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VERB Summer Scorecard

An Evidence-Based Practice

This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.

Description

The Lexington Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition implemented the VERB Summer Scorecard (VSS) Program in Lexington, Kentucky, as a local extension of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's national VERB campaign between 2004-2007. To attain VERB's goal of increasing and maintaining physical activity among youth ages 9 to 13 ("tweens"), VSS distributed scorecards that encouraged tweens to be active, have fun, master new skills, and explore new activities. The initiative offered free or reduced-price admission to local action-oriented games and events, such as 2-for-1 skating and free swimming at community pools, while the scorecards allowed youth to track their physical activity. When the participant had been active for at least 60 minutes, an adult stamped or signed one of the 24 squares included in the scorecard. After all the squares were filled, the participant could redeem prizes donated by local merchants and sponsor organizations.

Goal / Mission

To increase and maintain physical activity among tweens (youth ages 9-13).

Results / Accomplishments

Between 2004-2007, the percentage of VSS youth participating in vigorous physical activity 1 day or fewer per week significantly decreased from 24% to 10% (p<0.001). During the last two years of the intervention, 2006-2007, the percentage of VSS youth reporting high vigorous physical activity (6-7 days per week) significantly increased by 12.2 percentage points (p=0.002). Researchers also found that VSS participants were more likely to be active than tweens who had never heard of VSS.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Lexington Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition
Primary Contact
Contacts vary by county; check http://www.verbsummerscorecard.com/ for your local contact.
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Community / Social Environment
Organization(s)
Lexington Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition
Date of publication
Sep 2011
Date of implementation
2004
Location
Kentucky
For more details
http://www.verbsummerscorecard.com/
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2011/sep/10_0173.htm
Target Audience
Children, Teens

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Related Content for: VERB Summer Scorecard

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.
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