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Introduction One strategy for lowering the prevalence of obesity is to increase access to and affordability of fruits and vegetables through farmers’ markets. However, little has been documented in the literature on the implementation of such efforts. To address this gap, the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) sponsored an evaluation of the New York City Health Bucks program, a farmers’ market coupon incentive program intended to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in underserved neighborhoods while supporting local farmers. Methods We conducted a process evaluation of Health Bucks program implementation. We interviewed 6 farmer/vendors, 3 market managers, and 4 program administrators, and collected data on site at 86 farmers’ markets, including surveys of 81 managers and 141 farmer/vendors on their perspectives on promotion and redemption of the incentive coupons; knowledge and attitudes regarding the program; experiences with markets and products; and facilitators and barriers to program participation. Results Results indicate that respondents view Health Bucks as a positive program model. Farmers’ market incentive coupon programs like Health Bucks are one strategy to address the problem of obesity and were associated with higher fruit and vegetable access and purchases in low-income communities. Conclusions This evaluation identified some areas for improving implementation of the Health Bucks program. Farmers’ market incentive programs like Health Bucks may be one avenue to increase access to and affordability of fruits and vegetables among low-income persons. Further research is needed to assess the potential effects of these programs on access and health outcomes.

While family engagement at the individual level of health care, such as families partnering with providers in decision-making about health care for an individual child has been well studied, family engagement in systems-level activities (e.g., participation in advisory and other decision-making groups, or creation and revision of policies) that impact the health services families and children receive has not. This note from the field presents a framework that describes the information and supports that help families partner with professionals and contribute to systems-level activities. Without attention to these components of family engagement, family presence and participation may be only token. We engaged an expert Family/Professional Workgroup whose members represented key constituencies and diverse geography, race/ethnicity, and areas of expertise; conducted a review of peer-reviewed publications and grey literature; and conducted a series of key informant interviews to identify best practices for supporting meaningful family engagement at the systems level. Based on an analysis of the findings, the authors identified four action-oriented domains of family engagement and key criteria that support and strengthen meaningful family engagement in systems-level initiatives. Child- and family-serving serving organizations can use this Family Engagement in Systems framework to support meaningful family engagement in the design of policies, practices, services, supports, quality improvement projects, research, and other systems-level activities., Author(s): Beth Dworetzky [sup.1] , Clarissa G. Hoover [sup.1] , Deborah Klein Walker [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) Family Voices, , 561 Virginia Rd, Bldg. 4, Suite 300, 01742, Concord, MA, [...]

Objectives Infant mortality remains a significant public health problem in the U.S. The Collaborative Improvement & Innovation Network (CoIIN) model is an innovative approach, using the science of quality improvement and collaborative learning, which was applied across 13 Southern states in Public Health Regions IV and VI to reduce infant mortality and improve birth outcomes. We provide an in-depth discussion of the history, development, implementation, and adaptation of the model based on the experience of the original CoIIN organizers and participants. In addition to the political genesis and functional components of the initiative, 8 key lessons related to staffing, planning, and implementing future CoIINs are described in detail. Methods This paper reports the findings from a process evaluation of the model. Data on the states' progress toward reducing infant mortality and improving birth outcomes were collected through a survey in the final months of a 24-month implementation period, as well as through ongoing team communications. Results The peer-to-peer exchange and platform for collaborative learning, as well as the sharing of data across the states, were major strengths and form the foundation for future CoIIN efforts. A lasting legacy of the initiative is the unique application and sharing of provisional 'real time' data to inform 'real time' decision-making. Conclusion The CoIIN model of collaborative learning, QI, and innovation offers a promising approach to strengthening partnerships within and across states, bolstering data systems to inform and track progress more rapidly, and ultimately accelerating improvement toward healthier communities, States, and the Nation as a whole., Author(s): Reem M. Ghandour [sup.1] [sup.4] , Katherine Flaherty [sup.2] [sup.3] , Ashley Hirai [sup.1] , Vanessa Lee [sup.1] , Deborah Klein Walker [sup.3] , Michael C. Lu [sup.1] Author [...]

Initiated in 1991, the Federal Healthy Start Program includes 105 community-based projects in 39 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Healthy Start projects work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure participants' continuity of care during pregnancy through 2 years postpartum. This evaluation of Healthy Start projects examined relationships between implementation of nine core service and system program components and improvements in birth and project outcomes. Program components and outcomes were examined using data from a 2010 Healthy Start project director (PD) survey (N = 104 projects) and 2009 performance measure data from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau Discretionary Grant Information System (N = 98 projects). We explored bivariate relationships between the nine core program components and (a) intermediate and long-term project outcomes and (b) birth outcomes. We assessed independent associations of implementation of all core program components with birth outcomes, adjusting for project characteristics and activities. In 2010, 57 projects implemented all nine core program components: 104 implemented all five core service components and 69 implemented all four core systems components. Implementation of all core program components was significantly associated with several PD-reported intermediate and long-term project outcomes, but was not associated with singleton low birth weight or infant mortality among participants' infants. This evaluation revealed a mixed set of relationships between Healthy Start projects' implementation of the core program components and achievement of project outcomes. Although the findings demonstrated a positive impact of Healthy Start projects on birth outcomes, only a few associations were statistically significant., Author(s): Vonna Lou Caleb Drayton[sup.1] , Deborah Klein Walker[sup.2] , Sarah W. Ball[sup.2] , Sara M. A. Donahue[sup.2] , Rebecca V. Fink[sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) Booz Allen Hamilton, One Preserve [...]

Family members can become leaders who are a voice not only for their own family, but also as part of a collective voice to advocate for changes in services, programs, [...]

This article examines the associations among environmental factors, healthy behaviors, and depression in a sample of adults with major disabilities. When sociodemographics and type and level of disability were controlled, environmental factors (e.g., access to care, contacts with friends, and experience of assault) and risk behaviors (e.g., tobacco use, marijuana use, and physical exercise) were significant correlates of depression. Public health practice and research implications are discussed.

Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) should be monitored and evaluated for their care of chronically ill children. Two types of data should be gathered: easily gathered general indicators such as surveys of enrollee satisfaction and more in depth studies such as comparing health outcomes in HMOs versus privately insured families. HMOs should be evaluated and monitored comprehensively and in detail, including such issues as access to care, use of services, quality of care, enrollee and caregiver satisfaction, cost of care, medical outcomes, and the impact of the child's care on the family., Objective. Children with chronic illnesses and disabilities are increasingly enrolling in managed care arrangements. Yet, the rapid expansion of managed care has unknown consequences for children with chronic conditions and disabilities. As managed care is likely to become the predominant mode of medical practice for children with chronic health problems, information gained from a thorough assessment of existing managed care models could be helpful in indicating adjustments and modifications that could result in improved outcomes for this population. The purpose of this article is to outline a new strategy for collecting needed information on the effects of managed care on children with chronic health problems. Methods. We reviewed the literature on the effects of managed care on children with chronic conditions and disabilities. We identified key domains relevant to monitoring and evaluating managed care for this population. Results. Two research approaches can provide helpful information for assessing the effects of managed care on children with chronic conditions. First, a monitoring strategy could be pursued in which enrollment trends in managed care, enrollee perceptions of access and satisfaction with care, and other general indicators of outcomes would be tracked over time using inexpensive and rapid turnaround data sources. Second, an evaluative strategy could be pursued using experimental or quasiexperimental designs, in which outcomes across a variety of domains for children with chronic conditions in managed care are compared with: (a) outcomes for the same children before enrollment in managed care; or (b) outcomes for similar children remaining in traditional fee-for-service settings. Evaluation and monitoring strategies should focus on outcomes in a number of domains including: (1) access to care; (2) utilization of services; (3) quality of care; (4) satisfaction with care; (5) expenditures for care; (6) health outcomes; and (7) family impact. Conclusion. Assessing outcomes that result from enrollment in managed care for children with chronic health problems presents a formidable challenge. The research strategy outlined in this article presents one approach to meeting that challenge. The monitoring and evaluation strategies described here would require commitment of additional resources on the part of government, private foundations, and/or health plans. Given the paucity of existing information and the stakes for children with chronic conditions and their families, investment of added resources in a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation strategy is essential. Pediatrics 1996;98:952-958; children, managed care, chronic illness, disability, HMO., ABBREVIATIONS. HMO, health maintenance organization; NHIS, National Health Interview Survey; HEDIS, Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set MEPS, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey; HCFA, Health Care Financing Administration. Children with [...]

ALTHOUGH INJURY has been recognized as a major public health problem, data on incidence and cost continue to be limited. The lack of complete and accurate data restricts our ability […]

Asthma is a common respiratory disease in children and its incidence is currently increasing. Children afflicted with asthma have an increased incidence of respiratory illnesses which can progress to acute episodes of wheezing with shortness of breath. The causes of asthma in children are not all known, but smoking by parents, especially the mother, appears to be an important contributing factor. The relationship of maternal smoking to prevalence of asthma was studied in 4,331 children from birth to age five; the parents completed questionnaires about their children's health. The results showed a strong correlation between maternal smoking and incidence of childhood asthma, likelihood of taking medication for the asthma, and early age of onset. All children whose mothers smoked were at increased risk for hospitalization, whether or not they had asthma. Among children with asthma, there was no difference in number of hospitalizations based on whether their mothers smoked. The results strongly suggest that physicians should increase antismoking advice and education to pregnant women and mothers of young children, as this may prevent asthma and hospitalizations for asthma and other conditions in their children. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Only a small percentage of all chronically ill children under six are currently enrolled in early education programs. Care of chronically ill children in educational settings often entails the delivery of a variety of related services, including transportation; education-based health services; and speech, physical, and occupational therapies. Policy areas in need of clarification are noted. (Author/CL)

This article provides an overview of the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice, formerly known as Ortho, on its 100th anniversary. The organization has focused on promoting social justice, human rights, and reducing disparities in health and social outcomes. They have engaged in various initiatives, such as advocating for mental health inclusion in international forums, tackling policy issues, and offering conferences and symposia to promote collaboration. The special issue of the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry highlights the organization's history and future directions, covering topics such as mental health policy, interdisciplinary collaboration, social determinants of mental health, and advocacy for specific populations. The authors emphasize the importance of promoting mental health at multiple levels and acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead. [Extracted from the article]

My year as APHA president has flown by quickly and has been extremely invigorating and rewarding. I thank all those who have hosted me at their Affiliate annual meetings and [...]

TO IMPROVE the health of the public during the 21st century, public health practitioners, policy-makers and researchers must incorporate informatics and genomics--two new evolving public health issues--into ongoing planning, programming [...]

The recent budget debates in Congress over the State Children's Health Insurance Program reauthorization remind me of how our country has gone astray in building up the military industrial complex [...]

Recent reports showing that childhood obesity and chronic illness are on the rise serve as a national wake-up call. But who is listening and who is responding? To be competitive [...]

As APHA president, I had the privilege in May to participate in a retreat in Bellagio, Italy, that centered on updating the strategic plan for the World Federation of Public [...]

Mental health and addictions to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs need to be a central concern of public health practitioners, researchers and organizations. Although millions of Americans suffer with the [...]

I am embarrassed and saddened each year when I review how the infant mortality rate for the United States compares with that of other nations. According to the Centers for [...]

During the past decade, the country has faced major emergencies ranging from terrorism to natural disasters. Responses to the anthrax attacks that occurred after Sept. 11, 2001 and Hurricane Katrina [...]

APHA depends upon the active participation of members to get the work of the organization accomplished. In addition to the expertise and skills of our outstanding staff, APHA counts on [...]