| | | | An evaluation of Project Lively is occurring, and staff could use assistance in conducting surveys of Project Lively clients. | Jenn | | Not Assigned | One-time project | | | | | | |
| | | | Develop an audit tool (form and instructions) that can be used by professional staff to evaluate and compare the safety of different intersections along Safe Routes to School walking and biking routes.
| Charlie | Bryan | In progress | One-time project | Research similar audit tools and identify audit elements related to intersection/crossing safety, specifically focusing on the physical design and built environment characteristics of the crossing. Special consideration should be made for vulnerable users, including school-age children, older adults, and people using mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers and canes.
| 1) Develop an audit form. 2) Develop instructions for professional staff to use the audit form. 3) Field test the audit form with at least three crossings of concern within the Safe Routes to School walking and biking routes serving the Pinckney Elementary School. 4) Develop a report to summarize the findings of the field testing, including the evaluation and comparison of the crossings as well as review of the audit tool and develop recommendations for further revisions and use of the tool.
| public health, community health, urban planning, civil engineering, geographic information systems (GIS)
| 12 | | |
| | | | Vending machines at the health department, Lawrence Parks and Recreation facilities, and Douglas County buildings are supposed to adhere to certain nutritional standards. The project would evaluate compliance with standards. | TBA | | Not Assigned | One-time project | The audit would entail visiting vending machines and determining which products meet the nutritional standards, through the use of an Excel-based calculator for nutritional status information. | Familiarity with Excel
Transportation to vending locations
| | 2 | | 2018|07|05|C|M01 |
| | | | In the spring of each year LDCHD staff have the opportunity to participate in a CSA offered by a local farm. This project would seek to gather information from staff about CSA interests in order to determine if an on-site CSA should be offered in 2019. | TBA | | Not Assigned | Recurring (e.g., annual) | Required steps are evaluation of possible CSA providers, assessing interest among LDCHD employees, and working with Wellness Committee members to set up operating procedures for a 2019 CSA, if interest warrants. | Project management skills to prioritize and plan activities. Attention to detail to meet CSA enrollment deadlines
| | 8 | Project takes place over a period of weeks from about February thru April
| 2018|07|05|C|M|02 |
| | | | Help coordinate efforts for bike-related activities associated with the Earth Day parade (to promote Bike to School Day), and help promote the observance among Douglas County schools. | TBA | | Not Assigned | Recurring (e.g., annual) | Arrange logistics for a "bike parade" as part of Lawrence Earth Day Parade and a bike valet associated with the Lawrence Earth Day Festival occurring in April. Help organize community awareness related media associated with Bike to School Day. | Project management skills to develop action plan, time lines and resource needs
Communication skills - written, in-person and by phone
Problem solving skills
Participation the day of the event to manage activities and ensure smooth operations
| | 25 | | 2018|07|05|C|M|03 |
| | | | Communications to regulated entities (public swimming pools, child care facilities, septic system installers) as well as the public about compliance with public health laws is an important public health practice. The purpose of this project is to prepare short one to two page data summaries.
| Charlotte | Marthaler | Not Assigned | Ongoing or continually occurring project | Work with Health Department program staff to identify data source, learn how data are gathered and defined, and understanding data limitations. Compile data, interpret findings by considering various research questions.
Prepare final document that includes narrative and graphics appropriate for a general audience; this generally requires several rewrites. | Familiarity with Excel including graphs and charts
Data analysis
Writing skills
Teamwork - assuring that that final product meets agency needs
| | 10 | Each data summary is estimated to take about 10 hours but there are multiple topics so the hours to complete the project will vary.
| 2018|07|05|C|M|04 |
| | | | The wellness committee and lunchroom committee seek to better understand the preferences of employees for providing healthy vending machine and snack items in the lunchroom. The project would be to work with the committees to develop, implement and report on an assessment of employee preferences for healthy vending and snack options.
| Charlie | Bryan | Not Assigned | One-time project | Work collaboratively with members of the wellness committee and lunchroom committee to complete an assessment of employee preferences for healthy vending and snack options. The assessment could include multiple methods, such as surveys, product sampling, one-on-one interviews, and focus groups.
| The project requires familiarity with data collection and analysis, recommendation development and written and oral communication of findings.
| Applied Behavioral Science, Community Health, Public Health, Social Sciences
| 40 | | 20180706CB01 |
| | | | Development of a template to be used by analysts at the health department for data briefs and reports. | Sonia | Jordan | Not Assigned | One-time project | - Work with analysts to determine needs for a template
- Submit 3 samples for review
- Revise/edit based on feedback
- Submit final template
| - Familiarity with graphic design concepts and programs
- Familiarity with epidemiological data briefs
| | 80 | | |
| | | | Douglas County has experienced a huge increase in Hepatitis C cases over the past 5-10 years. The goals/tasks of this project would be:
- Research and understanding of Hepatitis C the disease
- Analyze available data for demographic analysis, yearly trends, and comparisons to state and national trends
- Data brief or report that summarizes analysis
- Recommendations of best practices for interventions and public health education
| Sonia | Jordan | Not Assigned | One-time project | - Reserach of Hep C through webinars, medical articles, CDC website, etc
- Use data at Douglas County to complete analysis
- Research evidence-based practices for public health interventions
- Produce a data brief of Hep C in Douglas County that includes both analytics and recommendations
- Create a presentation on findings and present to LDCHD staff
| - Basic research capacity
- Statistical analysis skills, including development of rates (crude, age-adjusted), demographic or descriptive analysis, and potentially other like confidence intervals
- Ability to format a data brief
- Writing skills
- Presentation development
| Community Health, biology, MPH
| 200 | This would be a good project for someone in an MPH program with an emphasis in epidemiology
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