Community Health

With a focus on the most vulnerable communities, OMG is committed to improving the health of all. As strategists and evaluators, we work with our clients on a broad range of health related issues, including reducing teen violence; community access to quality health care; and quality nutrition and home delivered meals to the homebound. Our team has built a significant portfolio focused on reducing our country’s obesity epidemic through strategies centered on healthy food choices and active life styles in schools and communities.

Evaluation of the Smart Bites Pilot Program
Read more >
OMG is evaluating the program model and implementation strategy for Smart Bites, a program funded by the Institute of Medicine.  The Smart Bites program promotes healthy food choices among youth through incentives, marketing, and awareness-building activities.  Launched initially in Bowling Green, KY, Smart Bites is expanding to three new communities in 2013.  Through its evaluation, OMG is assessing which program and dissemination elements are most effective, and is identifying how best to replicate the model in other communities.  
Close
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Convening
Read more >
OMG worked with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to design a convening to extend the policy development skills of its Health Policy Research grantees. While informing RWJF about its grantees’ capacity needs, this meeting deepened grantees’ understanding of the critical role of research in the policy change process, its place among the broader set of policy change tools and players.
Close
Childhood Obesity Prevention
Read more >
OMG assessed the design of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Injury Free Coalition for Kids initiative, as well as individual site programs and their evaluation capacity. OMG also conducted workshops to enhance grantees’ evaluation skills.OMG assessed the design of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Injury Free Coalition for Kids initiative, as well as individual site programs and their evaluation capacity. OMG also conducted workshops to enhance grantees’ evaluation skills.
Close
Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance
Read more >
OMG conducted a study comparing the medical costs and health outcomes of chronically ill and nutritionally at-risk clients receiving MANNA home-delivered meals to those of a similar group that did not receive this service. This research aimed to highlight the importance of regular nutrition in improving health and decreasing medical costs. The results of this study may serve to generate further questions for scientific inquiry and inform policy at the local, state, and national level.
Close
Alliance for Healthier Generation’s Competitive Foods Agreement
Read more >
OMG evaluated the implementation of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Competitive Foods Agreement. Healthier Generation is a voluntary contract with food companies to provide healthy food options in select elementary, middle, and high schools. Using a combination of surveys, interviews, and focus groups, the evaluation examined changes in marketing and food offerings among schools working with food companies that have signed the agreement. The evaluation supported healthier food choices for children.
Close
Thought Leader Forums on Childhood Obesity Prevention
Read more >
OMG designed and facilitated four thought leader forums for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The goal of the forums was to advance and inform the field by bringing together leaders with diverse perspectives and expertise in various areas pertaining to childhood obesity prevention.
Close
Pennsylvania Early Childhood Mental Health Consultancy Project
Read more >
OMG conducted a formative evaluation of the Pennsylvania Early Childhood Mental Health Consultancy Project, with funding from the William Penn Foundation. The Pennsylvania Key, the state’s arm for professional development and childcare investments, launched the program to provide support to childcare providers in assessing and supporting children’s mental health needs. OMG assessed the effectiveness of service delivery and identified potential gaps across the state. OMG also made recommendations to standardize and improve services across the six regional Keys, and provided training on the new standards to the 13 mental health consultants.
Close