Evaluating stakeholder participation in a faith-based initiative

The Trenton Spirit Walk Initiative was launched in 2005 with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The goal of this three-year initiative is to involve Trenton faith-based and civic organizations in projects that encourage physical activity in the city. Projects include 1) holding an annual walk to encourage use of an underused city park, 2) creating walking groups and 3) planning a Trenton walking loop that will link houses of worship and other interesting features of the community. The funding source is interested in encouraging the participation of faith-based communities and building leadership for health within these communities. Our evaluation is monitoring levels of engagement in the planning process through surveys, focus groups and use of other less traditional methods. Using a logic model we describe the faith-based initiative (inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes), our evaluation process and provide data on the results of the first year of the initiative, along with challenges we have encountered in engaging faith-based groups and approaches that have worked to sustain participation.