May 26, 2009 - The Paso del Norte Health Foundation in El Paso, Texas has awarded Health Resources in Action the first year of a potentially three-year evaluation grant to evaluate an innovative school health and physical activity program in the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD). HRIA’s Research and Evaluation department will conduct a comprehensive study to determine the program’s impact on elementary students’ health-related attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors and on teachers’ integration of physical activity into core classroom lessons.

In fall 2009, HRiA will survey approximately 4,000 elementary school students across 27 schools to establish a baseline of students’ attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors around physical activity and nutrition. Students’ fitness scores and body-mass index (BMI) measurements will also be analyzed. Students will be tracked throughout the intervention period to assess whether there have been changes in these key outcomes. HRIA will also be conducting surveys and qualitative research (focus groups, interviews) with teachers, parents, and students to provide insight into program implementation. These efforts aim to identify the successful components of the program, the challenges encountered, and ways to overcome those challenges to improve the program’s effectiveness.

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