Presentation to the Bloustein Public Health Symposium depicting my work on a pilot public health program, integrating previous research on implementation theory and evaluation methods for effective public health programs. I was the lead on this project, and developed a cirriculum to test out and evaluate on a comparable age group prior to the launch of the camp to evaluate aspects that would be integrated into the program, and also to access needs of the demographic.

1. Camp Inspire: A Pilot Nutrition Camp for Youth
Laura Cohen, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital- Community Health Promotion Program
Purpose
• To develop an educa-onal one week summer camp for children aged 10‐12 who
are at risk for diabetes
• To develop educa-onal programming for the camp through research and prac-ce
modules on a pilot group of children
• To teach about a healthy diet and exercising
Significance
• To educate children in the community about how a healthy lifestyle can
prevent diabetes, a disease prevalent in their family
• To provide children and their families with informa-on about how they can
live a healthy lifestyle given the resources in their community
• To focus on an important demographic to prevent obesity, and
subsequently try to prevent onset of diabetes:
‐NHANES (Na-onal Health and Nutri-on Examina-on Survey)
es-mated in 2008 that 17 percent of children are overweight
‐The childhood age group with the largest percentage, in 2008,
of obesity was that of 7‐12 year olds, with 19.6 percent obese
‐Approximately 80% of children who are overweight at aged
10–15 years will be obese adults at age 25 years
‐ Hispanic children are nearly twice as likely to be overweight
than non‐ Hispanic children.
‐ Hispanic/La-no Americans are 1.7 -mes more likely to have
diabetes as non‐Hispanic whites.
Clients/loca?on
• For Camp Inspire: Medically underserved members (Eric B. Chandler clinic
pa-ents) aged 10‐12 from the New Brunswick area that are at risk for
diabetes.
• For the prac-ce nutri-on module sessions: Medically‐underserved New
Brunswick children aged 10‐12 that are enrolled in the aWer‐school arts
academy
• Based on the demographics of New Brunswick, clients tend to be
predominantly Hispanic
Methods
• Develop educa-onal modules based on public health prac-ce
• Test the modules in a 3 part, once a week series, during the month of April for local
students of the same demographic to pilot the modules that will be used for the camp
• Will evaluate family and individual ea-ng behaviors to iden-fy target areas
• Research Implementa-on Theory to devise meaningful evalua-on from campers and
parents of the camp and analyze the camp’s long‐term sustainability
• Will apply Public Health concepts about nutri-on and link to obesity‐related diseases to find
age appropriate way to impact nutri-on in lower income families
• Analyze module feedback evalua-ons to develop Camp Inspire curriculum
Implementa?on Research‐ the systema-c study of how a specific set of strategies are used
to successfully integrate and produce an evidence based public health interven-on
Evaluate before implemen?ng: 1) Readiness Of Prac??oners (Prac-ce A`tude Scale),
organizers, and community 2) Prepara?on 3) Sustainability
Evaluate aJer implemen?ng
Feasibility
Fidelity
Penetra-on
Acceptability
Sustainability
Uptake
Costs
Evalua?ons
Areas Evaluated by surveys distributed to students:
Abendance
Pre/post knowledge
Ea-ng/Exercise Behavior Ques-ons
Age appropriateness
Sugges-ons and overall feedback
Staff Surveys for Camp Inspire & Nutri?on Modules: if public health knowledge &
methods were properly imparted through the programs, sustainability, improvement,
ability to adhere to proven didac-c methods, ability to follow up with students
Outcomes
The above charts explain data from only one of the three modules. On average, 8‐10
students abend. Pre‐and Post evalua-on data depicts the knowledge gained over the
course of the program. 70 Percent rated the program as excellent. More than half
the students indicated having daily family dinners and daily amounts of 60 minutes
of exercise, which was surprising. Less was expected in this community.
Personnel
Thank you to Yesenia Hernandez and Mariam Merced for their help,
guidance, and commitment to the community!
Looking Forward
Evalua-ons gathered from students, along with staff feedback, will determine which modules will
become part of the Camp Inspire curriculum. The camp, set to occur in Late June/Early July will
have the same demographic of students as the 3 nutri-on modules and will be limited by the same
resources and staff, ac-ng as a good indicator of the camp’s success.
Curriculums
Class Curriculum:
‐icebreaker/age appropriate way to introduce oneself
‐pre and post evalua-ons
‐nutri-on class/group work/project
Class 1: Reading a nutri-on label, importance of fresh foods, demonstra-ons & group work
Goal: To have the knowledge to differen?ate between health value of various foods
Class 2: Exercise ac-vity/not all exercise involves a gym, nutri-on jeopardy quiz game
Goal: Promote 60/day of exercise and teach details of importance of various nutrients and
which foods are the source of specific nutrients
Class 3: Cooking show using group work to prepare various healthy no‐cook snacks, groups must
calculate calories based on servings, and must teach others how to cook the snack
Goal: make easy no‐cook snacks using products that are easily affordable or found at local food
pantry, have children understand how to measure servings of the snack, and have the ability to
teach it to others, specifically parents.
Subjec?ve Responses
Favorite Parts (selected answers)
‐Playing tv tag exercise game
‐Jeopardy game
‐Cooking healthy snacks
‐Ge`ng lots of nutri-on ques-ons correct
What I learned today (selected answers)
‐Sodium is like salt and you shouldn’t eat too much
‐Calcium is good for you and where you can find it
‐How to pick the healthiest snack
‐Why we should read the ingredients