The Research and Evaluation Committee, co-led by Ricky Bluthenthal and Paul Koegel, includes representatives of HAAF, the academic institutions, and community members. The research council develops an overall evaluation of the project and supports the research evaluation of activities and products, including those developed in the working groups.
Supported by the Research and Evaluation Committee, the project has had ongoing scribes recording notes on most of the meetings of working groups. Some conferences and special activities have participant surveys. Scribe notes are being coded in formal qualitative analyses, in which researchers and community members are coding in teams. Interviews are being conducted of the Wellness Council members on the impact on their organizations. An evaluation is planned of the potential to partner in achieving intervention goals, of local healthcare and other community service organizations. Other formal evaluation activities are still being planned.
