Tools for Researchers and Practitioners
Tools and Interventions Developed at HPDP
This is a brief list of some of the most popular tools and interventions developed by HPDP researchers. At these links you can find enrollment information, toolkits, or intervention materials.
Active Communities Tool
The “Active Communities Tool” helps cross-sector teams create an action plan for improving community built environments that promote physical activity. The tool is based on the Community Guide’s recommendations for built environmental approaches to increase physical activity.
It includes assessment modules and an action planning guide. The tool creation process was accomplished in collaboration with Healthy Places by Design, the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cancer Screening Change Packages
The Comprehensive Cancer Control Collaborative of North Carolina (4CNC), in partnership with the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed a new resource called “Cancer Screening Change Packages.” These packages support the delivery of cancer screening services recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
CHANGE Dissemination Toolkit
The Carolina Heart Alliance Networking for Greater Equity (CHANGE) Lifestyle Program is a research-tested program delivered by community health workers (CHWs) and designed to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease among adults in rural and medically underserved communities. The dissemination toolkit provides the information organizations need to implement and deliver the CHANGE Lifestyle Program.
CHI Nutrition Education
The Carolina Hunger Initiative (CHI) has a variety of nutrition education resources for children, families, teachers, and nutrition professionals. Examples of resources include handouts, recipes, activities, videos, and more. There are also Harvest of the Month resources that highlight more than 30 seasonal produce items.
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Toolkit
The DSMES Toolkit is a collection of resources to increase the use a diabetes self-care model called Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES). DSMES is a cost-effective tool proven to help improve health behaviors and health outcomes for people with diabetes. The tool is based on required standards set by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES).
The toolkit includes information about the clinical and economic benefits of DSMES, guides on the processes of accreditation and recognition in health care settings, and resources to overcome barriers to DSMES use and referral. The toolkit creation process was accomplished in collaboration with the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, the Research Triangle Institute International, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Go NAPSACC
Go NAPSACC provides easy-to-use online tools that child care providers can use to build healthy eating and physical activity habits in children.
Med-South Lifestyle Program
The Med-South Lifestyle Program helps participants improve what they eat and become more physically active, which can reduce the risk for heart disease, stroke, and other chronic illnesses. The eating plan is similar to a Mediterranean diet, but includes foods that are often eaten in the southeastern United States.
Putting Public Health Evidence in Action Training
CPCRN has created an interactive training curriculum to support community program planners, health educators and practitioners in developing capacity to use evidence-based approaches to improve the health of their community. This curriculum, which includes videos and supporting materials, provides the background and tools needed for planning, implementing, and evaluating community health interventions.
Tools for Online Education Delivery
The SNAP-Ed team at HPDP has added a collection of resources to the SNAP-Ed Toolkit to assist SNAP-Ed implementing agencies in transitioning from in-person to virtual education environments. The resources are mainly video and article tutorials that cover how to create and share educational videos. The tutorials address the nuts and bolts of how to create videos using basic tools (built-in cameras on phones or computers and user-friendly video editing software), how to share videos on popular platforms (YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram), and how to host live video events on platforms like Zoom or Facebook. Throughout the resources, there is a focus on participant accessibility through tools like video captions.
Weight Wise
The Weight-Wise Pilot Study tested the effectiveness of weight control intervention strategies designed for low income, midlife women. The behavioral intervention included a 16-week weight loss phase of weekly group sessions and a 12-month weight maintenance phase of individual, group, and phone contacts. The leader guides for the Weight Wise study are available online.
Tool and Intervention Hubs
Snap-Ed Toolkit
The SNAP-Ed Toolkit helps SNAP-Ed Implementing Agencies across the country find evidence-based interventions and explore the SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework in order to strengthen impact towards the goal of helping SNAP-eligible households make healthy eating and physical activity choices on a limited budget.