A Model to Measure Program Integrity of Peer-Led Health Promotion Programs in Rural Middle Schools: Assessing the Implementation of the Sixth Grade Goals for Health Program

The National Cancer Institute supports our research on the Goals for Health (GFH) program as a part of their priority to reduce cancer incidence. GFH consists of a 12-workshop 6th-grade program led by trained high-school leaders and a 10-workshop 7th-grade program taught by health instructors. The 6th-grade program occurs in small groups, and includes goal-setting activities, skits, videos, and healthy snacks. Challenges to program integrity are intensified due to the fact high-school volunteers implement the entire 6th-grade program. Strategies for optimizing program implementation of the peer-led component of GFH are presented in light of their feasibility at 6 rural middle schools in Virginia and New York. Modifications for future implementation of the 6th-grade component of GFH are presented as well as implications for peer-led community-based prevention efforts.