Adoption, Sustainability, and Dissemination of Chronic Disease Prevention Policies in Community-Based Organizations.

Despite increasing interest in structural (policy, systems, and environmental) changes to improve health, little attention has focused on the adoption, implementation, sustainability, and potential for dissemination of these changes among local community-based organizations. A mixed methods approach was used for this process evaluation. Representatives of nine community-based organizations were surveyed using closed-ended questions and in-depth qualitative interviews to describe 32 policy changes.

Smoking behaviors of adults with developmental disabilities and their direct support professional providers.

Background: People with developmental disabilities are not immune from the addictive effects and poor health outcomes associated with cigarette use. Direct support professionals often play a large role in the social environments of people with developmental disabilities and the literature suggests that one's environment can influence behavior.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between the smoking behaviors of people with developmental disabilities and their direct support professional providers.

The Perceived Role of Direct Support Professionals in the Health Promotion Efforts of Adults With Developmental Disabilities Receiving Support Services.

Direct support professionals (DSPs) play a large social role in the lives of people with developmental disabilities (DD) and have the potential to influence their health behaviors. Six qualitative focus groups ( n = 48) were conducted with DD community agency administrators, DSPs, family members and adults with DD to better understand the perceived role of DSPs in the health promotion efforts of those with DD. Findings from this study suggest that DSPs experience several barriers when trying to promote the health of those with DD, one of which is fear of violating the rights of people with DD.

Dietary and physical activity behaviors of adults with developmental disabilities and their direct support professional providers.

Background: People with developmental disabilities lead more sedentary lifestyles, consume poorer diets, as well as have higher rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease when compared to members of the general population. Direct support professionals play a large social role in the lives of their clients with developmental disabilities, and thus have the ability to influence the health behaviors of their clients.

Objectives: The overall purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the dietary and physical activity behaviors of direct support professionals and their clients with developmental disabilities, as well as to assess how direct support professionals facilitate the health behaviors of their clients.

Obesity Prevention Practices and Policies in Child Care Settings Enrolled and Not Enrolled in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Objectives The United States Department of Agriculture's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides meals and snacks to low-income children in child care. This study compared nutrition and physical activity practices and policies as well as the overall nutrition and physical activity environments in a sample of CACFP and non-CACFP child care settings. Methods A random stratified sample of 350 child care settings in a large Midwestern city and its suburbs, was mailed a survey on obesity prevention practices and policies concerning menu offerings, feeding practices, nutrition and physical activity education, activity levels, training, and screen time.