National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference 2024

Michelle Rawls, MPH; Rusty Hohlt, Ed.D; Meredith Graham, MS; Brian Faries

Evaluation of program participation, location, impact, and implementation is an important component of the Extension program development model. Reducing the burden of data collection for participants or educators can help data be collected efficiently. This presentation will show how Texas Extension developed a digital data portal for the collection of information on program partners, program sites, participant demographics, and participant self-report health behaviors. The portal also includes educator feedback on curricula across multiple health and wellness programs. Evaluation of Extension-delivered-programs in this presentation include physical activity, health and wellness, and food preparation programs.
Attendees will learn about things that have worked well in digital data collection, requests for integration of components from agents and subject matter experts, modifications needed in portal development based on user feedback, and areas where technical assistance is most needed. Throughout the session, attendees will see how participants interact with the portal to self-report demographics and health behaviors. They will also observe how educators and subject matter experts use the portal to aggregate partner data and participant impact data on local and statewide level. Additionally, the session will look at how educator feedback on curricula has been integrated into the data portal as a method of providing subject matter experts with important implementation information. Overall, the presentation will allow the audience to get a dual experience of the digital data collection platform from a community health program participant and educator’s perspective.
Development and use of a digital data portal has led to a consistent method of collecting program implementation information and program impact data. Through this presentation, attendees will be able to explore how digital data collection has evolved for one unit in Texas Extension, what challenges have been addressed in the portal development process, and how the data portal has automated impact report creation.