEGRATED PROJECT ARE TO: 1) PREVENT AND REDUCE CHILDHOOD OBESITY THROUGH IMPROVED PARENTING PRACTICES AND HOME ENVIRONMENT RELATED TO OBESITY;2) EXPAND EXTENSION CAPACITY FOR COMMUNITY-ENGAGED RESEARCH AND COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMMING WITH FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS; 3) ENHANCE EXTENSION STRATEGIES FOR RECRUITING AND TRAINING COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO EXTEND EXTENSION REACH; AND 4) TRAIN FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH PROGRAMS. RESEARCH, EXTENSION AND EDUCATION OBJECTIVES SUPPORT EACH GOAL. THE PROJECT ADDRESSES THE AFRI PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY FOR APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO PREVENT CHILDHOOD OBESITY (CHILDHOOD OBESITY PREVENTION CHALLENGE AREA). THE PROJECT WILL TARGET THE SCHOOL-AGED SUBSET (AGES 6-10, FIRST THROUGH FIFTH GRADE) OF THE TARGET AGE RANGE OF AGES 2-19. THE 14-MONTH RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL DESIGN OF THE RESEARCH COMPONENT WILL GENERATE NEW KNOWLEDGE REGARDING EFFECTIVENESS OF A INTEGRATED FAMILY-BASED INTERVENTION ENHANCED WITH SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL (CHURCH) SUPPORT TO PREVENT OBESITY IN SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES VIA THE COMMUNITY-ENGAGED APPROACH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BLACK CHURCHES. THE INTERDISCIPLINARY AND CROSS-PROGRAM NATURE OF THE PROJECT PROMOTES ATTENTION TO OTHER AFRI PRIORITIES INCLUDING INTEGRATION OF RESEARCH, EXTENSION AND EDUCATION COMPONENTS AND INVOLVEMENT OF 4-H AND EXTENSION. UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM TWO LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES WILL BE TRAINED ON BEST PRACTICES FOR COMMUNITY-ENGAGED RESEARCH AND OUTREACH. STANDARD EXTENSION PROGRAM EVALUATION IN ADDITION TO RESEARCH DATA WILL PROVIDE MAXIMUM BENEFIT TO EXTENSION PROGRAMS AND PERSONNEL BY PROVIDING IMPACT DATA FOR ANNUAL REPORTING, FURTHER SUPPORTING THE EXTENSION COMPONENT OF THE INTEGRATED PROJECT.