Online Program

282858
Development and design of a tri-state coordinated school health program to reduce childhood obesity: The heroes initiative


Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 10:30 a.m. - 10:42 a.m.

Mindy King, PhD, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Alyssa M. Lederer, MPH, CHES, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Danielle Sovinski, MPH, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Heidi Knoblock, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Rhonda Meade, MS, Welborn Baptist Foundation, Inc., Evansville, IN
Dong-Chul Seo, PhD, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health - Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Nayoung Kim, MA, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Background: The HEROES (Healthy, Energetic, Ready, Outstanding, Enthusiastic Schools) Initiative is a childhood obesity prevention program, based on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Coordinated School Health Model (CSHM), implemented in schools in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. Purpose: To describe the development, implementation, and results of the HEROES Initiative, including its conceptual model and evaluation framework. Significance: The HEROES Initiative is a multi-level longitudinal intervention with a rigorous evaluation framework that has been found to facilitate behavior change and weight loss among children. Studies have called for disseminating formative information about program development of effective programs, which this presentation aims to do. Methodology: Through the application of an academic-community partnership, the HEROES Initiative is evaluated through a two-tiered approach that assesses the implementation of the CSHM framework and the extent to which students change their nutrition and physical activity behaviors and show changes in biometric indicators such as body mass index. Findings/Results: Z-score calculations showed that the proportion of students who were overweight after 18 months of the intervention was lower than the percentage at the beginning of the intervention (p=.006). In addition, students showed positive improvements in multiple nutrition and physical activity behaviors (p<.05 for all behaviors). Conclusions/Recommendations: Through the provision of an empowering infrastructure and ongoing technical assistance, students and staff in HEROES schools have taken ownership of innovative and data-driven programming that is beginning to improve children's health and well-being.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
Identify the elements of the Coordinated School Health Model (CSHM) included in the HEROES Initiative. Differentiate between the data collection strategies used in the process and outcome evaluation efforts of the HEROES Initiative. Describe the design and implementation elements of the HEROES Initiative that contribute to its success.

Keyword(s): School-Based Programs, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator of the evaluation of this and other school-based wellness programs.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.