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Show 245 THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH Founded in 2009 by Jacob Franklin and John Asher, Running Forward, is a non-profit orga-nization that encourages healthy lifestyle choices in elementary school aged boys and girls through nutrition, physical fitness, and personal growth through a mentality of empower-ment. Running is the primary tool utilized with Running Forward participants to enhance fitness and serve as a strategy to promote healthy lifestyle. With weekly group runs, Running Forward currently operates at 5 elementary schools with approximately 140 children enrolled. Training is directed toward various events throughout the year, including an end-of-year 5k race. There is little accepted research that evaluates the direct effects and outcomes of a sustainable community driven, fitness focused program. To aid this area of research, a non-randomized, intervention study was proposed. During its second successful year of operating in Title I elementary schools in Salt Lake City, a desire to quantify the program's impact and measurable results led to some pilot testing. In the program's third year, the Running Forward assessment has been initiated. As principle investigator, Jacob Franklin has worked closely with Drs. Joy and Hannon, and other faculty in the University of Utah Division of Public Health to develop the protocol and necessary documents. Study participants (both control and intervention children) will be asked to complete three age appropriate surveys that have been previously tested and validated. These three surveys will measure self-image, nutritional knowledge, and physical activity respectively. Additional quantitative data will be gathered to measure the aerobic capacity, height, and weight of the subjects. This study has been submitted to the Salt Lake School District for approval and will soon be under review by the University of Utah Institutional Review Board. RUNNING FORWARD ASSESSMENT Jacob Franklin (Elizabeth Joy, James Hannon) Department of Music University of Utah honors college Jacob Franklin Elizabeth Joy James Hannon |
