LaTonya Chavis, MS, Project Coordinator, Charlotte REACH 2010, Carolinas Community Health Institute, 101 W.T. Harris Blvd., Suite 5104, Charlotte, NC 28262, 704-548-5629, latonya.chavis@carolinashealthcare.org

The Charlotte REACH 2010 project uses Lay Health Advisors (LHAs) to influence behavior change among residents in targeted neighborhoods. The evaluation component for this project monitors behavior change among LHAs, neighborhood residents, and participants of sponsored events using a combination of qualitative and quantitative techniques to collect data. Using ethnographic techniques, LHAs are guided through discussions to document themes and practices that transformed during the LHA experience. Particular themes of interest are change among change agents, community collaboration and transformation, capacity building, and LHA education and support. Also, LHAs, REACH 2010 coalition membership, and REACH activity participants contributed in focus groups regarding the impact each group witnessed the LHA project make. Every other year a community survey is conducted to monitor protective and risk behaviors of neighborhood residents. The topics of interest include tobacco use, nutrition, exercise, stages of change for protective behavior, health status, and sources of healthcare. Questions specific to project components and activities from the survey are used to examine pre-intervention and post-intervention behavior change. During the years the community survey is not being conducted the survey is conducted in people with four or more contacts with LHAs. A “dose” effect will measure the degree of behavior change related to frequency of LHA interaction. The final major task of the evaluation will be to blend these varying methodologies to describe the impact the REACH 2010 project had on the community and the LHAs. This presentation will include an explanation of the methods, challenges, and lessons learned.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify at least three methods to evaluate a lay health advisor program.
• Understand the importance of using a multifaceted approach in evaluation.
• Describe how different evaluation methods are blended to describe the impact of the LHA project.

Keywords: Lay Health Workers, Evaluation

Related Web page: www.reach2010charlottenc.org/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.