Resources for researchers
Disseminating evidence-based health programs in community settings
The Planet MassCONECT project trains and supports members of community- and faith-based organizations as they plan, adapt, and implement evidence-based programs for health promotion. In-person training and technical assistance provided by the program are augmented by a website that provides a step-by-step approach to evidence-based program planning, and offers opportunities for training and technical assistance.
The site’s most powerful feature is its Resource Finder, which helps users sort through hundreds of resources--data, tools, reports, guides, and programs--to find the best matches for their specific needs. Major search categories--health topics, age, populations, geographic area, and setting in which programming will be implemented--feature drop-down options for refining and focusing a search. A user might choose to browse all of the resources related to tobacco, or narrow the results to see only those those relevant to working with Asian adolescents in school-based settings.
Engaging users in iterative reviews
Site development was informed by feedback from community advisors and usability testing with trainees to maximize the usefulness and ease of use of the Resource Finder.
The PLANET MassCONECT project is offered by the Outreach Core of the U54 Partnership between the University of Massachusetts, Boston and the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, funded by the National Cancer Institute. The Outreach Core works in the Greater Boston and Lawrence areas to build capacity in community- and faith-based organizations for using evidence-based programs and strategies for health promotion.