8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. Active Living Research Grantee Meeting (ALR Grantees Only)

3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Conference Registration

4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Pre-Conference (Concurrent) Workshops - Sessions 1

1) Active Living in Rural Populations
Jeffrey Hallam, Ph.D., The University of Mississippi
Renee Umstattd, Ph.D., The University of Alabama
David Hartley, Ph.D., University of Southern Maine
Erin Hennessy, M.S., M.P.H., Tufts University

This session will explore the extent to which active living theory, methods and interventions need to be modified for use in rural communities. The workshop will begin with a brief presentation exploring how rural residents are a high risk, high priority population, and reviewing geographic, cultural and political factors that necessitate different approaches to active living initiatives in such communities. Investigators will report on three recently completed rural active living research projects, with an emphasis on how the study communities differ from urban and suburban communities, and how active living methodologies were modified to accommodate these differences. Questions and comments from participants will be encouraged.

2) Using GPS and Accelerometers in Neighborhood Research [pdf]
Daniel Rodriguez, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Elizabeth Shay, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Deborah A. Cohen, M.D., M.P.H., RAND Corporation

In this workshop participants will share experiences and interest in using portable global positioning systems (GPS) for active living research. The workshop will begin with an overview of GPS devices available, tests of the technology, and protocols developed for their use. In addition, three applications of GPS in active living will be presented. The first examines agreement between GPS data and self-reported travel diary information. The second provides preliminary insights from using portable GPS units in a study of adolescent girls. The third application contextualizes physical activity data by combining accelerometer data and in a geographic information system (GIS), including a demonstration of software to merge all data. Ample time will be available for discussion.

3) Writing Research Papers for Impact
Burness Communications
Writing Research Papers for Impact [pdf], Frank J. Chaloupka, Ph.D., Health Policy Center, University of Illinois at Chicago
George Lundberg, M.D., Editor in Chief, The Medscape Journal of Medicine and eMedicine

This interactive workshop will highlight the guiding principles of how to write your research in a way that will help provide answers to essential questions about the environmental factors and policies that influence physical activity, accelerate the momentum of advances in the field of active living, grab the attention of key players and policy-makers, and ultimately, help shift public debate and motivate wide-scale policy changes. The workshop also will feature perspectives from research veterans well-versed in the challenges of building the evidence base to catalyze social change.

4) Active Living Research 101
Physical Activity and Active Living Research [pdf], James F. Sallis, Ph.D., Director, Active Living Research
Parks and Recreation [pdf], Myron Floyd, Ph.D., North Carolina State University
Urban Planning and Transportation [pdf], Robert Cervero, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Tools and Measurement [pdf], Jacqueline Kerr, Ph.D., Active Living Research

Active Living Research 101 is intended for those who are new to this area of research. Presenters will cover such topics as overview of the ALR program, a brief history, guiding concepts and models, basics of transdisciplinary research, examples of funded studies, key results, and plans for the future. Presenters will represent multiple disciplines, and there will be time for question and answer.

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Buffet Dinner Provided

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Pre-Conference (Concurrent) Workshops - Sessions 2

1) An Introduction to Accelerometer Data Reduction and Processing [pdf]
Handouts:
Details of Programs to Process Accelerometer Data [pdf]
Tips to Improve Accelerometer Wear Time [pdf]
MeterPlus 3.0 Demonstration [pdf]
Scott Crouter, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Boston
Jacqueline Kerr, Ph.D., Active Living Research

This session will focus on what you need to do after you have collected your accelerometer data. It will provide information on examining your data for valid days, valid count values, bout duration, non-wear time, etc. It will also provide a demonstration of various computer programs written to assist in preparing your accelerometer data for statistical analysis.

2) An Introduction to the Bridging the Gap (BTG) Program
BTG: Research Informing Practice for Healthy Youth Behavior [pdf], Frank J. Chaloupka, Ph.D., Health Policy Center, University of Illinois at Chicago
The Impact of Policy and Environmental Factors on Physical Activity and Weight Outcomes [pdf], Sandy Slater, Ph.D., Health Policy Center, University of Illinois at Chicago
Examining State and Local Obesity-Related Policies as Part of the BTG Initiative [pdf], Jamie F. Chriqui, Ph.D., M.H.S., Health Policy Center, University of Illinois at Chicago

This session will introduce participants to the work of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Bridging the Gap Program (BTG). BTG researchers bring together a wide variety of data collected originally and from public and commercial sources for use in assessing the impact of policy and environmental factors on youth health behaviors and related outcomes, including physical activity and obesity. BTG data, research findings, and opportunities for accessing BTG databases will be discussed.

3) Community-Based Participatory Research for High-Risk Communities
Workshop Handout [pdf]
Mindy Fullilove, M.D., Columbia University
Leslie Green-Rennis, M.P.H., Ed.D., Abyssinian Development Corporation
Lourdes Hernández-Cordero, Dr.P.H., Columbia University Medical Center

Community-based participatory research faces unique challenges of defining community, building partnerships, and developing a shared research agenda, while at the same time keeping funders happy. This workshop will explore how “deep engagement” can help build lasting relationships and powerful research and action agendas. The authors work in Northern Manhattan, studying violence and community collapse and using that data to create a hiking trail, will be used as an example.

4) Active Living Research Evaluation Results [pdf]
Marjorie Gutman, Ph.D., Gutman Research Associates

This session will focus on the results of one of two recently completed evaluations of Active Living Research (ALR). The evaluation included interviews/data collection with grantees, researchers, policy leaders, leadership of 12 foundations/government funders, and experts in field building. The evaluation report on the process and outcomes of ALR activities, present results and lessons learned, and offer recommendations to ALR and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). This session will include a presentation of the evaluation and a facilitated discussion of findings and recommendations for improvement and field building.

8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.: Welcome Reception and ALR Dissertation and New Grantee Poster Session