The New School Practicum Team Presentation of Final Deliverables

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Kristina Capron, Ellen Davidson,

Talar Khatchadourian, Mina Nabizada,

Thea Rome, Brian Stern and Eda Tekeoglu

Advisor: Stacey Flanagan

May 27th 2011

Deliverable I

Comparative Analysis of Physical Activity Programs

Overview

Domestic analysis:

•Little to no successful programs exist

International analysis:

•Paris offers interactive campaign

Paris

•Posters promote 30 min of physical activity

•Walking signs as reference for pedestrians

•Physical elements not well suited for NYC high needs neighborhoods

Taiwan

•Greater social marketing techniques could help promote physical activity

Our conclusions

•Need for greater use of signs, posters and advertisements

•Caution - consider the demographics

Deliverable II

Walking Group Feasibility Case Study

Methodology

We need to understand what obstacles exist in implementing a walking group initiative in NYC’s highest-needs communities. Also, we need to learn from successful walking groups

In-person and phone interview with the following contacts:

•Javier Lopez, Director, NYC Strategic Alliance for Health

•Lourdes J. Hernández-Cordero, DrPH, Director of CLIMB

•Monique Hedmann, MPH, Director of Walk it Out! Program

•John Falzon, Center Manager, Thomas Jefferson Recreation Center

Findings: City Life is Moving Bodies (CLIMB)

•Columbia University Medical Center

•Community-based initiative: community health depends on safe parks and neighborhoods

•Since 2003, created and physically linked multi-use hiking trails, linked organizations, institutions, and the community

Annual Hike the Heights – promotes initiative and multi-generational activities

Google Image

“You have to make walking fun in order to motivate people” - Monique Hedmann, Walk it Out!

• Sponsored by the NYS DOH

• Comprehensive physical activity program for senior citizens residing in Harlem

• Partners with Columbia University – student walking instructors

• Partners with 10 senior centers in Central Harlem

• High turn-out due to incentives: t-shirts, water bottles, sweatshirts, and drawstring bags

Google Image

Findings: Walk it Out! At the Harlem Hospital Center

• Empire BCBS/City of New York Parks and Recreation

• Empire BCBS: targeting blood pressure among senior citizens in all 5 boroughs

• Low to no turn out reported at Thomas Jefferson Park in East Harlem

Team Photo of Walk NYC Flyer

Findings: Walk NYC

Overall Findings

“Walking groups for seniors are difficult: Promoting health benefits is not effective”

-Dr. Hernández-Cordero,CLIMB

•We learned from CLIMB and Walk it Out! that incentives, promoting multi-generational activities, socializing/bonding with peers, and walking with a purpose are great motivators

Google Image

Recommendations

• Use student volunteers in place of hiring certified walking instructors

• Partner with nonprofit organizations that are willing to offer indoor space as an alternative to outdoor activities during inclement weather

• Offer multi-generational activities and promote peer bonding

• Offer incentives to participants

– A low-cost option: partner with a private sector corporation that can fund or offer healthy lifestyle incentives such as water bottles, pedometers, and jump ropes.

• Program should be multi-dimensional and include educational, social and “walking with a purpose” components

Deliverable III

Shape-Up Feasibility Study

Shape-Up Feasibility Study

• Gaining an understanding of Shape Up NYC = finding best practices (execution)

• Understanding population/potential client base

– Quantitatively

(who; why; # times a week; multigenerational involvement )

– Qualitatively

(needs + interests)

• Surveys of Shape Up NYC feeds our proposal for a pilot program (high needs area)

Methodology

• Field surveys, focusing on

• Age

• Gender

• Location of class

• Prior walking group participation

• Interest in walking groups in the future

• Interest in classes not currently offered

• Children present

• Activity limits due to children present

Shape-Up Feasibility Study Age

N= 53, 100% FemaleAggregate of 87%

The line for Shape-Up Zumba class outsideof the East Harlem Asthma Center

Team Photo

III: Shape-Up Feasibility Study Interest

100% of the 45-54 group say they would be interested in leading a walking group

Willingness to Pay

Team Photo

The below chart illustrates that the majority of respondents, 53%, said they are not willing to pay a fee to participant in a physical activity program

III: Shape-Up Feasibility Study Programming

* Survey results indicate areas for program growth; Dance includes all forms noted: zumba, belly, salsa, merengue

• Children present: 87%

• Limited time for activity: 33%- Act as primary caregiver (limits activity)

• Of those, 100% would bring children to Shape-Up programs-Same activity - Not necessary; -But easy access needed

• Multi-generational activity represents an opportunity for program innovation

Google Image

III: Shape-Up Feasibility Study

Intergenerational Interaction

High-Level Borough by Borough Findings

The following is a break down of the more salient findings by borough: 

• In all cases, the 35-54 turn out overwhelming

• East Harlem (demand for innovative programming - walking groups and dance classes as reflected by walking group participation)

• The cost must remain under $5 to achieve turnout (Bronx least willing to pay - 85.7 % of respondents answering “No”)

• Overwhelming desire for dance in Brooklyn (60% of respondents requested)

• Most children present per Borough (41.5% in East Harlem)

Key Recommendations 

• Target females ages of 35-54 --An emphasis on women in the 45-54 age group

• Demand for dance classes (Zumba, African dance + innovative teachers)

 

• Keep cost-to-participant low

• Additional study may be helpful

– Pay-as-you-go pricing model vs. One-time fee for a set number of weeks

– Determining price elasticity of demand would also prove beneficial (find the intersection between the right price to facilitate maximum weekly participation)

Deliverable IV

Nonprofit Assessment of Physical Activity Programming and Partnership

Methodology

Survey was created in order to develop possible partnerships between nonprofit organizations and the DOHMH

•Does your organization focus on low-income communities?

•In which NYC neighborhood(s) does your organization extend its services to?

•Which age groups does your nonprofit cater to?

•If your organization is interested in partnering with the DOHMH, what resources could you offer?

•Please specify if you think that your physical activity programming is innovative?

Findings

• 6 out of 7 selected organizations offer physical activity programming

• 71% of non-profits partner with other agencies in physical activity initiatives

• All 7 of the organizations are interested in partnering with DOHMH in its physical activity initiatives

• 4 out of 7 organizations cater programming to 35-54 year olds

• 4 out of 7 organizations provide walking groups and group fitness classes such as Zumba and Aerobics

Findings

• 5 out of 7 organizations stated they would provide space (indoor and outdoor space)

• 3 out of 7 nonprofits could provide support staff (trainers and instructors)

• 4 out of 7 organizations could offer funding assistance

The nonprofits who are interested in partnering with the NYC DOHMH’s physical activity initiatives are willing to provide the following resources:

Recommendations

• Consider partnering with the seven selected nonprofit organizations

• Analyze practices of the 4 nonprofits who already have implemented walking groups in their programming

• Consider implementing aspects of “innovative” physical activity programming as reported by respondents

Deliverable V

Business Wellness Survey

Methodology

Survey was created in order to develop possible partnerships between private organizations and the DOHMH

•Which businesses already take part in a wellness/incentive program?

•How many businesses offer health insurance to their employees?

•Which businesses are interested in partnering with the DOH?

Methodology of Business Wellness Survey

Survey was conducted among 27 businesses throughout South Bronx, Harlem, and Brooklyn

Overall Findings

• 70% of businesses offer full time employees health insurance

• 4% offer wellness incentives to their employees

• 89% reported that employees would take advantage of wellness incentives

• 52% are interested in partnering with the DOHMH

• 15% are already partnered with local gyms, restaurants, and other businesses

Borough to Borough Findings

• All Harlem and South Bronx surveyed businesses have not partnered with local businesses

• 4 out of 6 businesses in Brooklyn have partnered with local businesses

• Out of 27 businesses, 3 in Harlem, 6 in Brooklyn, and 5 in South Bronx are interested in partnering with the DOHMH

Recommendations

• Develop a plan for interested businesses looking to team up with the DOHMH

• Encourage businesses to provide health insurance to all employees and provide information on affordable insurance

• Become a liaison for those businesses wanting to partner with other local businesses for employee incentives

Deliverable VI

Proposal

Grant Proposal

I. Executive Summary

II. Statement of Need

III. Organization Mission Statement

IV. Project Description

V. Project Duration

VI. Budget

VII. Evaluation Method

Project Description: Goals and Objectives

Short-term: pilot program in East Harlem

• Walking groups will increase community engagement

• Minimum 25 people per walking group = 75 participants per week

• During the 6-month pilot period, we expect 1,950 participants in a total of 78 classes to consider the program successful

• Students will become certified to lead walking groups

• Loyalty programs will keep participants interested

Goals and Objectives

Long-term: Roll out to all high needs neighborhoods

•Programs will be sustained through public-private partnerships

•Walking groups will lower participants BMI and blood pressure

•Obesity and obesity related illness will decrease by a minimum of 20%

Walking Groups

Walking groups will be held 3 days a week

•Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9:00am to 10:00am

•60 minute session will include

• 10 minutes of stretching

• 40 minutes of walking

• 10 minutes of stretching to avoid injury

Incentives

Loyalty program to ensure people remain engaged

•Day 1: T-shirt (free advertisement)

•Day 5: water bottle

•Day 10: pedometer

•Day 20: jump ropes

•Day 30: heart rate monitor

•Day 40: blood pressure cuffs

Personnel

Student Volunteers and interns will act as:

•Monitoring and evaluation coordinators, focus group facilitators, and walking group leaders

•Student volunteers will be trained and certified to become walking group leaders (CPR and first aid)

•Intergenerational ties

•If students are deemed to be a liability issue, we will then hire personal trainers at an hourly rate of $100

Partnerships with Non-Profit Organizations

Non-ProfitOrganization

 

ContactName:Email:Phone:

About the Organization Their interest What they can provide in partnering with the DOH

CHALK at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia University Medical Center 

Stephanie Pitsirilos-Boquinchalk@nyp.org212-305-2771

Focuses on health care including hospitals, mental health, and medical researchThey receive funding through government grants

CHALK focuses on physical activity programs, particularly on group fitness classes, recreational sports and family fitness

Would be able to offer funding assistance, interns, and exercise supplies (jump ropes, balls, pedometers)  

Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership, Inc.

Maria GuevaraNmpp_chwp@yahoo.com212-289-8800

Focuses on human services in Manhattan. This organization focuses on ages thirteen and up, in low-income communities. They currently receive funding from government grants

Currently does not focus on physical activity programming but are interesting in implementing physical activity programming.

Would be able to offer indoor and outdoor space. 

Table 1: Possible Partnerships with Non-Profit Organizations

Project Duration

Tasks To Be Performed

2011 2012 Year 1

2013 Year 2

2014 Year 3

Months J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J-D

1. Prospect Donors                                                                

2. Send out Grant Proposals                                                                

3. Start Pilot Program in EH                                                                

4. Training and Outreach                                                                

5. Program Duration                                                                

6. Evaluate Program                                                                

7. Replicate in C. Brooklyn                                                                

7. Training and Outreach                                                                

8. Program Duration                                                                

9. Evaluate Program                                                                

10. Replicate in the S. Bronx                                                                

BudgetTYPE OF EXPENSE

QTY AMOUNT REASON FOR EXPENSE

EQUIPMENT   $5,860  Safety:       First Aid Kit 1 $60 Volunteer trained instructor will carry a first aid kit while conducting the walking

group should the need arise to provide care to a participant

Incentives:       Water Bottles 200 $800 Best practice shows that an incentive must be offered to drive participation; Start-

up volume purchased will be minimal; Incentives used in the form of a “frequent buyer program”; participation will be tracked with every 5 th visit awarded with an incentive to continue. Variety of incentives to be widened to include gift certificates and savings at neighborhood drug stores and supermarkets

T-Shirts 200 $1,000 Pedometers 200 $4,000

PERSONNEL   --  Certified instructor 1 -- In accordance with best practices, all personnel will be providing their services

pro bonoM&E coordinators 2 --Focus group leader 1 --Creative designer 1 --TRAVEL   $1,560  Instructor RT MTA 1 metro card $390 In accordance with best practices, all personnel will receive reimbursement for

their MTA subway expenditures; Assumes $5 round-trip, 3x/week over 26 weeksM&E RT MTA 2 metro cards $780FG leader RT MTA 1 metro card $390MARKETING/COMM

  $20,000  

Creative (logo/messaging)

-- -- Assumes creative will be provided pro bono; Social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, targeted blogs), will be absorbed by the nonprofit staff or intern; Print advertising, using the creative, must be carried out to drive awareness of the walking groups and spur participation

Online Social Media -- --Print Advertising   $20,000

Total: $27, 420

Evaluation Method

Evaluation and Monitoring

•Will occur throughout the entire duration of the project

•Will begin April 1st to October 31st 2012

•Evaluation will extend for 2 months after the end date: November - December 2012

Performance Indicators

•Awareness among the residents of the presence of walking groups and its features in the immediate neighborhood

•The degree to which participating in walking groups is reducing Body Mass Indices

Thank You