Informing Youth Health and Well-Being Programs: A National 4-H Healthy Living Evaluation Study

Authors

  • Donna J. Peterson Mississippi State University
  • Laura H. Downey Mississippi State University
  • JoAnne Leatherman National 4-H Council

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2018.605

Keywords:

healthy living, 4-H, effective programs, environmental scan, evaluability assessment

Abstract

4-H Healthy Living programs address healthy eating; physical activity; social-emotional health and well-being; alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use prevention; and injury prevention. Using the Systematic Screening and Assessment Method, this paper identified 32 4-H Healthy Living programs across the nation ready for comprehensive outcome evaluation and/or national replication based on 6 criteria. Weaknesses in an additional 78 programs that did not meet the criteria were also identified. Programs that failed to meet the criteria did so primarily because they lacked a clearly delineated theory of change or appropriate evaluation. Implications for practice include ways to strengthen program planning and use of a comprehensive evaluation framework. Specific attention is given to professional development for 4-H professionals.

References

Arnold, M. E. (2015). Connecting the dots: Improving Extension program planning with program umbrella models. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 3(2), 48–67. Retrieved from https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/c8fe6e_8dc5ad8ded104e858ee022fb1ff055d8.pdf

Corporation for National and Community Service. (2012). Overview of funding opportunity. Retrieved from http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/12_0210_sif_nofa.pdf

Dawkins, N., Wethington, H., Kettel Khan, L., Grunbaum, J. A., Robin, L., Pitt Barnes, S., . . . Leviton, L. C. (2010). Applying the systematic screening and assessment method to childhood obesity prevention. In L. C. Leviton, L. Kettel Khan, & N. Dawkins (Eds.), The systematic screening and assessment method: Finding innovations worth evaluating. New Directions for Evaluation, 2010(125), 33–49. doi:10.1002/ev.319

Dillman, D. A. (2007). Mail and internet surveys (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Downey, L. H., Peterson, D. J., Donaldson, J. L., & Hardman, A. (2017). An Extension application of the RE-AIM evaluation framework. Journal of Extension, 55(3), Article 3IAW1. Retrieved from https://www.joe.org/joe/2017june/iw1.php

Downey, L. H., Peterson, D. J., Le Menestrel, S., Leatherman, J., & Lang, J. (2015). The systematic screening and assessment method: An introduction and application. Journal of Extension, 53(2), Article 2IAW2. Retrieved from https://www.joe.org/joe/2015april/pdf/JOE_v53_2iw2.pdf

Glasgow, R. E., Vogt, T., & Boles, S. (1999). Evaluating the public health impact of health promotion interventions: The RE-AIM framework. American Journal of Public Health, 89(9), 1322–1327. doi:10.2105/AJPH.89.9.1322

Hill, L., McGuire, J., Parker, L., & Sage, R. (2009). 4-H healthy living literature review and recommendations for program planning and evaluation. Retrieved from http://www.4-h.org/resource-library/professional-development-learning/healthy-living-training-guides-resources/

Kettner, P. M., Moroney, R. M., & Martin, L. L. (2017). Designing and managing programs: An effectiveness-based approach (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Knowlton, L. W., & Phillips, C. C. (2013). The logic model guidebook: Better strategies for great results (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Leviton, L. C., & Gutman, M. A. (2010). Overview and rationale for the systematic screening and assessment method. New Directions for Evaluation, 2010(125), 7–31. doi:10.1002/ev.318

National 4-H Council. (2010). Logic models. Retrieved from https://4-h.org/professionals/professional-development/logic-models/

National 4-H Council. (2012, December 21). Request for proposal for 4-H healthy living program scan and evaluability assessment. Chevy Chase, MD: National 4-H Council.

National 4-H Council. (2016). Grow true leaders: National 4-H Council annual report 2016. Retrieved from https://4-h.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2016-Annual-Report.pdf

National 4-H Healthy Living Task Force. (2009). 4-H healthy living strategic framework for program planning and evaluation. Retrieved from http://www.4-h.org/resource-library/professional-development-learning/healthy-living-training-guides-resources/

Peterson, D. J., Downey, L. H., Leatherman, J., Le Menestrel, S., & Lang, J. (2015). Programmatic environmental scans: A survey based on program planning and evaluation concepts. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 3(3), 143–150. Retrieved from http://media.wix.com/ugd/c8fe6e_4814bc737da246ea96d1d2067328da91.pdf

Rennekamp, R., & Jacobs, C. (n. d.). Program design. Lexington, KY: UK Cooperative Extension Service. Retrieved from https://psd.ca.uky.edu/files/program_design.pdf

Rossi, P. H., Lipsey, M. W., & Freeman, H. E. (2004). Evaluation: A systematic approach (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

United Nations Development Fund for Women. (2009). Guidance notes on carrying out evaluability assessment. Retrieved from http://erc.undp.org/unwomen/resources/guidance/Guidance%20Note%20-%20Carrying%20out%20an%20Evaluability%20Assessment.pdf

Downloads

Published

2018-09-18

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2018): Special Issue on Youth Health and Well-Being

Section

Research & Evaluation Studies

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. The Author retains copyright in the Work, where the term “Work” shall include all digital objects that may result in subsequent electronic publication or distribution.
  2. Upon acceptance of the Work, the author shall grant to the Publisher the right of first publication of the Work.
  3. The Author shall grant to the Publisher and its agents the nonexclusive perpetual right and license to publish, archive, and make accessible the Work in whole or in part in all forms of media now or hereafter known under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License or its equivalent, which, for the avoidance of doubt, allows others to copy, distribute, and transmit the Work under the following conditions:
    1. Attribution—other users must attribute the Work in the manner specified by the author as indicated on the journal Web site;
    with the understanding that the above condition can be waived with permission from the Author and that where the Work or any of its elements is in the public domain under applicable law, that status is in no way affected by the license.
  4. The Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the Work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), as long as there is provided in the document an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  5. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a prepublication manuscript (but not the Publisher’s final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.
  6. Upon Publisher’s request, the Author agrees to furnish promptly to Publisher, at the Author’s own expense, written evidence of the permissions, licenses, and consents for use of third-party material included within the Work, except as determined by Publisher to be covered by the principles of Fair Use.
  7. The Author represents and warrants that:
    1. the Work is the Author’s original work;
    2. the Author has not transferred, and will not transfer, exclusive rights in the Work to any third party;
    3. the Work is not pending review or under consideration by another publisher;
    4. the Work has not previously been published;
    5. the Work contains no misrepresentation or infringement of the Work or property of other authors or third parties; and
    6. the Work contains no libel, invasion of privacy, or other unlawful matter.
  8. The Author agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless from Author’s breach of the representations and warranties contained in Paragraph 6 above, as well as any claim or proceeding relating to Publisher’s use and publication of any content contained in the Work, including third-party content.

Revised 7/16/2018. Revision Description: Removed outdated link.