Strategies for dissemination and diffusion of school health tools

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) translates its evidence-based series of Guidelines for School Health Programs into practical tools and resources to help schools improve their health policies and programs. Two tools are the School Health Index: A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide (SHI) and the Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT).

In order to enhance dissemination and diffusion of these tools, DASH has created the DASH Training Network, or “D-Train”. This model consists of developing a cadre of master trainers to provide in-depth training to help those who work with schools improve their school health policies, programs, and curricula.

During 2007 and 2008, a total of 60 PECAT workshops and 30 SHI workshops were conducted at regional, state, and school district levels. Evaluations immediately following the workshops indicate that participants' knowledge and skills about the use of these tools increased as a result of the workshop. In addition, a large majority of respondents felt their trainers were knowledgeable, organized, flexible, and informative. Follow-up data 4-6 months after the workshops were also collected. These data indicate the percentage of participants that actually used the tools to assess and improve their school health programs once they returned to their districts and schools.

Workshop evaluation and follow-up data are being used to inform future D-Train efforts. Steps of the process and lessons learned from the D-Train model will be outlined to describe how they might be applied to other public health initiatives.