Strategic Planning

ACTIVE PROJECTS

California State CTG Logic Modeling and FoodBEAMS
CDC
To help shape implementation strategies for California’s CTG work, S&A received a grant from the Public Health Institute and California Project LEAN to develop and conduct a logic model webinar to train counties on writing specific logic models to guide their CTG work.  In conjunction with PHI staff, S&A reviewed county draft logic models and provided follow up technical assistance via phone and email to the 12 counties to help them refine and finalize their logic models. Under this same grant, S&A also developed and conducted a webinar to train county staff to collect beverage data using FoodBEAMS at each site where beverage changes are planned within the counties. S&A provided follow up TA with the counties via phone and email to assist county staff with beverage data collection through FoodBEAMS.  S&A will analyze the baseline data collected and compare the data to beverage standards that are being used across counties for this CTG strategic direction.  This information will help guide county implementation of beverage standards and strategies to change access to healthy beverages.   

INACTIVE PROJECTS

Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust
State of Oklahoma
Samuels & Associates is providing strategic planning consultation to the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) on the development of the TSET Nutrition and Fitness Initiative. Our consultation activities include key informant and Board interviews, logic model development, development of a five year Road Map for the initiative, and technical assistance on the development of a community grants program and evaluation design.

Advisors on Grantmaking in Diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation has commissioned Samuels & Associates to develop a grantmaking strategy in the areas of diabetes and Alzheimer's. Activities include formative research, convening of key stakeholders, and solicitation and review of proposals.

Health Action of Sonoma County
Sonoma County Department of Health Services, CA
Samuels & Associates conducted a year-long formative evaluation of Sonoma County Department of Health Services (CA) Health Action, a county-wide, multi-sector, public/private initiative. The evaluation included development of logic models and a stakeholder survey by phone with members of the Health Action coalition, workgroups and steering committee as well as outside stakeholders. The survey assessed Health Action member experiences in engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders, how collective understanding of local health and health care issues and solutions had been enriched through participation in the Health Action collaborative, what additional resources were needed to implement strategies, and how Health Action’s role as a vehicle for on-going community wide dialogue and planning on local health issues could be sustained. The interviews also explored what inspired Health Action members to commit to Health Action’s goals at the personal and organizational level, the breadth and depth of their participation in Health Action, how they had grown as advocates and leaders, and how Health Action success could be measured. Findings from the stakeholder survey were summarized in a report that included recommendations and was presented to the Health Action and other key stakeholders. 

Santa Clara County Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Strategic Plan
First 5 Santa Clara County
First 5 in Santa Clara County, California commissioned Samuels & Associates to assist in the development of their Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Strategic Plan. Activities included facilitating meetings of the Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Collaborative, as well as meetings with community members and policymakers, creating a logic model based on feedback from all groups, and drafting the final Plan. The Plan contained the strategic steps for First 5 to combat childhood obesity in the coming years, and a comprehensive list of resources relating to nutrition and physical activity for children ages 0-5.

School Nutrition Workshops
Commission on Dietetic Registration, American Dietetic Association
Samuels & Associates served as faculty for the American Dietetic Association Certificate of Training in Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management. Our session, entitled “School Nutrition Standards: Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation for Success,” orients registered dieticians to the environmental approach to obesity prevention and methods for evaluating changes to nutrition and physical activity environments in the school setting.

Environmental Assessment Training Workshop
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Samuels & Associates was commissioned by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to conduct training workshops across the country on tracking and monitoring changes in school food and beverage environments. The workshop was designed for school administrators, food service directors, school board associations, parent-teacher associations and other stakeholders involved in making decisions that affect the school nutrition environment. Participants used the resulting data to inform policies and environmental change in their schools.

Coast-to-Coast Initiative to Prevent and Control Child Obesity, Planning Phase
Iacocca Foundation, Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation
Samuels & Associates was part of a multidisciplinary team of experts from the Harvard School of Public Health, the University of California at Berkeley Center for Weight and Health, Mathematica Policy Research, and WGBH, Boston's Public Broadcasting Service station to develop a coast-to-coast initiative to prevent and control child obesity. The initiative implemented, evaluated, and disseminated a cost-effective, integrated and sustainable approach to prevent and control obesity in elementary and middle school children nationwide built on surrounding children with coordinated programs and policies to promote active, healthy lifestyles. The Iacocca Foundation and the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation provided initial funding for the planning phase.

Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Technical Assistance
Kaiser Permanente
In 2005, Kaiser Permanente commissioned Samuels & Associates to provide technical assistance and training to Kaiser's Healthy Eating Active Living Southern California grantees. Samuels & Associates presented a workshop focused on trends in changing nutrition and physical activity environments and behaviors, the role of evaluation, as well as a logic modeling training session. Throughout the project, Samuels & Associates provided technical assistance to the HEAL grantees through a series of conference calls that addressed the evaluation needs of the individual grantee communities.

Healthy Santa Clara Collaborative
Santa Clara Health Trust
In 2003, The Santa Clara Health Trust brought together community-based organizations, public health practitioners, health professionals, school officials, and researchers in the county in the Healthy Santa Clara Collaborative to identify and collaborate on obesity-prevention strategies. To aid the Health Trust in the management of the Collaborative's objectives and plans, Samuels & Associates led all stakeholders through a logic modeling process that identified and charted the activities members could engage in to combat overweight and diabetes in Santa Clara County, which then served as a guide for their work. Samuels & Associates continued to consult with the Collaborative throughout the implementation of the logic model.

Diabetes Prevention and Control Program Logic Modeling
California Diabetes Prevention and Control Program
In 2000, Samuels & Associates collaborated with the California Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP) - a public health program in the Department of Health Services - in developing a logic model to chart the activities organizations can engage in to combat diabetes in California. The logic model outlined interventions the DPCP recommended agencies implement, appropriate target audiences, expected changes, and outcome measurements. Samuels & Associates also led a logic modeling exercise related to DPCP's grant request to the CDC for support of their long-and short-term programs in diabetes prevention and management.

A Review of Nutrition Education Models, Approaches and Theories
California WIC Association
The Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federally funded program that provides supplemental food, nutrition education and linkages to healthcare services for low-income, pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, and children under five who are nutritionally at risk. Samuels & Associates was commissioned by the California WIC Association to review and assess nutrition education models and approaches. Both published and unpublished sources were reviewed and WIC professionals with experience in a particular approach were interviewed. Recommendations present a number of future directions for WIC to consider.

Grant Review Process
Oakland Fund for Children and Youth
Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY) is an initiative of the City of Oakland to promote youth development through youth-centered after-school programming. Samuels & Associates designed a proposal review process for the OFCY's 1999 grant cycle, developing youth-friendly reviewer materials and trainings for youth and adult grant reviewers.