School health liaison model: Building capacity for program implementation in a large urban area

In 2005, the Steps to a Healthier Houston-Harris County Consortium developed a school health liaison model to implement Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH), an evidence-based obesity prevention program rooted in social cognitive theory. The project served approximately 275,000 elementary students in more than 400 schools across 22 school districts in Harris County, Texas, the third largest county nationwide. The project is managed by the local county health department for the Steps Consortium.

The model outlines the process for school liaison selection, school assignments and a management structure. Description of the model depicts the three Steps CATCH project school liaisons who have professional and personal experience in schools and the local community. Each possessed a specialty which matched the CATCH components of physical activity, classroom and food services.

Benefits of practical implementation of the model include improved communication; enhanced health messages; sharing best practices; accelerated commitment from school to initiate/sustain program, and strengthened relationships with schools. Challenges include selection and management of liaisons, size of districts, organizational structures and cultures of schools, status of relationships with schools, and staff turnover.

Site visit logs and other tools were used to collect quantitative data. Qualitative data were collected via site visit observations and anecdotes from key stakeholders. Preliminary findings suggest an increase in training participation and program implementation can be attributable to site visits and other means of frequent contact by school liaisons.

Assessment of the model indicates potential for it to be applied to other school health projects/programs.