Integrating Civic Engagement Into a Lifestyle Intervention for Rural Women - A Mixed Methods Process Evaluation

Area of Science:

• Community Health
• Environmental Health
• Health Behavior Interventions

Background:

• Rural communities often face unique challenges in health behavior change.
• Civic engagement can be a powerful tool for community-led environmental improvements.
• Integrating health interventions with community action requires careful planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation of the HEART Club civic engagement curriculum.
• To assess its role in catalyzing positive environmental change in rural settings.
• To understand challenges and facilitators of implementing such programs.

Main Methods:

• A six-month community-based health behavior intervention was used.
• The HEART Club curriculum was integrated into the intervention.
• Evaluation involved surveys, interviews, and focus groups with 101 midlife and older women in rural Montana and New York.

Main Results:

• High curriculum fidelity (78%) and program effectiveness (4.1/5) were reported.
• Participants achieved benchmarks, with community support and leadership as facilitators.
• Challenges included low readiness for civic engagement and time constraints, with personal health goals potentially hindering initial progress.

Conclusions:

• Civic engagement holds potential for rural lifestyle interventions but faces implementation hurdles.
• Future efforts should reframe civic engagement to better support and sustain behavior change.
• Community-based participatory approaches can drive environmental and health improvements.