Developing CATCH Evaluation Tools for School Personnel

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston: University of Texas Prevention Research Center

Topics:
School Health

Schools that implement health promotion programs often do not have the expertise or resources to evaluate them. Researchers are developing a ready-to-use evaluation module for school personnel to assess the implementation and effects of a center-supported school-based nutrition and physical activity program for elementary school children, Coordinated Approach to Child Health—CATCH (see Texas Schools Are Adopting CATCH—A School Nutrition and Physical Activity Program). CATCH is used in more than 1,500 schools in Texas and is currently evaluated by the center. The CATCH Evaluation Module will enable school personnel to apply user-friendly, valid, and cost-effective instruments and procedures for assessing the outcomes and process of implementing CATCH and, possibly, other school-based health promotion programs.

The new module will contain instructions for creating an evaluation plan, forms and procedures for conducting measurements, and a process for reporting program results and recommendations. The assessment, to be determined with input from teachers and school administrators, may include before and after measures of students’ body mass index, physical activity levels, and dietary habits; school physical activity and food policies; school food service menus and recipes; physical activity levels in school classes; and processes used to implement the CATCH curriculum. The module will be tested in two elementary schools. If successful, final revisions will be made, and as requested by teachers, the CATCH Evaluation Module will be made available on CD-ROM and for downloading from the CATCH Web site.

 

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