Overview
For this first milestone, due in Module Two, you will summarize the program and community that you chose to focus on for your final project. You should describe the program in terms of the theoretical basis and evidence base for program effectiveness. Community needs will be described in terms of socio-demographic characteristics, the distribution of the health issue, and disparities and social determinants that impact risk and health outcomes. The purpose of this activity is to provide the program and community context for your final project, the mock program evaluation plan.
Prompt
First, provide an overview of the selected program and the public health issue targeted by the program. Next, you will research the community characteristics and health needs that will be addressed by the program. Include a review of the theoretical basis for the program and available scholarly evidence in support of the program effectiveness. See the critical elements below for an outline of the questions you should answer in this milestone paper.
- Introduction:
- Describe the CDC program and community selected for the evaluation and the public health issue addressed by the program.
- Describe the “logic model” for your program components. (Refer to the CDC evaluation guide for examples of written and visual descriptions of the relationships among program components.)
- Identify community stakeholders for this program evaluation.
- Provide an overview of the public health issue targeted by the program using current published literature. Support your response with any relevant programs, evaluations, campaigns, and/or studies that have addressed your selected issue. This should include community socio-demographic characteristics, target populations, and description of the distribution of the targeted health conditions in this community.
- Discuss what you are hoping to accomplish or determine by conducting an evaluation of the selected program and what audience(s) this evaluation would be most relevant for.
- Develop goals for conducting your evaluation. Justify the appropriateness and relevance of your goals using current published literature.
- Explain the social theories or health behavior models that apply to this program model.
- Describe how health disparities will impact the conduct of this program evaluation.
- Describe how social determinants of health in the selected community will impact the conduct of this program evaluation.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The program selected for evaluation is a community-based initiative by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that aims to address the public health issue of childhood obesity. The program focuses on implementing interventions at the community level to promote healthy eating and physical activity among children and adolescents.
The logic model for this program includes various components such as community partnerships, school-based interventions, policy changes, and environmental modifications. These components are interconnected and work together to create an environment that supports and promotes healthy behaviors for children and adolescents.
The community stakeholders for this program evaluation include local health departments, schools, community organizations, parents, healthcare providers, and policymakers. These stakeholders play a crucial role in the success of the program and its evaluation.
Overview of the public health issue:
Childhood obesity is a significant public health issue with long-term consequences for the health and well-being of individuals and communities. According to current published literature, childhood obesity rates have been steadily increasing in many communities, particularly among low-income and minority populations.
In the chosen community, socio-demographic characteristics reveal a high prevalence of poverty, limited access to healthy foods, and limited opportunities for physical activity. The target population for this program is children and adolescents aged 2-18 years. The distribution of childhood obesity in this community is disproportionately higher among minority populations and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Evaluation goals and audience:
The primary goal of conducting an evaluation of this program is to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. By conducting this evaluation, we hope to determine the impact of the program on childhood obesity rates, as well as understand the factors that contribute to its success or limitations.
The evaluation would be most relevant for community stakeholders, including local health departments, schools, community organizations, parents, healthcare providers, and policymakers. These stakeholders can utilize the evaluation findings to make informed decisions about program implementation, allocation of resources, and policy changes to address the issue of childhood obesity.
Relevance of goals:
The goals for conducting this evaluation are justified and appropriate based on current published literature. Previous evaluations of similar programs have shown positive outcomes in terms of reducing childhood obesity rates and improving health behaviors among children and adolescents. By aligning our goals with these findings, we can ensure that our evaluation is informed by the existing evidence and contributes to the body of knowledge in this field.
Application of social theories and health behavior models:
This program model aligns with various social theories and health behavior models that explain and predict behavior change. The socio-ecological model, for example, acknowledges that individual behavior change is influenced by multiple levels including the individual, interpersonal, community, and societal levels. The program components address these various levels by targeting individuals, families, schools, and community environments to create sustainable behavior change.
Impact of health disparities and social determinants:
Health disparities play a crucial role in shaping the conduct of this program evaluation. The higher prevalence of childhood obesity among minority populations and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds highlights the need for a comprehensive and culturally sensitive approach. The evaluation must consider the unique challenges faced by these populations and address the underlying social determinants of health that contribute to health disparities.
Additionally, social determinants of health in the selected community, such as access to healthy foods, safe environments for physical activity, and economic opportunities, will impact the conduct of the program evaluation. These factors need to be considered when designing and implementing interventions, as well as evaluating their effectiveness in addressing the public health issue of childhood obesity.
