Plan program Evaluation

Problem Definition:

Childhood obesity is a health issue that starts at a young age and can eventually progress into adulthood. Obesity is typically heavily influenced by cultural and social norms related to diet, exercise, body image, living situations, and school environments which can affect their ability to make healthy lifestyle choices. This complex disorder can involve biology, societal, and cultural determinants. Obesity is one of the leading causes of chronic illness in the United States, affecting the heart, vision, limbs, and major organs. Serious consequences include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and possibly cancer. Children with obesity are also at higher risk for psychological problems like depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and are more likely to be targets of bullying and social stigma (CDC, 2020).

We focus on the Hispanic/Latino low-income communities as it relates to the children who are affected by this growing disease. Hispanics/Latinos are a fast growing segment of the population and make up 22% of all the children under the age of 18 in the United States.

The household socioeconomic status of Hispanic/Latino children varies by generation, status, with foreign-born children being more likely to live in poverty than third generation children (U.S.-born children of U.S.-born parents)( Fry & Passel, 2009 ). Many Latino children from low-income families live in urban areas where exercising or playing outdoors may not be a suitable option due to safety concerns and a lack of appropriate, clean, and well-maintained play areas (CDC, 2017). Another major contributing factor is limited access to grocery stores with healthy foods. Poverty-ridden areas tend to have more convenience stores carrying snacks, candy, sodas, and junk foods within a five mile radius than supermarkets (Truehaft & Karpyn, 2010). Families without transportation may be compelled to settle for these unhealthy options due to convenience and proximity (CDC, 2017).

Focusing on the health of Hispanic/Latino youth is of relevance because as wealth of research indicates that the health status of children and adolescent’s influences health during adulthood (Braveman & Barclay, 2009.) Hispanic/Latino youth remains high. In particular, the prevalence of obesity among Hispanic/Latino children 6–11 years old is twice as high as the prevalence for non-Hispanic White children of the same age, but among 2–5 years old is 4 times higher than their non-Hispanic White counterparts ( Ogden et al., 2014 ). Severe obesity is more common among Hispanic/Latino youth than non-Hispanic whites, and this disparity emerges as early as kindergarten ( G. Flores & Lin, 2013 ).

The focus of the program is for children aged 5-12 years with obesity. However, we choose to use the implementation of this program toward children 6-11 years instead due to the amount of research acquired, which shows this age demographic is much more vulnerable to this health risk. Healthy Eating Lifestyle Program (HELP) is a program we highly recommend because it can help the Hispanic/Latino youth community with tools for prevention toward obesity. By implementing this program for children at risk of being obese and/or overweight. H.E.L.P is a control plan created to assist kids and their households to foster a new, better eating behavior, and improve their physical activity practices. The program maintains long-term lifestyle modifications rather than short-term diets. This program is selected above others because it involves both children and their parents/guardians into the educational environment. It involves informative workshops, nutrition tips, and fitness fundamentals. In addition, it has easy access, user friendly to all ages, and the program is free compared to others. It’s also beneficial for the low-income Hispanic/Latino youth population aged 6-11 years. HELP provides an array of workshops, including five weekly two-hour sessions.

HELP is a program implemented in Los Angeles, designed by specialists from the California Hospital Medical Center. We plan to use this program and modify it in a way that can expand to all of California, targeting every single county that houses communities of Hispanic/Latino families. The main modification is outreaching these educational classes to local communities through schools and community centers to help create the knowledge these families need to find affordable and accessible nutritious food. Trained staff will conduct these sessions and community members can get involved by spreading word through flyers at grocery stores, schools, centers, parks etc. They can also help with translation for non-english speakers and be additional support in sessions. Families will feel more comfortable to join and listen if they see people they know be active in this program. Besides diet, families will also learn about recreational activities their children can participate in the community to encourage physical activity and help lose weight. These educational sessions can be primarily parent conferences, but children can partake in physical activity classes at recreational facilities. Originally, HELP had five weekly two-hour sessions, but we plan to expand these weekly two-hour sessions for six months instead. A special modification we plan to implement in our program is providing information in these educational sessions about farmer’s market events where families can shop for healthy foods at reasonable prices in their reach. We will explain when the events are happening and where so families can plan ahead. Farmer markets are usually known to bring people in the community together for local fruits and veggies, along with giving exposure to small businesses.

Health problem:

High obesity rates among children 6-11 years old in Hispanic/Latino low-income communities.

Risk factors:

Unhealthy eating behavior, lack of access and awareness to healthy foods, lack of physical activity.

Target population:

Low-income Hispanic/Latino families with children 6-11 years old.

Goal:

Improve community members’ abilities to find and incorporate fruit and vegetables in children diets and improve physical activity to reduce obesity rates in Hispanic/Latino children.

Process Objective:

By March/2021, 5% of H.E.L.P program trainers will implement an outreach program to vulnerable local communities in the state of California and provide educational workshops for Hispanic/Latino low-income parents and their children 6-11 years old. Each family will be given information and guidelines for accessing healthy food options for making beneficial dietary changes, while incorporating a physically active lifestyle.

Short-term Outcome Objectives:

By 6 months, at least 2% of parents in all local Hispanic/Latino communities in California exposed to the educational workshops regarding healthy diets will communicate and report knowledge of recreational programs and facilities available in their local areas for free and/or reduced cost and how to access them.

Children and family members will gain knowledge and skills on how to prevent childhood obesity and parents will be motivated to change eating habits and living styles to prevent childhood obesity.

Intermediate Outcome Objectives:

By 1 year, Hispanic/Latino children exposed to H.E.L.P will increase consumption of fruits and vegetables and reduce intake of fatty, high sugar and other processed food by 5%, while engaging in moderate-vigorous physical activity at least 1 hour a day, 3 days a week will also increase by 5%.

Long-term Outcome Objectives:

The prevalence of obesity among Hispanic/Latino children 6-11 years of age in California will be reduced by 5% in 5 years and improve health outcomes to reduce obesity rates in Hispanic/Latino children.

Please help plan our Evaluation about the program we choose above:

How to Plan your Evaluation?

1. What is your study population? People, schools, cities, communities etc. number, demographics (e.g., age, gender, race/ethnicity). Consider operational definitions when needed.

For example :(Our study population consists of low income latino families in California of which their kids fall within the age range of 6 to 11. )

Explain more

2. What is/are the variable/s you need to assess to evaluate EACH of your objectives?

Per each identified variable, please indicate its type (e.g., dependent variable)

Short Term

1. By 6 months, at least 2% of parents in all local Hispanic/Latino communities in California exposed to the educational workshops regarding healthy diets will communicate and report knowledge of recreational programs and facilities available in their local areas for free and/or reduced cost and how to access them.

2. Children and family members will gain knowledge and skills on how to prevent childhood 2. obesity and parents will be motivated to change eating habits and living styles to prevent childhood obesity.

Objective 1: increase access to fruit and vegetables

Independent variable: information about neighborhood farmer’s market locations/dates/times, etc.

dependent variable: number of meals prepared containing fruits and veggies each day or week?

Objective 2: increase physical activity

Independent variable: information about physical activity recommendations from CDC/DPH

·

Dependent variable: number of times per week children engage in physical activity for 1 hour or more (or is it 30 mins?)

Intermediate

Objective 1: By 1 year, Hispanic/Latino children will increase consumption of fruits and vegetables and reduce intake of fatty, high sugar and other processed food while engaging in moderate-vigorous physical activity at least 1 hour a day, 3 days a week will increase by 5%.

Objective 2: By 1 year, Hispanic/Latino children exposed to H.E.L.P will increase consumption of fruits and vegetables and reduce intake of fatty, high sugar and other processed food by 5%, while engaging in moderate-vigorous physical activity at least 1 hour a day, 3 days a week will also increase by 5%.

Long-term:

Objective: The prevalence of obesity among Hispanic/Latino children 6-11 years of age in California will be reduced by 5% in 5 years and improve health outcomes to reduce obesity rates in Hispanic/Latino children.

4. What are the operational definitions of your study variables? E.g., a score test for leadership skills

5. What variables would you consider as important control variables

6. What Is Your Evaluation Design?(e.g.,True Experimental design)

We choose - Non-experimental Design

explain why

7. Given your evaluation design and objectives,at what point in time would you need to assess each variable? (e.g., month/year)

8. How would you measure each of your variables as part of your evaluation? Please consider what method you will use (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, surveys, observations, interviews) and what specific measures, scales, or questions you would use

The method we prefer is survey.