January 31, 2025
New Project Updates
The Health Promotion Research Center (HPRC) is pleased to announce a few of our center’s newest projects. Read below to learn what we’re working on.
Evidence-Based Program Review
HPRC was selected to serve as the research partner for the Evidence-Based Program (EBP) Review to Recognize New Programs to Support Older Adults’ Health and Well-Being. EBP programs are essential tools for helping older adults maintain independence and community. Conducted in collaboration with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Administration on Community Living (ACL), the review will identify new disease prevention and health promotion programs that are proven to support older adults’ health and well-being through community-based research and practice. Organizations seeking EBP status will apply to the review and HPRC will provide technical assistance to organizations who apply throughout the application process. They will also assist in convening diverse panels of experts to review the programs for EBP recognition.
“This project builds on 20 years of partnerships with national and local organizations working to support older adults’ health where they live, work, pray, play, and age. We are thrilled to serve as research partner and to support new programs being recognized that address historically underrepresented populations, settings, and other contexts. EBP recognition of these programs is one important step for improving access to funding and other supports for community-based health promotion for all.”
Lesley Steinman
Project Co-Leads: Marlana Kohn and Lesley Steinman
Project Team: Kelly Chadwick, Anya Quig, & Paige Denison (Sound Generations)
Delta Evaluation Design
Delta Dental of Washington (DDWA) has retained HPRC to document and develop an evaluation design for their program, Dental Career Discovery: A Hands-On Journey. The program aims to reach historically underrepresented communities and populations in dental health careers. By providing youth and young adults the opportunity to explore dental careers with hands-on activities, scholarships, and mentorships, the program seeks to help participants from these programs get into dental training and join the workforce, all while supporting better health in their communities. HPRC is comprehensively documenting all aspects of the program and designing an evaluation and implementation guide for the DDWA team to use internally.
“DDWA’s Dental Career Discovery program is an innovative approach to workforce development and supporting diversity and equity in dental health careers. We are thrilled to support DDWA as they plan for long-term program evaluation and build a foundation to scale the program to sister Delta organizations nationwide.”
– Marlana Kohn
Project Lead: Marlana Kohn
Project Team: Caitlin Mayotte & Magali Sanchez
Arcora Cross-LIN Evaluation
As the evaluator for the Pierce County Local Impact Network (LIN), the Arcora Foundation asked HPRC to support a broad evaluation of the LIN initiative. LINs are networks of community partners who blend resources to improve oral health opportunities for people who need it most. The evaluation will summarize the structure and function of the LINs over the last 8 years, identify barriers and facilitators for the LINs as a community engagement strategy, and propose recommendations for how Arcora can support continued community engagement as part of their strategic planning cycle.
“We’re so excited to build on our collaboration with the Arcora Foundation, support their continued commitment to community engagement, and inform their strategic planning. It’s so rewarding to work with organizations committed to health equity and invested in doing the hard work of learning and growing to really live their mission and values.”
Marlana Kohn
Project Lead: Marlana Kohn