Project Background

In 2005, the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) launched their Healthy and Active Communities Initiative to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce obesity rates in Missouri. The first phase of funded grants covered a large variety of physical activity and nutrition activities across the MFH service region targeting children and adults. In 2007, MFH moved into their second phase of grant making: Model Practice Building (MPB). Programs that showed potential for being model practices were invited to apply for a MPB grant. The purpose of the grants is to identify model practices for healthy lifestyles which are replicable and sustainable. Twenty MPB grants were awarded for three years. In 2008, MFH funded the MPB evaluation team which is comprised of faculty and staff from CTPR at Washington University in St. Louis and Saint Louis University School of Public Health. The evaluation is led by Nancy Mueller, MPH and Cheryl Kelly, PhD. The primary objectives of the evaluation are to: Increase the evaluation capacity of the MPB grantees through intensive technical assistance and training; and Conduct an external evaluation of the overall MPB initiative.

Evaluation Capacity Building

The MPB evaluation team is working with each grantee to identify their evaluation needs and develop a tailored technical assistance plan. A web-based needs assessment and qualitative interviews were conducted to learn about the programmatic and evaluation activities and identify ways the grantees' evaluations could be strengthened. Program materials and evaluation plans were also reviewed. Based on this needs assessment, the evaluation team will work closely with the grantees over the next three years to enhance and expand their evaluation activities. In addition, the team will provide formal evaluation training opportunities for the grantees throughout the three years.

MPB Initiative Evaluation

Currently, the MPB evaluation team is designing the evaluation plan in collaboration with MFH, grantees, and other stakeholders. The evaluation will measure both process and outcome indicators. Qualitative and quantitative data will be collected. More information regarding the evaluation will be posted in the near future.

Dissemination

The evaluation team has a core philosophy that dissemination is a critical aspect of program evaluation. A multimodal approach to disseminate evaluation findings will be implemented. In addition to traditional evaluation reports provided to grantees and MFH, the team will have regularly scheduled meetings with grantees and MFH to discuss and present evaluation findings. An annual MPB Initiative grantee meeting will be convened to: 1) provide MFH, grantees and evaluators an opportunity to share initiative business and network with each other; 2) disseminate Initiative evaluation updates and findings; and 3) provide training opportunities to grantees and MFH staff.

More Information

To learn more about the Evaluation of the Healthy & Active Model Practice Building Initiative, please contact Virginia Houmes at vhoumes@wustl.edu.