Applying a mixed-methods evaluation to Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Health
• Obesity Prevention

Background:

• The Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities (HKHC) program funded 49 communities from 2008-2014.
• It focused on policy, system, and environmental changes to promote healthy eating and active living.
• Emphasis was placed on reaching high-risk children based on race, ethnicity, income, or location.

Purpose of the Study:

• To capture the complexity of HKHC projects.
• To understand implementation processes and document perceived and actual impacts.
• To advance evaluation science for community-based childhood obesity efforts.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods evaluation was designed using eight complementary methods.
• Methods included a web-based project management system (HKHC Community Dashboard), an Assessment and Evaluation Toolkit, quantitative and qualitative cross-site evaluations.
• Specific data collection tools included environmental audits, observations, interviews, surveys, group model building, and secondary data sources.

Main Results:

• Successes and challenges were identified across various evaluation methods.
• Key themes included the value of systems approaches, the need for evaluation capacity building, and the importance of focusing on upstream and downstream outcomes.
• Practical dissemination approaches were also highlighted as important.

Conclusions:

• The mixed-methods evaluation of HKHC provides practice-relevant evidence for public health.
• It advances evaluation science in complex community settings for childhood obesity prevention.
• The findings support the use of comprehensive strategies for community health improvement.