YEAH! (Youth Engagement and Action for Health Program)
Community Domain - Annual Work Plan
March 2011-May 2013: ARCHIVED JUNE 2013
COI Strategic Plan Goal(s) and Objective(s): Goals 1, 2, 3
Action Plan Strategies: A, B, C, D, E, I, J, M
Community Domain
Project description &
estimated completion
date
Lead person &
partners involved
Other domains
involved
Project activities &
estimated completion
date(s)
Describe your overall project and identify a timeline for completion of the project.
For the Youth Engagement and Action for Health program:
 Conduct at least six train-the-trainer sessions for at least 150 interested
adult mentors of youth on how to conduct youth engagement projects
(community improvement projects). Estimated completion date: December
2012;
 Provide technical assistance support to at least six youth
engagement/advocacy projects resulting from train-the-trainer sessions.
Estimated completion date: December 2011 with continued TA to groups
thereafter (goal is additional 4 groups between July and December 2012);
 Collaborate with San Diego State University on evaluation of YEAH!
including facilitating recruitment and survey collection and providing TA
(10-12 groups with a total 100 youth completing pre and post surveys)
Identify the lead person & any other major partners involved in completing the project.
Lead: Melanie Cohn, COI staff
Leah Ostenberg, WALKSanDiego
Identify any other domains involved in the project.
Government Domain
Schools Domain
List the specific activities/tasks you will undertake to complete your project and list an
estimated completion date for each one.
Project activities and timeline will be developed. Elements / goals include:
1. Plan and conduct train-the-trainer sessions; one public training will be held
July 31, 2012; we will complete 2 additional smaller scale trainings by
December 2012;
2. Original goal was to provide technical assistance to at least six YEAH!
projects, assisting adult mentors to facilitate youth led community
improvement projects / advocacy with decisionmakers; this was
completed; a new goal is to assist 4 additional groups between July and
December 2012;
3. Collaborate with San Diego State University on evaluation of YEAH!
(ongoing)
a. Follow up with previously trained leaders to find new YEAH! groups
Updated and Archived June 2013
for potential recruitment and to identify new potential sites/
leaders for YEAH! projects (ongoing)
b. Ongoing support of YEAH groups recruiting into evaluation
c. Assistance in planning dissemination of evaluation results
4. Rewrite the YEAH! training manual and revise the training curricula
accordingly by December, 2012 (this goal added June 2012).
Evaluation
Specify how you plan to measure your project’s success, including activities. In this
section refer to your project activities to organize your information.
Track the number of attendees, projects that ensue, and environmental/policy
changes that take place in conjunction with a youth engagement project. SDSU has
received a grant from Robert Wood Johnson Active Living Research (e-YEAH!) to
evaluate 10-12 groups of youth working on community improvement projects. COI
evaluators Christine Edwards and Leslie Linton will be leading these efforts
(healthpolicyconsulting.com). Pre- and post- surveys, focus groups, interviews and
program documentation will be used to evaluate the participating groups. COI is
particularly interested in how to improve the manual, components of technical
assistance, impact on youth, characteristics of adult leaders, and impact on
decisionmakers. Grant runs through January 2013.
Updates
Provide an update on progress towards or completion of project activities and
overall project goal. Refer to your project activities to organize your update.
Current update- 6/13:
1. Yeah trainings were held on July 31, 2012 and November 27, 2012. More
than 40 adults were trained at these sessions.
2. Since the beginning of the evaluation project (January 2011), 21 groups
have participated in the project, including four groups that began work
since the last update. All four of these groups received technical assistance
from COI during the course of their projects.
a. City Heights Community Development Corporation (CHCDC) staff
conducted (3) YEAH! projects at their residental community
centers, located in urban affordable housing complexes. The group
consists of the site supervisor acting as adult group leader, and
volunteer high school aged residents. All groups worked on
assessments of park space near their complexes. One group, for
instance, conducted the park assessment and developed a photo
board with a mission statement, identified problems, and
suggested solutions. The group presented their findings to the MidCity Parks and Recreation manager and the Community
Development manager from San Diego City Councilmember Marti
Emerald's office. The Parks and Rec manager agreed to generate
several work requests to fix lights and potholes around the park.
Councilmember Emerald's staff person agreed to train the youth
group members and other residents to access the online system to
Updated and Archived June 2013
alert the City to problems in the park.
b. Another group formed at San Ysidro High School with students from
the MEDICS / Honors Anatomy class. Student volunteers from San
Diego State University acted as mentors to the high school
seniors/juniors. The group tackled the issue of drinking water,
collecting surveys from fellow students and researching potential
solutions for dealing with water perceived as unpalatable. They
presented their data together with comprehensive suggestions to
the principal and other administrators who have promised to act.
3. COI collaborated with the team of evaluators based at San Diego State
University. The project concluded in January 2013, and final analysis of
data is being completed in June 2013. COI organized and is moderating a
presentation at the 7th Biennial Childhood Obesity Conference to be held in
Long Beach, California June 18-20, 2013. One or two academic papers,
including one for general practitioner audiences are in process to assist in
disseminating results.
4. COI has gathered feedback from the evaluation team, as well as from
attendees at trainings in order to improve the YEAH! manual. A rewrite is
underway and is now scheduled to be complete by July 2013.
5. Several new YEAH! groups are being organized, but are not yet underway.
Further information is included in the new workplan that continues COI’s
development and support of the YEAH! program. See website for new
workplan.
Archived updates:
Update 6/12:
1. Since the last update, an informal training was held for four people who are
the site leads for housing units at CDC housing projects; a public training
has been advertised and will be held on July 31, 2012.
2. Since the beginning of the evaluation project (January 2011), 17 groups
have participated (St. Stephens group did not complete and San Ysidro
Middle School group participated in the post survey only) with groups
receiving varying amounts of technical assistance from COI, all as tracked
through reporting by YEAH group leaders on surveys and by those providing
technical assistance through COI; examples of groups that have recently
completed their work include:
a. a group of East African young women who successfully advocated
with the local YMCA for women only hours at the local YMCA
swimming pool that would protect their modesty / religious beliefs;
b. An afterschool leadership group at Marston Middle School that
collected and documented problems with their recreation field;
c. A group called Second Chance that grows fresh produce and sells it
at local farmers market and has attempted to persuade local liquor
stores to carry the produce;
d. A group of Navy youth based at a community center that has
advocated with their governing board for better outdoor lighting
Updated and Archived June 2013
around the center.
3. COI continues to collaborate with the evaluation team. As of July 2, 2012, it
is reported that there are 74 “matched” surveys with the goal being 100.
There are no pending groups, and COI is actively seeking groups to begin
the YEAH program. The video planned as part of the evaluation was
completed during this reporting period and is posted on the COI website. A
new link: www.yeahSanDIego.org was created. The evaluators presented
at Weight of the Nation in Washington DC and COI was introduced. The
evaluators presented findings to the COI Leadership Council.
Update 11/11:
1. Train-the-trainer sessions held since the last update include:
a. May/June 2011 – training of 6 Navy affiliated after-school
community program leaders
b. October 7, 2011 – at a training open to the public, approximately 33
college students, non-profit staff, public health professionals, and
community members were trained in YEAH!
2. Technical assistance to active YEAH! groups is ongoing and is provided by
Melanie Cohn of COI and by Leah Ostenberg as a Walk San Diego contractor
to COI. Rachel Lebowitz has received a stipend from COI to provide primary
leadership to 2 groups, noted below, and this model may be replicated in
the future. Groups that have convened since the last update include:
a. City Heights Somali Youth involved a group of young Somali women
with Rachel Lebowitz from Outside the Lens acting as adult mentor.
The young women expressed an interest in seeking additional space
for women-only physical activity, as their culture and religion
prohibit them from being immodest in mixed company. The group
has performed the community assessment and the advocacy for
this project is currently being planned.
b. High Tech Middle Chula Vista. The YEAH! project was integrated
into the school’s curriculum in the form of an x-block class, led by
one of the school teachers and Rachel from Outside the Lens. The
students expressed an interest in adding to the school’s small
physical activity space. The group has performed the school
assessment and the advocacy for this project is ongoing.
c. St. Stephens consisted of a group of youth at the church, led by a
church leader and staff from Network for a Healthy California. The
group completed the neighborhood assessment and was successful
at advocating for a painted sidewalk at the nearby school.
d. Three groups have been led by staff from the Boys and Girls Clubs
located on Navy facilities throughout San Diego County and led by
after school coordinators.
i. Linda Vista. The youth conducted the community
assessment and decided they would like to advocate for a
sidewalk and/or traffic signal in front of their center.
Advocacy for this project is ongoing, with plans to present
the project to the Linda Vista Planning Group.
Updated and Archived June 2013
ii. Bayview. The youth conducted the Outdoor Advertising
assessment and then wrote letters to business owners
about advertising in and around their locations. The store
owners indicated greater understanding of obesity
prevention issues and agreed to consider removing or
relocating the ads.
iii. Coronado. This group had their first meeting on October 7,
and they have indicated an interest in advocating for an
additional street light near their center. This project is
ongoing.
3. COI continues to actively collaborate in the SDSU based evaluation of the
YEAH! program. COI has reviewed preliminary evaluation results about the
program and made modifications to the manual/training and technical
assistance approach that were integrated into the October 7 training. COI
continues to actively meet with potential YEAH! leaders to encourage
participation in YEAH! and the e-YEAH! evaluation. COI has participated in
planning dissemination of results by co-authoring abstract submissions to
APHA, Weight of the Nation, and other venues.
Update 5/11:
There were two trainings, held as planned, in December 2010, with open
enrollment. A total of approximately 60 participants were trained. In February
2011, in conjunction with the San Diego State University Obesity course held at the
Graduate School of Public Health, approximately 22 students were trained in YEAH!
Also in February, ten CSU San Marcos nursing students were trained. Additionally,
three adults were trained in the program at Lincoln High School.
At least 6 YEAH! groups have been conducted during the reporting period,
including:
4. Mission Hills High School (in conjunction with CPPW grant) which involved a
group of nursing students at Cal State San Marcos acting as adult mentors
to a group of seniors at the High School who were part of a group pursuing
health careers. The group worked with a local elementary school that has a
high incidence of diabetes and conducted school assessment and
walkability assessment, ultimately advocating with school officials for policy
change to support ongoing nutrition programs / education at the
elementary school.
5. Lincoln High School where the school nurse acted as adult mentor.
Students presented their findings from a survey of fellow students and a
school assessment / cafeteria assessment to food service officials, including
the Director of Food Services at San Diego Unified School District and
succeeded in securing changes to school menu.
6. Four groups were led by students from the Graduate School of Public
Health at San Diego State University who were taking an Obesity course led,
in part, by COI staff. COI staff provided technical assistance to all the San
Ysidro groups.
a. San Ysidro High School. Two groups were formed at this school
Updated and Archived June 2013
from students in the MEDICS group / Honors Anatomy classes of
Sheila Krotz; students conducted school assessment / cafeteria
assessment and succeeded in advocating with the school principal,
director of food services and cafeteria manager for introduction of
new/healthy foods to the menu including oatmeal at breakfast,
sandwiches at lunch, vegetable-filled pockets, and other healthy
options. The group held taste-testings, did their own video
advertising to fellow students;
b. San Ysidro Middle School. Two groups formed at this school, based
within the YMCA run after school program. The groups conducted
school and walkability assessments and ultimately advocated for
playground renovations and for additional water fountain
accessibility. Advocacy continues at this writing.
7. Two additional groups are in planning stages and will take place over the
summer at Navy run youth facilities. Additionally, a group is planned to be
run by Outside the Lens and Melanie Cohn is in discussion with Sahra Abdi
about the possibility of running a YEAH! group with some young Somali
women.
A video is in planning that will document some of the YEAH! group experience.
Update: Fall 2010:
There were 2 trainings held on 2/9/10 and 2/22/10, with a total of 57 attendees.
Training evaluations were completed at the end of each training. COI continues to
follow up with the groups who indicated interested in completing a community
improvement project. Lemon Grove School District completed a project looking at
food environments and safety within their communities. They plan to send letters
to legislators asking for community changes. They also plan to start a new project
soon using the YEAH! walkability assessment tool. A small group of youth from the
La Mesa Boys & Girls Club did park assessments in La Mesa and presented their
findings and recommendations to the La Mesa City Council. At least four additional
adult mentors have expressed interest in beginning a project with youth before the
end of 2010.
Two train-the-trainer sessions have been scheduled for December 8th and 16th,
2010.
Barriers
Explain any difficulties/challenges to implementing your project. Be specific. If an
activity or the overall project was cancelled, explain the circumstances.
Funding for staff time for adult mentors is a barrier to getting projects started, and
COI has used a small reserve of funds to provide modest stipends for a limited
number of leaders. COI is finding that summer and after-school settings are a bit
more challenging for YEAH! groups because of inconsistent attendance by youth
participants. Also, the current economic climate is a barrier, as many local
governments do not have the funding to complete the needed changes that are
identified in the community improvement projects.
Promotion/ PR
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Identify any promotional or public relations opportunities you see might arise from the
opportunities
Desired recognition
5210 Campaign
project, or might assist the project.
The COI could craft a press release, hold a press conference around resulting
environmental changes and youth involvement, highlight work in the monthly
newsletter, etc.
Identify any specific recognition you would like to see either for the project or the
people involved in implementing the project.
Please describe how you have used the 5210 campaign as a part of workplan
activities (If you have not, please so indicate). If you have used the 5210
materials, please specify which materials, languages, target audience(s),
approximate # of people reached, geographic region(s), dates:
June 2012: To date, 5210 materials / campaign have not been used.
Do you plan to incorporate the 5210 campaign into workplan activities in the
future? If so, please describe:
June 2012: A rewrite of the YEAH manual and training is planned for coming
months, and we will plan to incorporate 5210 as part of the rewrite.
Updated and Archived June 2013