Volume 11 — March 13, 2014
COMMUNITY CASE STUDY
Engaging the Community to Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity Among Houses of Worship
The logic model consists of a series of boxes arranged in 3 columns. The first column is labeled “Inputs,” the second column “Outputs,” and the third column “Outcomes-Impact.” An arrow points from the “Inputs” column to the “Outputs” column, and another arrow points from “Outputs” column to the “Outcomes-Impact column.” The “Inputs” column consists of 1 box and contains a list of 4 items: 1) Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey staff, 2) Funding, 3) Program Materials and Resources, and 4) Community-Based Partners.
The “Outputs” column contains 2 subcolumns of boxes. The first subcolumn is labeled “Activities” and contains 4 boxes with the following text: Box 1) “Technical assistance to houses of worship,” Box 2) “Monthly educational sessions for ambassadors,” Box 3) “Consultations regarding on-site physical activity programming,” and Box 4) “Fresh produce to houses of worship for distribution.” The second subcolumn is labeled “Participation” and contains 1 box with a list of 4 items: 1) Faith leadership, 2) Ambassadors, 3) Congregation members, and 4) Local residents.
The “Outcomes-Impact” column has 3 subcolumns with 4 boxes in each. The first subcolumn is labeled “Short-Term,” the second “Intermediate,” and the third “Long-Term.” The boxes in the “Short-Term” subcolumn contain the following text: Box 1) “Ambassadors gain capacity and data collection skills,” Box 2) “Ambassadors learn about chronic disease and the importance of physical activity and nutrition,” Box 3) “Ambassadors gain skills to implement an on-site physical activity program,” and Box 4) “Ambassadors are motivated to distribute produce.” The boxes in the “Intermediate” subcolumn contain the following text: Box 1) “Ambassadors gain skills in program implementation,” Box 2) “Ambassadors increase education and awareness regarding physical activity and nutrition,” Box 3) “Ambassadors design a plan to implement an on-site physical activity program,” and Box 4) “Ambassadors distribute produce to defined communities.” The boxes in the “Long-Term” subcolumn contain the following text: Box 1) “Houses of worship have members who are skilled in program implementation and evaluation,” Box 2) “Houses of worship sustain programming for their congregation regarding nutrition and chronic disease,” Box 3) “Houses of worship sustain programming regarding physical activity,” and Box 4) “Produce recipients have increased consumption of fruit and vegetables.”
Across the page under all the columns are 2 boxes, 1 of which spans the width of the “Inputs” and “Outputs” columns. This box is entitled “Assumptions.” The second box spans the width of the 3 “Outcomes-Impact” columns and is entitled “External Factors.” The “Assumptions” box contains the following list of 5 items: 1) Resources are available and adequate, 2) Curricula can be developed and delivered effectively, 3) Ambassadors willing and able to attend, 4) Knowledge change leads to behavior change, and 5) Faculty with expertise in physical activity and nutrition will be willing and able to assist with program implementation. Two arrows point up from the “Assumptions” box to the “Inputs” and “Outputs” columns, and 2 arrows point down from the “Inputs” and “Outputs” columns to the “Assumptions” box.
The “External Factors” box contains the following list of 4 items: 1) Establishment of New Brunswick Community Food Alliance to address food security and obesity on local level, 2) Existing coalition of citywide clergy via New Brunswick Tomorrow, 3) New supermarket targeting food deserts (Fresh Grocer) coming to New Brunswick during program implementation period, and 4) Existing local program working with limited resource populations (Faithfully Fit). Two arrows point up from this box to the “Outcomes-Impact” column, and 2 arrows point down from the “Outcomes-Impact” column to the “External Factors” box.
Figure. Body & Soul: A Celebration of Healthy Living and Eating logic model, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 2012.
This is a sample of a promotional card for two Body and Soul-plus events held in December 2011 by Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (formerly known as The Cancer Institute of New Jersey).
The text reads “Join us at an Open House to learn about the Body and Soul-Plus Program and obtain a program application. Body and Soul-Plus: a nutrition education and physical activity program for houses of worship. This event is free but registration is required. Call 732-235-9887 or email cinjoutreach@umdnj.edu by November 23rd to register for one of our Open Houses and receive a permit for free parking. Thursday, December 1, 2011. from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm or Saturday, December 10, 2011 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Douglass College Center, Rutgers University, New Brunswick.”
There is also a QR code that a reader can scan to obtain this information from a website.
The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions.
