title: A comprehensive professional development training's effect on afterschool program staff behaviors to promote healthy eating and physical activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate a comprehensive intervention designed to support staff and program leaders in the implementation of the YMCA of USA healthy eating and physical activity (HEPA) standards for their afterschool programs (3-6 pm).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre- (fall 2011) and postassessment (spring 2012) no-control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four large-scale YMCA afterschool programs serving approximately 500 children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Professional development training founded on the 5Ms (ie, Mission, Model, Manage, Monitor, and Maximize) and LET US Play principles (ie, Lines, Elimination, Team size, Uninvolved staff/kids, and Space, equipment, and rules), on-site booster training sessions, workshops, and ongoing technical support for staff and program leaders from January to May 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  System for Observing Staff Promotion of Activity and Nutrition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multilevel mixed-effects linear (ie, staff behaviors expressed as a percentage of the number of scans observed) and logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 5328 System for Observing Staff Promotion of Activity and Nutrition scans were completed over the 2 measurement periods. Of the 20 staff behaviors identified in HEPA standards and measured in this study, 17 increased or decreased in the appropriate direction. For example, the proportion staff engaged in physical activity with children increased from 26.6% to 37% and the proportion of staff eating unhealthy foods decreased from 42.1% to 4.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comprehensive professional development training, founded on the 5Ms and LET US Play principles, and ongoing technical assistance can have a sizable impact on key staff behaviors identified by HEPA standards for afterschool programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health (Drs Weaver and Beets), and Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior (Dr Saunders), and Department of Physical Education and Athletic Training (Dr Webster), University of South Carolina, Columbia; Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, Lexington (Dr Beighle).
authors.forename: Robert Glenn
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Beets
authors.forename: Ruth P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beighle
authors.forename: Collin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D019058:Community Networks; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013022:South Carolina; D013192:Staff Development