Title: Youth, Health, Extension Marc T' Braverman Program Leader, Extension FCD Oregon State University
1Youth, Health, ExtensionMarc T.
BravermanProgram Leader, Extension FCD Oregon
State University Adjunct ProfessorUC Davis
2Health promotion programs Dimensions of
program complexity
- Program design
- Focus From Individual to Community
- Multiple related outcomes
- Specification of predictive models
3Characteristics of effective health promotion
(i.e., prevention) programs
- Comprehensive
- Varied teaching methods
- Sufficient program dosage
- Theory-driven
- Positive relationships with adults and peers
- Appropriately timed
- Socioculturally relevant
- Incorporates outcome evaluation
- Well-trained staff
- Source M. Nation et al. (2003). What works in
prevention. American Psychologist, 58 (6-7),
449-456.
4Sample components of a community-based health
promotion intervention
- Youth involvement in a participatory educational
program - Parental training or other involvement of parents
- Local media campaign (PSAs promotion of news
coverage) - Youth leadership component (incorporating youth
as change agents) - Advocacy for policy changes (e.g., at school)
- Community coalitions with local organizations and
stakeholders
5Contextual models of behavior change
- Proximal risk and protective factors
- Individual attributes (e.g., vulnerability
factors) - Prevailing elements within multiple environments
- Social environment (e.g., cultural norms)
- Built environment (e.g., parks, activity
centers, hang-outs) - Natural environment (e.g., effects of weather
conditions on physical activity levels)
6Categories of variables in an explanatory model
- Risk factors
- Protective factors
- Vulnerability factors
- Predisposing environmental conditions
7Risk regulator
- A feature of the environment that imposes
constraints and/or opportunities which shape
behavioral risk factors - A mediating structure
- Examples
- Neighborhood conditions (housing quality,
population density) - Presence of parks, restaurants, etc.
- Work conditions, availability of jobs
- Policies controlling access (e.g., to cigarettes)
Source T.A. Glass M.J. McAtee (2006).
Behavioral science at the crossroads in public
health. Social Science and Medicine, 62,
1650-1671
8Example 1 Tobacco
- Track record of educational interventions
- What works (so far)
- Explanatory models multi-factorial
9Example 1 Tobacco
- Track record of educational interventions
- What works (so far)
- Explanatory models multi-factorial
- Youth leadership programs Floridas truth
campaign
10Example 2 Obesity prevention
- Why now? The rise of the obesogenic environment
societal, technological, industrial, commercial,
financial factors (Council on Sports Medicine
and Fitness Council on School Health, 2006) - The social policy setting
- Components Healthy eating physical activity
- Potential risk regulators cultural norms,
availability of technology, laws and policies,
national and local food environment
11Where does Extension fit?
12Extensions role
- Educational programs
- Youth leadership programs
- Promotion of professional expertise information
dissemination - More generally Applied community-based
problem-solving