Formative evaluation results from the Mariner Project: a coordinated school health pilot program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Program Evaluation

Background:

• Coordinated School Health Programs (CSHP) are crucial for student well-being and academic success.
• Assessing the infrastructure and functionality of CSHP is essential for effective implementation.
• The Mariner Project in South Carolina aimed to evaluate a CSHP model.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the extent of CSHP infrastructure and its functional adequacy.
• To evaluate the performance of the Mariner Project's eight-component model in South Carolina schools.
• To identify critical performance elements influencing CSHP success.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of the Mariner Project's eight-component model in three middle and four feeder elementary schools.
• Utilization of rigorous evaluation criteria based on national standards and objective performance judgments.
• Development of eleven critical performance elements and a modified indexing procedure for project evaluation.

Main Results:

• Four critical performance elements were identified as foundational for CSHP adequacy: Administrative Support/Buy-In, Coordination of the Health Promotion Team, Program Champion/Liaison/Facilitator, and Staff Wellness Coordinator.
• These foundational elements significantly influenced the performance of other critical elements and the overall project.
• Adequate or less-than-adequate performance in these four areas predicted overall project outcomes.

Conclusions:

• A robust CSHP infrastructure relies on key foundational elements for successful implementation and function.
• Administrative support and dedicated personnel are critical for effective school health programs.
• The identified critical performance elements provide valuable insights for developing and sustaining CSHP.