In 2014, California became the first state to authorize an out-of-school-time (OST) health promotion program. The Distinguished After School Health (DASH) program awards a 2-year certificate to OST programs that implement its nutrition and physical activity standards. RTI is partnering with the California Department of Education (CDE) and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to evaluate DASH’s reach and impact. Specific aims of this study are to: 1) obtain quantitative survey data on reach and impact, comparing providers that applied for DASH certification with eligible non-applicants on measures of reach, benefits, and barriers to certification, implementation of DASH nutrition practices, and training and technical assistance needs; and 2) obtain qualitative data on applicant experiences with DASH on impact and to inform policy growth and maintenance. Quantitative data will be collected using an online survey. Qualitative data will be gathered through in-depth interviews with DASH applicants and document reviews to assess the validity of applicant claims. Four main outcome measures will be examined: 1) nutrition practices consistent with DASH standards; 2) perceived benefits to certification; 3) experience participating in nutrition capacity-building efforts; and 4) nutrition training and technical assistance needs.
Examining the Reach and Impact of California Legislation to Promote Healthy Eating in Out-of-School-Time Programs
Related Research
January 2015
Recommendations for Responsible Food Marketing to Children
The marketing of unhealthy foods to children and youth is a major public health concern. Children in the United States grow up surrounded by food and beverage marketing, which primarily promotes products with excessive amounts of added sugar, salt, and fat, and inadequate amounts of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. … More
January 2018
Early Adopters: Current Practices and Preliminary Findings in States Adopting School-Based Water Quality Testing Programs
The goals of this project are: 1) to provide a descriptive assessment of the current methodologies used in state-based school water quality testing programs compared to recommended standard surveillance elements; and 2) to summarize water lead content data derived from state testing programs and present and evaluate data by school … More
October 2017
Interventions to Prevent Global Childhood Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review
In this systematic review, investigators expand on previous reviews of obesity prevention interventions by including recent studies from all parts of the world. School-based interventions with combined diet and physical activity components and a home element had greatest effectiveness; evidence in support of the effect of preschool-based, community-based, and home-based … More