Evaluation of the BC Healthy Living Alliance (BCHLA) Initiatives

Start-end date: July 2007 - May 2010
Sponsor: Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research

The BC Healthy Living Alliance (BCHLA) received funding from the provincial government’s ActNow BC program to implement
15 initiatives designed to deliver activities across the province in three strategic areas: healthy eating, physical activity, and tobacco reduction. BCHLA is a provincial coalition of organizations working together to improve the health of British Columbians.SRDC is carrying out the evaluation of the initiatives in two phases. Phase one ended in the spring of 2008,during which SRDC completed evaluability assessments and prepared evaluation plans and budgets for the 15 initiatives. In phase two, SRDC will conduct outcome evaluations for five BCHLA initiatives: 

• Sip Smart! BC. The initiative is designed to deliver lessons to students in grades 4, 5, and 6 that inform them about health risks associated with sugar sweetened drinks, and reduce their consumption.
• Healthy Food and Beverage Sales in Recreation Facilities. The initiative aims to promote the sale of healthy foods in places where people work and play.
• Farm to School Salad Bar. The goal of the initiative is to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables among school-aged children by increasing access to local, fresh, nutritious, and culturally appropriate foods.
• Tobacco-Free Workplace Initiative. This initiative aims employers to implement tobacco-free workplaces and offer resources to employees who want to stop smoking.
• Walk BC. The initiative was established to raise awareness of the importance of a physically active lifestyle and support and promote walking as a key
  factor in increasing overall health and well-being in communities.

One initiative will be the subject of a formative evaluation:

• Smoke-Free Housing in Multiple-Unit Dwellings. The initiative aims to support interested housing providers to increase the number of voluntary smoke-free units available in multi-unit dwellings.

Another will be featured in a case study:

• Community Capacity Building Strategy. The strategy sets out to engage people in making their community a healthier and more vibrant place.

The evaluation of the BCHLA initiatives is funded by the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. SRDC completed the evaluation in May 2010.