Benchmark Yourself: Providing Practitioners with School Travel Information

Description: 

This research translation project will provide practitioners benchmark data (what the rates of walking and biking are in their state or metropolitan area and how much each safe routes to school (SRTS) intervention changes walking and biking to school) and strategies for incorporating this benchmark information into SRTS programs at their school. Materials will be aimed at practitioners working on SRTS programs, including school staff, community volunteers, parents, and municipal planning and transportation officials.

Products and Dissemination Activities

  • One-pager on SRTS intervention impacts and school travel rates.
  • Infographics to help practitioners establish benchmarks for walking and biking to school regionally.
Principle Investigator Last Name: 
McDonald
Principle Investigator First Name: 
Noreen
Principle Investigator Suffix: 
PhD
Principle Investigator Full Name (Last, First): 
Noreen McDonald
Related Content: 
Award Date: 
04/01/2013
End Date: 
12/14/2013
Sponsoring Organization: 
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Award Amount: 
40,000
Location by State: 
National
Population2: 
School-age Youth (K-12)
Study Type: 
Intervention Evaluation
Topic2: 
Schools
Safe Routes to School
Walking and Biking to School

Ready for Recess Dissemination

Description: 

This research translation project will focus on the dissemination of Ready for Recess (R4R), a program that educates school staff about the importance of facilitating an environment conductive to children’s physical activity and provides methods to modify the environment to increase activity participation in recess. The major objective is to disseminate R4R to audiences that can support or implement policies/best practices for physical activity during recess (superintendents, principals, teachers, recess staff, and other non-profit youth development agencies). Groups that will be contacted include: Action for Healthy Kids, National School Boards Association, American School Health Association, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, National Association of Elementary School Principals, and National Parent Teacher Association.

Products and Dissemination Activities

  • R4R logo and webpage for housing R4R materials.
  • Two Webinars will be developed for the Webpage. One will incorporate information for an administrative audience focused on the importance of PA at recess and key findings from R4R. It will also provide suggestions for ways in which administrators can make simple policy changes at their school, as well as the importance of considering retaining recess and reallocating resources to staff training and recreational equipment. The second webinar will incorporate information for a front-line staff audience focused on the lessons learned from R4R and suggestions for best practices.
  • Downloadable PDFs will be posted to the Webpage and promoted via social media. The PDFs will contain information that target audiences can use to remember best practices, overcome challenges, and access specific instructions about recess activities.
  • YouTube videos will be created at school playgrounds to provide instructional scenarios for improving PA during recess. The videos will also include possible challenges and solutions to overcome those challenges.
  • Social media pages will be created and used to improve awareness and engage audiences in ‘joining the conversation’ about implementing policies related to recess PA.
Principle Investigator Last Name: 
Huberty
Principle Investigator First Name: 
Jennifer
Principle Investigator Suffix: 
PhD
Principle Investigator Full Name (Last, First): 
Jennifer Huberty
Related Content: 
Award Date: 
03/01/2013
Other Investigators: 
Aaron Beighle
End Date: 
12/14/2013
Sponsoring Organization: 
Arizona State University
Award Amount: 
40,000
Location by State: 
Arizona
Nebraska
Population2: 
School-age Youth (K-12)
Study Type: 
Intervention Evaluation
Topic2: 
Schools
Recess

Mississippi In-School Physical Activity Policy Translation

Description: 

This research translation project focuses on the dissemination of effective in-school physical activity (ISPA) policy strategies that support the provision of 150-minutes of ISPA per week for Mississippi elementary school-aged children, particularly among children of low-income communities of color with high rates of childhood obesity and who are at greatest risk for premature obesity-related disease. The primary objective is to bridge communication gaps between state-level personnel and district- and school-level personnel regarding barriers to implementing ISPA policy in compliance with the Mississippi Healthy Students Act. Investigators will reach schools located in the MS Delta that struggle to overcome barriers to providing students with sufficient opportunity for ISPA, and intend to provide a forum for school personnel, state health agencies, independent health organizations and state legislators to communicate research findings and inform decision-making that translates to practice.

Products and Dissemination Activities

  • A policy brief will be created to reflect the outcomes of research and focus group meetings of school administers. The purpose of the policy brief is to disseminate research findings and inform decision-making in MS.
  • A Policy Implementation Guide will be created for use at the district- and school-levels.  The purpose of the guide is to facilitate the process of developing ISPA policy that meets the needs of administrators, educators and students by providing an equitable school environment that fosters the opportunity for every student to be healthy and successful.
  • A meeting will be conducted to disseminate findings and introduce the policy brief to MS legislature, including the Education Sub-Committee.
Principle Investigator Last Name: 
Hallam
Principle Investigator First Name: 
Jeffrey
Principle Investigator Suffix: 
PhD, CHES
Principle Investigator Full Name (Last, First): 
Jeff Hallam
Related Content: 
Award Date: 
03/01/2013
Other Investigators: 
Abigail Gamble, PhD
End Date: 
11/30/2013
Sponsoring Organization: 
The University of Mississippi
Award Amount: 
40,000
Location by State: 
Mississippi
Population2: 
African American
Lower-income Families
School-age Youth (K-12)
Study Type: 
Policy Analysis
Topic2: 
Schools
School Policies

Annual Conference 2014

The conference was held March 9-12, 2014 at the Paradise Point Hotel in San Diego, CA.

The theme of the 2014 conference, “Niche to Norm,” recognized the importance of advancing active living from an emerging research field with limited results and impact to well-accepted findings that regularly guide decision-making across sectors to create more active communities. The 2014 ALR Conference highlighted efforts to take evidence-based interventions mainstream.

Perceived and Observed Neighborhood Indicators of Obesity among Urban Adults

Date: 
06/01/2007
Description: 

Boehmer, T. K., Hoehner, C. M., Deshpande, A. D., Brennan Ramirez, L. K., & Brownson, R. C. (2007). Perceived and Observed Neighborhood Indicators of Obesity among Urban Adults. International Journal of Obesity, 31(6), 968-977.

Related Content: 
Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: The global obesity epidemic has been partially attributed to modern environments that encourage inactivity and overeating, yet few studies have examined specific features of the physical neighborhood environment that influence obesity. Using two different measurement methods, this study sought to identify and compare perceived and observed neighborhood indicators of obesity and a high-risk profile of being obese and inactive. DESIGN: Cross-sectional telephone surveys (perceived) and street-scale environmental audits (observed) were conducted concurrently in two diverse US cities to assess recreational facility access, land use, transportation infrastructure and aesthetics. SUBJECTS: A total of 1032 randomly selected urban residents (20% obese, 32% black, 65% female). ANALYSIS: Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the association (adjusted prevalence odds ratio (aOR)) between the primary outcome (obese vs normal weight) and perceived and observed environmental indicators, controlling for demographic variables. RESULTS: Being obese was significantly associated with perceived indicators of no nearby nonresidential destinations (aOR=2.2), absence of sidewalks (aOR=2.2), unpleasant community (aOR=3.1) and lack of interesting sites (aOR=4.8) and observed indicators of poor sidewalk quality (aOR=2.1), physical disorder (aOR=4.0) and presence of garbage (aOR=3.7). Perceived and observed indicators of land use and aesthetics were the most robust neighborhood correlates of obesity in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The findings contribute substantially to the growing evidence base of community-level correlates of obesity and suggest salient environmental and policy intervention strategies that may reduce population-level obesity prevalence. Continued use of both measurement methods is recommended to clarify inconsistent associations across perceived and observed indicators within the same domain.

Topic: 
Transportation
Pedestrian Facilities
Communities
Zoning and Mixed Land Use
Population: 
Adults
Location by State: 
Georgia
Missouri

Availability of Recreational Resources and Physical Activity in Adults

Date: 
03/01/2007
Description: 

Diez Roux, A. V., Evenson, K. R., McGinn, A. P., Brown, D. G., Moore, L., Brines, S., et al. (2007). Availability of Recreational Resources and Physical Activity in Adults. American Journal of Public Health, 97(3), 493-499.

Related Content: 
Abstract: 

OBJECTIVES: Using data from a large cohort of adults aged 45 to 84 years-old, we investigated whether availability of recreational resources is related to physical activity levels. METHODS: Data from a multiethnic sample of 2723 adult residents of New York City, NY; Baltimore, Md; and Forsyth County, NC, were linked to data on locations of recreational resources. We measured the availability (density) of resources within 0.5 (0.8 km), 1, 2, and 5 miles of each participant's residence and used binomial regression to investigate associations of density with physical activity. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounders, individuals in the tertile of participants residing in areas with the highest density of resources were more likely to report physical activity during a typical week than were individuals in the lowest tertile. Associations between availability of recreational resources and physical activity levels were not present for the smallest area assessed (0.5 miles) but were present for areas ranging from 1 to 5 miles. These associations were slightly stronger among minority and low-income residents. CONCLUSIONS: Availability of resources may be 1 of several environmental factors that influence individuals' physical activity behaviors.

Study Type: 
Correlates
Topic: 
Parks & Recreation
Parks
Trails and Greenways
Communities
Zoning and Mixed Land Use
Population: 
Adults
Location by State: 
Maryland
New York
North Carolina

Sustaining Active-Living Communities Over the Decades: Lessons from a 1930s Greenbelt Town

Date: 
06/01/2008
Description: 

Ahrentzen, S. (2008). Sustaining Active-Living Communities Over the Decades: Lessons from a 1930s Greenbelt Town. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 33(3), 429-453.

Related Content: 
Abstract: 

Greendale, Wisconsin, was intentionally created with many of the design and planning principles that active-living advocates promote today. This case study examines the processes behind sustaining these particular planning and design principles over time in light of economic and regional challenges that have faced not just Greendale but most town centers over the last fifty years. Despite these challenges, the walkable nature of Greendale's center remains strong today, in terms of both activity and community identity. While many circumstances are specific to this particular town, useful lessons can be drawn for those new urbanist (NU) communities being developed in greenfields and suburbs today, many of which are strikingly similar to Greendale - relatively small, low density, and located within metropolitan areas. Greendale's success resulted from (1) attending to the retail/commercial product mix; (2) attracting nonresidents to use the community's retail and public space; and (3) capitalizing on community investment not simply from residents' organizing efforts but, more important in this case, from corporate community involvement by a Greendale business firm whose interests and values coincided with those of the community.

Study Type: 
Case Study
Topic: 
Communities
Zoning and Mixed Land Use
Population: 
Unspecified
Location by State: 
Wisconsin

Understanding and Measuring Bicycling Behavior: A Focus on Travel Time and Route Choice

Date: 
12/01/2008
Description: 

Dill, J., & Gliebe, J. (2008). Understanding and Measuring Bicycling Behavior: A Focus on Travel Time and Route Choice. Portland, OR: Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium.

Related Content: 
Abstract: 

With rates of obesity, heart disease, and related health problems increasing in the U.S., many policy makers are looking for ways to increase physical activity in everyday life. Using a bicycle instead of a motor vehicle for a portion of everyday travel could help address these problems. This research aims to fill a gap in the existing literature on the effect of different types of infrastructure, such as bicycle lanes or paths, on bicycling. The project used global positioning system (GPS) technology to record where a sample of 164 adults in the Portland, OR region rode their bicycles. Data was collected from March through November 2007. The participants in this study were primarily regular bicyclists who usually rode more than one day per week, year-round. This report uses that data to address the four primary sets of research questions: (1) How often, why, when, and where do cyclists ride? How does this vary based upon rider characteristics? (2) How do cyclists’ routes differ from the shortest network distance? (3) What factors influence cyclists’ route choice decisions? How do personal attributes influence these decisions? (4) What is the difference in travel time between bicycling and driving?

Topic: 
Transportation
Roads and Streets
Bike Facilities
Population: 
Adults
Location by State: 
Oregon

Traffic Calming in the United States: Are We Following Europe's Lead?

Date: 
06/01/2008
Description: 

Ewing, R. (2008). Traffic Calming in the United States: Are We Following Europe's Lead? Urban Design International, 13(2), 90-104.

Related Content: 
Abstract: 

In a little over a decade, traffic calming in the United States has expanded from a few scattered programs, with limited scopes and toolboxes, to a mainstream activity of transportation planning. A comparative case study design was used to study 10 early adopters of traffic calming. judged against six traffic calming policies, none of the US programs surveyed has transitioned to a European emphasis on the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists, thereby contributing more directly to the public goals of congestion management, active living, and air quality. However, programs in case study jurisdictions known for their progressive planning cultures have made some progress in this direction.

Study Type: 
Case Study
Topic: 
Transportation
Traffic Calming
Population: 
Unspecified
Location by State: 
Outside of U.S.
National

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