About one in three high school students reported getting insufficient physical
activity. Physical activity levels begin to decline, particularly for females,
around age 12, making this a critical goal for youth programs (14, 15).
Although there are many programs that focus on improving the health habits of
youth, some are more effective than others. Many nutrition education programs
have focused just on increasing knowledge about healthy dietary patterns. Yet
increased knowledge alone does not correspond well to better eating or physical
activity patterns (15, 16). Research shows that successful nutrition and
physical activity programs have clear program objectives and address each of
the following factors (14, 17-25):
Influencing Factors
Influencing factors are the key factors that influence the behavior patterns of
youth. Programs should consider these factors to guide the strategies chosen
for the grant program proposal. Consider factors from the following three
domains:
Personal factors include the target audience’s
values, knowledge, perceptions, and benefits of the desired behaviors. Consider
the following questions during program development:
-
What does the target audience value more in their lives than healthy eating and
physical activity?
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What does the target audience already know or not know about physical activity
and healthy eating?
-
What are their perceptions of exercise and healthy eating and how could the
program make them more positive?
-
What are reasons the target audience would want to eat well and be physically
active?
Behavioral factors influence and support the
programs desired behavior changes. Two key concepts in this area are skills
building and intentions to engage in a particular behavior. Questions to ask in
program development include:
-
What is your target audience already doing that might be compatible (or
incompatible) with healthier eating and physical activity patterns and how can
the program help change that?
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What specific skills do they need to learn and practice in order to adopt the
promoted behaviors?
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Can you provide some incentives or rewards to attract and encourage them to
adopt the behaviors you are seeking to change?
-
Would other programmatic strategies, such as commitments, pledges or goal
setting, help promote a young person’s intentions to change eating and activity
patterns?
Social/environmental factors promote change in
a young person’s environment at school, home, or in the community in order to
enhance the process of making behavior changes. They include the importance of
using role models, increasing social support, and creating opportunities to
support healthy behavior change. Consider these questions while developing your
program:
-
Can the program involve specific role models that would be interesting or
attractive to the target audience?
-
How could parents and peers be used to provide social support for those in the
program?
-
How can you increase the opportunities for your target audience to eat a
balanced diet and engage in more physical activity?
In addition to these influencing factors, effective programs should be anchored
in models of behavior change (17). Several large research projects have
demonstrated success in changing young people’s eating and physical activity
patterns based on these models. Through the General Mills Champions for Healthy
Kids initiative, grant applicants will be able to have access to information
and resources from these model programs that can be used to replicate program
components, or develop new ideas for effective programs. The Resources section
of the Champions Grant website provides a complete description of these model
programs.
SELECTION AND JUDGING CRITERIA
Selection Criteria
Requirements
Proposals need to meet the following requirements in order to be considered:
-
Organizations must be non-profit or not-for-profit organizations and have
501(c)(3) or 509(a) status. Local organizations that work with youth are
encouraged to apply because their programs are more likely to be sustainable.
These may include park districts, health departments, government agencies,
Native American tribes, municipal organizations, churches, schools, YMCA’s,
Boys & Girls clubs, and so on.
-
The target audience must be youth between the ages of 2-18.
-
A Registered Dietitian (RD) or Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) must
either be directly involved or serve as an advisor to the program to ensure the
accuracy of program information. To locate a dietetics professional in your
area, go to www.eatright.org and click on “Find a Nutrition Professional.”
-
The proposal must have at least one nutrition objective and at least one
physical activity objective.
-
The proposal must reflect recommended practices of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines
for Americans, the American Dietetic Association, the Center’s for
Disease Control, and the President’s Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness
Awards program.
-
Applicants must follow the grant proposal guidelines in the RFP and have read
the entire background and resource information prior to applying.
-
Grant winners must sign the Program Implementation Agreement before grant money
will be provided.
-
Grant winners must agree to complete and submit a Final Evaluation Form.
-
Programs must be implemented within one year and completed by September
1, 2010.
Judging:
The Selection Committee is made up of representatives from the American
Dietetic Association Foundation, the General Mills Foundation, and other
qualified nutrition and fitness experts. Grants will be awarded to proposals
that demonstrate the greatest need, the most innovation, and the greatest
likelihood of sustaining an impact on the groups they are serving.
Further description on how the Selection Committee will assess
these overarching criteria is as follows:
Greatest Need
-
Demonstrates need for funding
-
Addresses both nutrition and physical activity needs
-
Targets at-risk youth populations
-
Targets under-served youth populations
Most Innovation
-
Proposes creative and fiscally responsible use of budget
-
Includes creative program reach, duration, and intensity
-
Incorporates innovative enhancement of existing or model programs
-
Incorporates appropriate program evaluation methods
Greatest Likelihood of Sustainable Impact
-
Exhibits greatest likelihood of sustainability once the grant period is over
(program and behaviors)
-
Well-chosen program objectives
-
Implemented using model programs or components from model programs
-
Executed in appropriate program setting
-
Includes comprehensive program reach, duration, and intensity
-
Demonstrates significant potential impact on at-risk youth groups or large
populations of youth
-
Is consistent with recommended practices for nutrition and physical activity in
youth
-
Demonstrates cost effective use of budget and resources
GRANT PLANNING GUIDANCE
In addition to addressing the required elements listed in the judging criteria
above, proposals that succinctly describe how the program will positively
impact nutrition and physical activity behaviors will receive greater
consideration. This section offers specific information and ideas to support
the development of a high quality program that addresses the key components
that will be judged as part of the Champions Grant program:
Community Needs Assessment:
Though the grant monies offered through the Champions Grants program are not
intended to conduct a needs assessment of the community, it is necessary to
have a basic understanding of the target population’s nutritional and physical
activity problem, its needs, and the resources available to address those
needs. Most likely the agency you are working for has already conducted a needs
assessment. Identify the gap in the needs assessment you would like your
program to address.
Define Program Goals and Objectives:
Program goals and objectives should provide the overarching framework for the
development of a program plan. Goals are broad statements of desired changes or
outcomes, whereas objectives are specific, measurable action statements that
state what the program will accomplish in the set timeframe. Objectives should
be specific in terms of what they are measuring, such as behavior change,
increased knowledge, etc. A goal might be, “To increase the consumption of
fruits and vegetables,” while an objective would be, “Increase the number of 5
year olds in WIC by 25% over one year, who consume 2 servings of
vegetables/day.”
Develop a Program Plan:
It is not necessary to report in detail the program plan in the Champions Grant
application. However, those developing programs should consider several
relevant factors prior to completing the application such as the target
audience and number of participants expected to participate; staffing needs
like training, space, and number; facility needs, material resources, and
budget allocation; the nutrition and physical activity education component; the
marketing plan; and most importantly, the sustainability of the program.
Target Audience
The target audience is the specific group of people that the program is focused
on. Target audiences can be defined in many ways including age, gender, race,
geographic location, current health behaviors or beliefs, settings, education
level, or other variables.
A primary target audience should be determined before you decide on your
program. The most effective programs tailor the intervention to the specific
target audience instead of trying to reach and influence everyone. Examples of
specific target audiences could include: preschool, elementary, middle, or high
school students; participants in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program;
females in a specific age range, or teens in a specific racial/ethnic group.
In addition to the primary target audience, the secondary target audience
includes others who would be impacted by the program. For example, if the
program targets elementary age children, their families or teachers may also be
impacted.
Program Reach
Reach refers to how many young people or families will be involved in the
program. Identify whether all young people in a given neighborhood, class at
school, or out-of-school group will be involved or only certain targeted
groups. As more young people are involved there are increasing opportunities
for social support, more healthy role models, and the chance that healthy
eating and physical activity can become the "norm."
Program Duration
The program duration is the length of time the program is available to
participants. Successful programs often have a series of events or
opportunities that take place over a period of months so that participants can
be involved for a longer period of time.
Program Intensity
Intensity refers to how often the program makes contact with participants.
Programs that make multiple contacts with participants through education,
reminders, events, and other methods are often more effective. When planning
your program, create multiple opportunities to make contact with the target
audience over a period of time.
Sustainability
Sustainability refers to the ability of the organization to keep all or parts
of the program alive after the grant period has expired. Champions Grants are
intended to provide seed money to initiate new programs or expand existing
programs. The organization receiving the grant, however, must demonstrate how
they will maintain and sustain the program, even after the grant monies have
been used. Community partners, collaborations, sponsors, and other funding
sources can be sought to sustain the program.
Program Setting
Program setting is where the program reaches the target audience, whether that
is in a classroom, a clinic, a restaurant, a playground, a community center, a
school, or any other location where the target audience can be found. When
planning your program consider where you could best reach the audience and
influence behavior.
Cost Effective use of Budget
Budget refers to how the $10,000 grant will be specifically spent. This
includes how much will be spent on materials, equipment, or staff. The interest
of the General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids grants program is in serving
youth and therefore cost effective proposals that keep administrative costs and
overhead low in relation to the number of youth served will be more favorably
evaluated.
Recommended Practices
Recommended practice are the practices and concepts recommended by recognized
health authorities. Proposed programs should reflect the practices and concepts
recommended by:
Model and Packaged Programs in Nutrition and
Physical Activity
Model Programs
Model Programs are those that have been demonstrated by research to be
successful in the behavior of youth. Building on the successes of these
existing programs increases the likelihood that your program will also be
successful. Through the General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids initiative,
the General Mills Foundation, the American Dietetic Association Foundation, and
the President’s Challenge, with help from the University of Minnesota’s
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, have collaborated resources to
develop a list of “model” nutrition and physical activity programs. This list
offers grant applicants the ability to access and replicate components of these
programs to fit your program needs. The following is a list of selected model
programs (22-24):
-
Hearts N’ Parks
-
Pathways
-
President's Challenge
-
SPARK
-
Team Nutrition
-
TEENS
-
The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH)
Packaged Programs
A number of credible health and food organizations offer high quality
educational resources and materials that could be used with or adapted to your
target audience.
-
Body Works
-
Dairy Council
-
Dole 5-A-Day
-
Fitness Gram
-
Go With the Whole Grain
-
Kidnetic
-
Take 10 Dairy
-
USDA Team Nutrition
Reviewing the past Champions grants recipients can also provide ideas for
effective programs. In addition, other innovative programs have not yet been
evaluated or have had only limited evaluation, but may also be appropriate for
the grants program.
More details about these model and packaged programs can be found in the
Resource Guide (link).
PROGRAM EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION
Program Evaluation
Program evaluation means measuring the effectiveness of your program in meeting
specific program objectives. Measures of changes in behavior, knowledge,
awareness, or attitudes of those who participate in the program should be
collected and reported. A description of evaluation methods and tools that will
be used should be included in the proposal (25, 26). Young people, and perhaps
teachers, parents, or other adults, in your program can be surveyed prior to
and after completing the program and asked about behavior change. For example,
if an expected outcome is increased consumption of whole grains, the evaluation
tools and methods should measure whole grain consumption before and after the
program.
Evaluation tools can also measure the participants' intent to change behavior
rather than actual behavior change like whole grain consumption. For example, a
post program survey could ask participants, “As a result of participating in
this program, how likely are you to choose whole grain cereals?”. This is a
measure of behavioral intent to change.
Excellent resources, sample methods, and questions to evaluate both nutrition
and physical activity programs are included in the
Resources section (link).
Program Evaluation and Documentation Requirements
Basic evaluation requirements
The goal of the General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids grants is to support
innovative programs that help improve the eating and physical activity patterns
of young people ages 2-18. In order to effectively support current and future
grants, each grant recipient will be required to share information with General
Mills Foundation before, during and after the grant period. Additional details
about evaluation can be found in the
Evaluation Expectations section of this website.
Documentation requirements
To document program activities and share experiences, each grant recipient is
required to take photographs of program events. Professional photography is not
expected. Pictures should be snapshots of young people participating in the
program. Permission should be obtained, in writing, from those who are
photographed.
Summary
The need for improved nutrition and fitness among American youth is evident.
Youth need optimal nutrition and fitness for growth and development during
childhood and adolescence, as well as for their long-term health. The General
Mills Champions for Healthy Kids grants seek to improve the quality of programs
for young people throughout the country by emphasizing programs that are not
only innovative but also are able to achieve changes in young people’s eating
and physical activity patterns. The programs should be based on behavioral
principles and creatively adapted to the target audience in your communities.
