Objective: To describe the impact of the iCook 4-H intervention study based on data gathered through ripple effect mapping focus groups through an explorative approach. Design: YouthÀadult dyads responded about ways in which iCook had affected the individual, family, and community. Three questions were asked: (1) What were people doing differently as a result of iCook? (2) Who benefited from iCook and how? (3) Were there changes in the way community groups and institutions did things as a result of iCook? Setting: Ripple effect mapping sessions took place across 5 states (Maine, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia). Participants: Seventy dyad participants (n = 35 youth, n = 35 adults) from the iCook 4-H intervention. Main Outcome Measure: Three core themes of iCook 4-H were assessed: cooking, eating, and playing together. Analysis: Direct content analysis and word frequencies were used. Results: Seven categories emerged: improved health, increased community involvement, increased knowledge, increased communication, changed motivation, financial mindfulness, and increased appreciation for family. An overarching theme that was determined was that learning new skills together through trying new things (cooking, eating, and playing) leads to positive individual family and community change. Conclusions and Implications: Ripple effect mapping was effective in determining the perceived impact of iCook 4-H on oneself, family, and community.

Ripple Effect Mapping of Youth & Adult Dyad Pairs Demonstrating Community Impact from iCook 4-H Intervention Sina King Introduction: Creating effective dissemination and implementation tools within community based, obesity prevention research is needed to bridge the current science to practice gap. Ripple Effect Mapping (REM) using Community Capitals Framework (CCF) is a community impact evaluation tool that is hypothesized to positively capture activity during dissemination within community programs. Although REM is a proposed impact evaluation method, it has not been widely adopted within the research sector. In order to facilitate the translation of research into evidenced based practice, a stepwise process must be described and tested to determine efficacy and effectiveness, followed by a method to translate findings into useable and understandable information for the immediate users, the community, and larger public. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine REM as an effective impact evaluation tool in determining participants' (youth/adult dyads) perceptions of the ripple effect of a 24 month, iCook 4-H multistate intervention program on self, family and community for future dissemination.

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Identifying the individual characteristics that predict which adults will develop obesity and diabetes is crucial. This study included national data from 902 participants (aged 25-75) in the Midlife Development in the U.S. (MIDUS) study. Participants completed the Big-5 personality trait measure in 1995-1996, and behavior/health variables between 2004-2009. We tested whether levels of certain personality traits would predict an elevated risk of diabetes via hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels through eating behaviors. A structural equation modeling framework demonstrated good fit when testing indirect effects (CFI = 0.95; RMSEA = 0.05). Indirect effects revealed that higher levels of neuroticism predicted greater waist circumference and higher HbA1c levels due to an increased use of food to cope with problems (IE =0.10; p<0.05). Moreover, indirect effects were found for conscientiousness, albeit in a protective direction. Our findings suggest that personality traits may be an early predictor of behavior and thus long-term adverse health outcomes.

BackgroundCommunity based interventions have an increased need to report program impact to participants, programs leaders and community stakeholders in order to justify the continued support of furthered programming. To fill this gap, eb4CAST, a novel forecasting and footprinting framework, has been developed to capture program need and impact and translate it into an electronically‐generated, user friendly report for participants, program leaders, researchers and community stake holders.ObjectiveTo create an eb4CAST program report for the iCook program, a community‐based childhood obesity prevention programs that uses a dyad approach to increase culinary skills, physical activity and family meal time among 9–11 year old children and their primary meal preparer.MethodsMultiple cohorts of iCook participants contributed to the dissemination of direct and indirect measures of participant and community outcomes through the development of an individualized community infographic. Direct measures of the participant surveys that completed the iCook 4‐H final (8th) wrap‐up session (N=51) were used for final report material on direct iCook outcomes. Indirect outcomes for participant counties were expounded by researchers to show how the program intervention measures relate to county statistics. An evaluation tool of Ripple Effect Mapping (REM) through the use of Community Capitals Framework (CCF) was then used to document impacts, outcomes and changes from the obesity prevention program. Participants across 5 states (N=70) reflected on how the intervention has impacted self, family and community. Combined data from direct and indirect sources were graphically combined in a report to show how this innovative approach of parents and children working together toward a healthier lifestyle has impacted the community.ResultseB4Cast reports were created for iCook dissemination sites (n=11). Each report had four components: program overview, community profile, program impact and Ripple Effect Mapping. The completed report presented vital information to participants, researchers and community leaders to better understand the impacts iCook 4‐H has had on individual participants, community capitals and program outcomes. This educational material has the capacity to inform community members of their local health status, changes that are currently taking place to improve health outcomes, and how iCook 4‐H's innovative approach of parents and children working together has created a healthier lifestyle.ConclusionsThe application of eb4CAST to iCook demonstrates the feasibility of using a novel forecasting and footprinting tool to create a report of program need and impact that can be disseminated to participants, programs leaders, researchers and community stakeholders.Support or Funding InformationApproval to use the data set was granted by the West Virginia University Institutional Review Board prior to study implementation.