Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Releases Report on Actions by States to Reduce Obesity

In early June 2008 the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released BALANCE Issue 5: 2007 End of Year Report, which summarizes the efforts of state policymakers to address obesity. Findings included these: (a) 25 states started a pilot project or created a task force or other work group to improve physical activity and nutrition environments for children, and (b) lawmakers in 16 states enacted legislation to increase farm-to-school programs or improve the nutritional quality of foods and beverages in schools. The report, prepared by the Albemarle State Policy Center, found that although significant efforts were made in 2007 to address obesity, many challenges remain. The report can be downloaded from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation website.

Oregon Program Evaluators Network Conference October 3

The Oregon Program Evaluators Network (OPEN) is holding its annual conference on October 3, 2008. In the morning, David Fetterman will speak on empowerment evaluation. There will be 2 afternoon sessions. One session will be a continued discussion of empowerment evaluation. The other, led by Darlene Russ-Eft (Oregon State University) and Marcie Bober (San Diego State University), will address evaluator competencies. For more information about OPEN and the conference, visit http://www.oregoneval.org/

RMC Research Staff to Present Healthy Schools Program Evaluation Results at Fall Conferences

RMC Research staff will present findings from the national evaluation of the Healthy Schools Program, a childhood obesity prevention program implemented by The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a joint initiative of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association, at 2 national conferences this fall. Jeff Knudsen will present a poster entitled Assessing the Impact of the Healthy Schools Program: Preliminary Findings at the American Public Health Association conference on October 27, 2008, and Dr. Dennis Deck will present a research poster entitled Healthy Schools Program: Year 2 Results at the American School Health Association’s 82nd conference in Tampa, Florida, on November 13, 2008.

Annual American Evaluation Association Conference November 5-8

The American Evaluation Association will hold its annual conference in Denver, Colorado, November 5-8, 2008, at the downtown Hyatt Regency. This year’s Presidential Theme is Evaluation Policy and Evaluation Practice, and conference presentations will address all aspects of evaluation theory and practice. Approximately 2,500 evaluation practitioners, including RMC Research staff, are expected to attend the conference. Learn more at http://www.eval.org/eval2008/default.htm