- Email: [email protected]
PROJECT ENERGIZE: Getting the message into home
POSTER Abstracts
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through at least 20 selected local governments Statewide from 2009 to 2017. To meld the French methodology with Federal and State healthy weight requirements, OPAL sought to develop a conceptual framework that could sensibly accommodate all aspects of the program. Results: Ten Councils of the 68 South Australian Councils have established OPAL communities. By 2012, 20 Councils will have engaged in OPAL—accounting for approximately 400,000 South Australians (25% of the population). A total of 45 staff (currently 27) will work across the State and more than $20 M will be directly invested in Councils. Of the overall OPAL budget, $4.5 M will go to evaluation of the program. A conceptual framework has been developed that accommodates all aspects of the program. It provides clear direction, allows flexibility for delivery and conveys the complexity of the program in a straightforward manner. Conclusions: South Australia has established a flagship community-based, childhood obesity prevention program—–OPAL. The planning and implementation phase has been successful as progressively more Councils seek to become involved. OPAL’s overall effectiveness will be determined via the independent evaluation starting mid 2011 and concluding 2017. doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2011.08.049 P43 PROJECT ENERGIZE: Getting the message into home McLennan S Kasha Latimer ∗ , Milly Connell, Janine Gilmore Sport Waikato, New Zealand This presentation will describe the Project Energize ‘Tip Sheets’ intervention. Project Energize is a through-school physical activity and nutrition
programme in Waikato primary and intermediate schools. Energize Tip Sheets are colourful magnetic cards with Energize healthy eating and physical activity messages. They are sent home with children with their school newsletter, one per family.(n34,000). The Tip Sheets resulted from evaluation of another Energize programme: the Home Play Challenge (HPC). An original goal of the HPC was to get Energize messages into the home. Focus groups with children, surveys with teachers, parents and Energizers in 2008 indicated that the HPC was not the best way to achieve this. Their suggestions and subsequent investigations with Energize partners lead to the Tip Sheets in 2010. Tip Sheets are delivered twice a term by Energizers to their schools — one with healthy eating messages and the other based on physical activity for the family. A range of survey styles were used to assess the intervention: face to face surveys with parents, small groups with children, electronically with Energizers and informal discussions with school staff. Feedback from all has been positive. Tip Sheets have been well received and are getting Energize messages into the home: 92% of parents surveyed had the Tip Sheets up at home, 82% remembered Tip Sheet messages. Furthermore, Tip Sheet messages are not only being displayed and remembered but are being implemented: 57% of parents indicated changes they have made to their family’s healthy eating or activity as a result of receiving the Tip Sheets. Following the success in 2010, Energize will continue to deliver Tip Sheets to Waikato schools. The Tip Sheets work well to reinforce and support the work Energize does in schools. Areas for further investigation include: frequency and message type, and possible expansion of messages to include asthma and smokefree. doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2011.08.156
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
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through at least 20 selected local governments Statewide from 2009 to 2017. To meld the French methodology with Federal and State healthy weight requirements, OPAL sought to develop a conceptual framework that could sensibly accommodate all aspects of the program. Results: Ten Councils of the 68 South Australian Councils have established OPAL communities. By 2012, 20 Councils will have engaged in OPAL—accounting for approximately 400,000 South Australians (25% of the population). A total of 45 staff (currently 27) will work across the State and more than $20 M will be directly invested in Councils. Of the overall OPAL budget, $4.5 M will go to evaluation of the program. A conceptual framework has been developed that accommodates all aspects of the program. It provides clear direction, allows flexibility for delivery and conveys the complexity of the program in a straightforward manner. Conclusions: South Australia has established a flagship community-based, childhood obesity prevention program—–OPAL. The planning and implementation phase has been successful as progressively more Councils seek to become involved. OPAL’s overall effectiveness will be determined via the independent evaluation starting mid 2011 and concluding 2017. doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2011.08.049 P43 PROJECT ENERGIZE: Getting the message into home McLennan S Kasha Latimer ∗ , Milly Connell, Janine Gilmore Sport Waikato, New Zealand This presentation will describe the Project Energize ‘Tip Sheets’ intervention. Project Energize is a through-school physical activity and nutrition
programme in Waikato primary and intermediate schools. Energize Tip Sheets are colourful magnetic cards with Energize healthy eating and physical activity messages. They are sent home with children with their school newsletter, one per family.(n34,000). The Tip Sheets resulted from evaluation of another Energize programme: the Home Play Challenge (HPC). An original goal of the HPC was to get Energize messages into the home. Focus groups with children, surveys with teachers, parents and Energizers in 2008 indicated that the HPC was not the best way to achieve this. Their suggestions and subsequent investigations with Energize partners lead to the Tip Sheets in 2010. Tip Sheets are delivered twice a term by Energizers to their schools — one with healthy eating messages and the other based on physical activity for the family. A range of survey styles were used to assess the intervention: face to face surveys with parents, small groups with children, electronically with Energizers and informal discussions with school staff. Feedback from all has been positive. Tip Sheets have been well received and are getting Energize messages into the home: 92% of parents surveyed had the Tip Sheets up at home, 82% remembered Tip Sheet messages. Furthermore, Tip Sheet messages are not only being displayed and remembered but are being implemented: 57% of parents indicated changes they have made to their family’s healthy eating or activity as a result of receiving the Tip Sheets. Following the success in 2010, Energize will continue to deliver Tip Sheets to Waikato schools. The Tip Sheets work well to reinforce and support the work Energize does in schools. Areas for further investigation include: frequency and message type, and possible expansion of messages to include asthma and smokefree. doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2011.08.156
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com