Michael Edwards

The purpose of the SNAP-Education grant delivered by the Steps to Health team is to deliver nutrition and physical activity education to limited resource audience at the individual level and provide multi-level strategies/interventions to promote policy, systems, and environmental change across North Carolina, with 100 counties potentially receiving high levels of intervention.

"The overall aim of the proposed evaluation is to examine the outcomes of MAI������������������s veteran������������������s program on developing civilian job readiness for participants. The primary outcome-related goals will be examined through multiple methods including a quasi-experimental design (with follow up) and qualitative interviews. The primary research questions and outcomes are: 1. Do veterans from the US Armed Forces who participate in VetsWork increase their job seeking self-efficacy and civilian job confidence compared to veterans who do not participate in VetsWork? 2. Do veterans from the US Armed Forces who participate in VetsWork increase their career success as indicated by employment status, employment satisfaction, and salary compared to veterans who do not participate in VetsWork? 3. Do veterans from the US Armed Forces who participate in VetsWork increase their sense of purpose, initiative, critical thinking, and communication skills in comparison to veterans who do not participate in VetsWork? 4. What is the relationship between relevant program characteristics and processes with outcomes associated with civilian job readiness and career success for VetsWork participants? Data will be collected from one cohort of VetsWork participants in Year 3 of the program. Data will be collected from participants in participating veterans corps programs who choose to take part in the evaluation (Estimated N = 75). Participants will complete self-administered online surveys as part of their exit procedures. Surveys will be administered through web-based follow up from MAI and the evaluation team. Data will be collected from a comparison group of non-participants recruited through Qualtrics Research Services (QRC). QRC maintains a nationally representative online research panel. Panel members are incentivized to participate in online surveys based on quota sampling methods. QRC will distribute the survey link to qualified panel members based on pre-determined demographics acquired from previous evaluations with MAI (e.g., status as a US Armed Forces Veteran, age, educational attainment, race/ethnicity, gender) to ensure representativeness with the sample of VetsWork participants. Online panels have been tested in numerous studies and have been statistically equivalent to randomly selected population samples, typically demonstrate higher response rates, and have characteristics of validity and reliability similar to other methods of sampling and surveying. In order to ensure an adequate sample to match with the 75 veteran corps participants, a total of 300 completed surveys will be obtained from the QRC panel. A power analysis using G-Power for the suggested Repeated Measure ANOVA and Linear Mixed Models was run and the required sample size would be 56 in each group (or 112 total). The matching process between participants and comparison groups will occur following baseline data collection through survey responses. Propensity scoring will be employed using SPSS PMS extension with propensity matching by logistic regression to ensure appropriate matched pairs at baseline. Variables used to identify similar comparison individuals will include: demographic variables (age, gender, race/ethnicity, rank, marital status) and baseline measures (job seeking self-efficacy and civilian job confidence). "

Working in a partnership model, conservation corps provide land management agencies with resources that support youth development and community engagement [Engagement], a dependable workforce that balances high quality work with reduced agency costs [Efficiencies], and ensure the enhanced ability of public land agencies to sustainably provide for conservation and visitor recreation [Enhancement]. Relevant to the evaluation, the primary long-term impact associated with these program activities ensures resource institutions, managers, and industries have the long-term capacity to sustainably manage natural resource assets. Conservation corps work with public land agency partners at multiple levels. However, most of this work occurs on federal and state lands. Two important partners for conservation corps are the USFS at the federal level and respective State Parks at the state level. This evaluation will focus on the ability of participating corps to enhance the capacity of these two organizations. The overall aim of the current evaluation is to examine the outcomes of corps program on partners. The primary outcome-related goal is to determine, through a matched, quasi-experimental design, whether there is evidence that host partners demonstrate higher levels of engagement, efficiency, and environmental stewardship than similar, non-hosting affiliates. The primary research questions of this evaluation are: Using partner interviews and surveys, this evaluation will address the following research questions: Does hosting a conservation corps program increase public land agency partners������������������ capacity to:Engage youth and communities? Manage organizational resources more efficiently? More effectively manage public lands for conservation and visitor recreation?

The NCAA, along with the ACC, has recognized the growing issue of mental health among student-athletes. Despite the increase in mental health issues, there is a concern that institutional resources devoted to supporting the clinical and psychological needs of student-athletes is lacking. This issue has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected university athletic departments������������������ finances while simultaneously increasing the stress on student-athletes. Although a growing body of research has explored factors behind student-athlete mental health during this pandemic, little research has explored the scope and best practices of mental health services that may be effective in supporting student-athletes. This study will conduct focus groups with 20 sport psychologists and athletic trainers across the ACC Schools to provide both context of current issues facing student-athletes and explore their insights of current initiatives and resources designed to provide the best mental health support during a challenging period.

The purpose of the SNAP-Education grant is to deliver nutrition and physical activity education to limited resource audience at the individual level and provide multi-level strategies/interventions to promote policy, systems, and environmental change across North Carolina, with 100 counties potentially receiving high levels of intervention.

Relevant to the evaluation, improving trail conditions increases the quality of trails, leading to higher accessibility and usage, enhanced visitor experiences, and increased health outcomes. Primary performance measures that will guide the evaluation plan will be taken from the National Performance Measures Instructions (Environmental Stewardship Focus Area) Addendum document published by CNCS, item EN5: ��������������� Number of miles of trails or waterways (owned/maintained by national, state, county, city or tribal governments) that are improved, and/or created.

The purpose of this grant is to deliver nutrition and physical activity education to limited resource audience at the individual level and provide multi-level strategies/interventions to promote policy, systems, and environmental change across North Carolina, with 74 counties receiving high levels of intervention.

Multiple studies exist on the impact of environmental corps programs on participants (e.g., Duerden, et al., 2013; Education Northwest, 2013). Each evaluation provided strong evidence for the impact of the corps experience on participants������������������ community engagement, environmental engagement, teamwork, leadership, communication skills and grit. Emerging research demonstrates the efficacy of conservation work to provide broader social, health, and economic benefits. The primary relevant conservation activities conducted by corps are improvements to public lands and trail stewardship. Research suggests links between land improvement activities like those conducted by corps and many long-term community and ecosystem impacts. Improving public parks and habitats is associated with increased ecosystem services, improved biodiversity, and environmental health (Benayas et al., 2009; Suding, 2011). Controlling invasive species has major financial implications for many economic sectors (Pimentel, et al., 2005) and can also positively impact outdoor recreational activities (Eiswerth, et al., 2005; Julia, et al., 2007). Conservation activities can ensure that publicly accessible ecosystems remain healthy in light of high human contact (Alessa et al., 2003). Numerous studies have also indicated how poorly constructed trails negatively influence the quality of recreation experiences and decrease visitation (Roggenbuck, et al., 1993; Vaske, et al., 1993). When trails are built and maintained properly, they have the potential to produce direct economic benefits through visitor expenditures on equipment, food, transportation, and lodging (Moore, et al., 1994). PROJECT SCOPE OF WORK Relevant to the evaluation, there are two primary long-term impacts associated with corps activities. First, improving public parks and habitats promotes ecosystem health. While measuring the long-term impact of these activities lie outside the scope of a program evaluation, key antecedent mechanisms will be evaluated as program outputs and outcomes. Primary performance measures that will guide the evaluation plan will be taken from the National Performance Measures Instructions (Environmental Stewardship Focus Area) Addendum document published by CNCS, item EN5: ��������������� Number of acres of national parks, state parks, city parks, county parks, or other public and tribal lands that are improved. Based on preliminary work with NC State University, conservation corps, the Corps Network, and land management partners; the primary research question addressed in this evaluation is: were developed to guide the outcome evaluation: Do projects focused on improving and restoring habitats improve visually assessed habitat quality? To address these challenges and provide rigorous evaluation of corps programs, a collaboration between The Corps Network, member organizations of the Public Lands Service Coalition (PLSC), and North Carolina State University (NCSU), developed standardized measures of habitat improvement projects on public and private lands. Management goals identified through interviews and surveys with partner agencies and corps directed measurement selection. Specifically, this evaluation focused on improving ecosystem health and visitor experience through six objectives: 1. Encouraging or improving habitat for native plants 2. Encouraging or improving habitat for native animals 3. Discouraging or removing invasive plants from habitats 4. Discouraging or removing invasive animals from habitats 5. Reducing forest fuels to mitigate wildfire risk and severity 6. Restoring or creating habitat This evaluation explores types and amounts of activities contributing to each of the objectives, as well as detailed data focused specifically on invasive plant species management and the reduction of forest fuels, as they were the most common project types among participating corps. Review of the literature from land management agencies (e.g., U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. National Park Service) and peer-reviewed journ

North Carolina State University will conduct comprehensive nutrition education serving individuals and families enrolled in or eligible for SNAP and their communities through the SNAP Education program, Steps to Health. Steps to Health will deliver direct and indirect education on the individual level and provide multi-level strategies/interventions to promote environmental and policy change across North Carolina, with 74 counties receiving high levels of intervention. For FY19, SNAP-Ed will deliver programming to SNAP-eligible pre-K and school-aged children, adults, older adults, and families) will be reached through eight multi-session, direct education programs delivered by NC State Cooperative Extension Staff and Nutrition Educators. Sessions are interactive and multi-sensory, incorporating taste tests, cooking demonstrations, games, discussion, physical activity, songs, and goal setting to facilitate learning and promote positive behavior change. Building on direct education, Steps to Heath will engage in health promotion activities by providing indirect education to people at the interpersonal and community level. Additionally, Steps to Health will enhance direct and indirect education by providing site-specific resources and engaging site leadership/management to address policy, systems and environmental approaches to behavior change. Social marketing will be integrated as a community and public health approach to nutrition education that complements direct and indirect nutrition programming and will reach approximately with children ten years and younger.

Relevant to the evaluation, improving trail conditions increases the quality of trails, leading to higher accessibility and usage, enhanced visitor experiences, and increased health outcomes. Primary performance measures that will guide the evaluation plan will be taken from the National Performance Measures Instructions (Environmental Stewardship Focus Area) Addendum document published by CNCS, item EN5: ��������������� Number of miles of trails or waterways (owned/maintained by national, state, county, city or tribal governments) that are improved, and/or created. Based on preliminary work with NC State University, conservation corps, the Corps Network, and land management partners; the primary research question addressed in this evaluation is: were developed to guide the outcome evaluation: RQ1: Do projects focused on improving or constructing trails improve the visual quality of trails, increase usage of trails, increase visitor safety, and reduce trail-related resource impacts? Projects scheduled for treatment will be the population and a census approach will be used. The evaluation team will provide online training modules on the use of assessment tools and protocols to establish reliable observations. Additionally, the evaluation team will be available for technical assistance via teleconference. Trained observers will assess projects prior to work commencement to determine baseline levels of trail segment quality and again at the end of the project to determine level of improvement. Assessment scores will be standardized and indexed to calculate a visual quality score for each project area. Pre and Post scores will be compared using repeated measures with relevant controls.