RESOURCES: Step 1 – Stakeholders and Organizational Structure

American Obesity Association.
www.obesity.org/subs/fastfacts/aoafactsheets.shtml
Factsheets for the following topics:
What is Obesity?
Obesity – A Global Epidemic
Obesity in the U.S.
Morbid Obesity
Obesity in Minority Populations
Women and Obesity
Obesity in Youth
Health Effects of Obesity

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Physical Activity and Good Nutrition: Essential Elements to Prevent Chronic Diseases and Obesity 2003. At a Glance Publication provides a synopsis of current trends in obesity and its prevention. www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa

Overweight & Obesity. Detailed information is included at this site on definition, Body Mass Index (BMI), trends, contributing factors, recommendations, programs, questions/answers, and resources. A PowerPoint presentation is also included. www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/index.htm

PowerPoint presentation on the dramatic increase in US obesity rates between 1985 and 2001. US maps of this national trend on the state level can be downloaded as PowerPoint or Acrobat Reader files. www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/maps/

Child Trends Databank
Provides statistics, figures, and graphs that indicate the rapid increase in childhood obesity.
http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/indicators/15OverweightChildrenYouth.cfm

Connecticut Department of Public Health
Local health departments listing, WIC Program. www.dph.state.ct.us/Local_health/index.asp

Connecticut State Department of Education
Department of Education provides links and information on Child Nutrition Programs, Coordinated Heatlh, School and District Data. www.state.ct.us/sde/

2-1-1 Infoline
Search CT’s community resources database. Online database of health and human service programs available to obtain information on local and state government entities, nonprofits, support groups, nursing homes, and home health providers. www.211infoline.org

Food and Drug Administration
Prompted by recent statistics showing that more than 60 percent of the U.S. population is overweight, FDA has launched an improved Web site devoted to consumer information on weight loss. The site functions as a gateway to material from the FDA and other federal agencies on topics such as meal planning, setting weight-loss goals, approved treatments, and diet scams. The site also links to information on how to lose weight by adding exercise to your daily routine. www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/obesity.html

Healthy People 2010 Objectives
At this site you may view and download the Healthy People 2010 objectives. Healthy People is a national health promotion and disease prevention initiatives that brings together national, State, local government agencies; nonprofit, business, and communities to improve the health of all Americans, eliminate disparities in health, and improve years and quality of healthy life. www.healthy.gov/healthypeople

Healthy Americans
New Report Finds 41 States Have Obesity Levels Over 20 Percent; Trust for America’s Health provides figures and background on how State and Federal Obesity Policies Are Failing. http://healthyamericans.org/newsroom/releases/release102004.pdf

Institute Of Medicine
www.iom.edu
A series of fact sheets providing key facts, findings, and statistics surrounding obesity in the nation and within a variety of settings:
Communities Can Play a Role in Preventing Childhood Obesity
Overview of the IOM’s Childhood Obesity Prevention Study
Childhood Obesity in the United States: Facts and Figures
Industry Can Play a Role in Preventing Childhood Obesity
Schools Can Play a Role in Preventing Childhood Obesity
Parents Can Play a Role in Preventing Childhood Obesity

National Association of Sport and Physical Education
Shape of the Nation Report 2001: Executive summary. Reston, VA. http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/pdf_files/shape_nation.pdf

Trust for America’s Health
F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America. A new report from Trust for America's Health finds that national and state policies are falling far short of obesity control and reduction goals. www.healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General, December 2001. www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/CalltoAction.pdf

Healthy People 2010: Understanding and Improving Health. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, November 2000. www.health.gov/healthypeople/document/tableofcontents.htm

 

RESOURCES: Step 2 – Conducting a Community Health Assessment

American Dietetic Association (ADA)
At the American Dietetic Association website you can search for a nutritionist in your area.
www.eatright.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) -
All 50 state health departments have statewide behavioral data collected by using the Centers for Disease Control’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS); world’s largest telephone survey tracking health risks in the United States. Health behaviors related to the leading causes of death and disability including nutritional and physical activity behaviors are estimated by the State. Website includes interactive databases for prevalence data, trends data, maps, and information on health risks for selected local areas. www.cdc.gov/brfss

Selected Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Risk Trends (SMART) project
Uses the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to analyze the data of selected metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas (MMSAs) with 500 or more respondents. BRFSS data can be used to identify emerging health problems, establish and track health objectives, and develop and evaluate public health policies and programs. apps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfss-smart/index.asp

SMART Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System –
SMART BRFSS makes local data available nationwide for the first time. CDC provides a summary of SMART BRFSS data use, importance, and future directions. www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/aag/aag_brfss.htm

WONDER – Wide-ranging OnLine Data for Epidemiologic Research
Wide-ranging OnLine Data for Epidemiologic Research -- an easy-to-use, menu-driven system that makes the information resources of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) available to public health professionals and the public at large. It provides access to a wide array of public health information
The "WONDER" system is an access point to a wide variety of CDC reports, guidelines, and public health data to assist in research, decision-making, priority setting, and resource allocation.
http://wonder.cdc.gov/

WONDER – Healthy People 2010 Database
DATA2010 is an interactive database system developed by staff of the Division of Health Promotion Statistics at the National Center for Health Statistics, and contains the most recent monitoring data for tracking Healthy People 2010. Data are included for all the objectives and subgroups identified in the Healthy People 2010: Objectives for Improving Health. http://wonder.cdc.gov/data2010/

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
The YRBSS was developed in 1990 to monitor priority health risk behaviors that contribute markedly to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States. These behaviors, often established during childhood and early adolescence, include unhealthy dietary behaviors, inadequate physical activity among others. http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/index.htm

Child Trends Databank
Provides statistics, figures, and graphs that indicate the rapid increase in childhood obesity.
http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/indicators/15OverweightChildrenYouth.cfm

CT Department of Public Health - Vital Statistics
Published vital statistics – births and deaths – in Annual Registration Reports. http://www.dph.state.ct.us/

CT State Department of Education
Strategic School Profiles
Strategic School Profiles provides school characteristics, resources, and student performance test results by town. Viewing the school district strategic school profile includes: % of students passing all four parts of the Connecticut Physical Fitness Assessment (CPFA) by town; and the estimated % of students eligible for free-reduced price meals. http://www.csde.state.ct.us/public/der/find/regular/find_body.htm

Free and Reduced Price Meals
Listing of area eligible and non-area eligible schools that have 50% or more of the children eligible for free and reduced price meals. http://www.state.ct.us/sde/deps/nutrition/SchoolNutriIndex.htm

Keys to Excellence in School Food and Nutrition Programs - ASFSA
A free online tool that offers an easy-to-use management and evaluation program that helps foodservice directors assess their school nutrition programs. http://www.asfsa.org/keys/

National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)
National PE and Health standards from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and the American Cancer Society. State standards for physical education and health for grades K-12.
http:// www.education-world.com/standards/national/nph/index.shtml

National Association of County and City Health Officials
Assessment Protocol for Excellence in Public Health (APEXPH), 1991. The tool is an eight-step process for assessing community health status and planning for improvement. It is based on the principles of environmental justice, community collaboration, and locally appropriate decision making. http://www.naccho.org/project47.cfm

National Highway Transportation Safety Association
National Highway Transportation Safety Association’s walkability checklist helps assess and determine whether a neighborhood is a friendly place to walk. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/ped/walk1.html

National Highway Transportation Safety Association’s bikeability checklist helps to assess and determine whether a neighborhood is a friendly place to bicycle. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/bikeability/

PE Central
Premier website for Health and Physical educators, parents, and students. Website provides the latest information about developmentally appropriate physical education programs for children and youth as well as State health education and physical education (PE) standards. www.pecentral.org/professional/statestandards.html

School Health Index for Physical Activity and Healthy Eating: A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide
This is a tool that can help your school assess its physical activity and nutrition policies and programs based on national standards and guidelines. Copies can be obtained by downloading from the CDC web sites listed; requesting by email: cdcinfo@cdc.gov; requesting by phone with the Division of Adolescent and School Health Resource Room: 770-488-3168 or toll-free fax: 888-282-7681. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash & http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa

Smart Growth America
Measuring the Health Effects of Sprawl.
First National study to show a clear association between the type of place people live in and their activity levels, weight, and health. www.smartgrowthamerica.org:
Full Report link: www.smartgrowthamerica.org/report/HealthSprawl8.03.pdf

Relationship between Urban Sprawl and Physical Activity, Obesity, and Morbidity. Ewing et al. American Journal of Public Health Promotion, 2003., Vol. 18. No.1. Study relating characteristics of individuals and places to levels of physical activity, obesity, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, diabetes, and Coronary Artery Disease. http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/report/JournalArticle.pdf

U.S. Census Bureau - 2000
Accurate source of demographic data for Connecticut communities is the 2000 U.S. Census. The census offers information on population size and composition, income and poverty, and housing, among other issues. http://www.census.gov

RESOURCES: Step 3 – Conducting a Community Forum

Healthy People 2010 Toolkit
An excellent reference source for using the Healthy People 2010 objectives in setting priorities for healthy community initiatives. The tips, examples, tools, and resources can help local coalitions manage and sustain the development and implementation of community led initiatives. www.healthy.gov/healthypeople/state/toolkit

Placemaking Tools for Community Action
Developed to help identify tools and resources which developers, practitioners, foundations, government agencies, and community activists can use to explore ways to promote innovative planning efforts that enhance public participation in decision-making. http://www.sustainable.org/Placemaking_v1.pdf

Team Nutrition of the United States Department of Agriculture
Changing the Scene: Improving the School Nutrition Environment: A Guide to Local Action.
This guide is a tool kit that addresses the entire school nutrition environment from a commitment to nutrition and physical activity, pleasant eating experiences, quality school meals, other healthy food options, nutrition education and marketing the issue to the public. This kit can help local people take action to improve their school's nutrition environment. http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/guide.pdf

Health Research and Educational Trust (HRET)
The Collaboration Primer – Proven Strategies, Considerations, and Tools to Get You Started
Health Research and Educational Trust provides examples of model collaboratives to help you visualize what your collaborative may look like, given the resources in your community. http://www.hret.org/hret/programs/content/colpri.pdf

RESOURCES: Step 4 – Determining Interventions and Action Plans

Increasing Physical Activity: A Report on Recommendations of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services
Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/recommendations.htm

The Community Guide
The Community Guide is being developed by the nonfederal Task Force on Community Preventive Services (Task Force), appointed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This group provides leadership in the evaluation of community, population, and healthcare system strategies to address a variety of public health and health promotion topics such as physical activity and nutrition.
http://www.thecommunityguide.org

National Blueprint: Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults Age 50 and Older
Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/pr_blueprint.htm

Promoting Physical Activity: A Guide for Community Action
Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/pahand.htm

Resource Guide for Nutrition and Physical Activity Interventions to Prevent Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Resource guide for nutrition and physical activity programs to prevent and control obesity and other chronic diseases. Topics cover obesity prevention and control (including caloric intake and expenditure), increased physical activity, improved nutrition (including increased breastfeeding and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables), and reduced television time. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/pdf/guidance_document_3_2003.pdf

 

RESOURCES: Step 5 – Evaluating Your Progress

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health
The framework guides public health professionals in their use of program evaluation. It is a practical, nonprescriptive tool, designed to summarize and organize essential elements of program evaluation. The framework comprises steps in program evaluation practice and standards for effective program evaluation. ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Publications/mmwr/rr/rr4811.pdf

Center for the Advancement of Community Based Public Health. An Evaluation Framework for Community Health Programs
Framework emphasizes program evaluation as a practical and ongoing process that involves program staff, community members, as well as evaluation experts. The overall goal of the framework is to help guide and inform the evaluation process. http://www.cdc.gov/eval/evalcbph.pdf

Outcome-Based Evaluation, 2nd Edition. 2001. Robert Shalock, Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers, New York
Provides various techniques used in outcome-based evaluation, and how to interpret data from outcome-based evaluation analyses. Guidance is included in how to do outcome-based evaluation analyses, as well as how to use and act on results.

Physical Activity Evaluation Handbook
Handbook provides tools for state and local agencies and community-based organizations that are evaluating physical activity programs, demonstrating program outcomes and improving physical activity promotion programs. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Atlanta, GA; 2002. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp.dnpa

Turning Point Guidebook for Performance Measurement
Offers the fundamentals of performance measurement in public health, reasons for developing a performance measurement process and a description of the key components in developing such a process. http://www.turningpointprogram.org/Pages/pmc_guide.pdf