Projects

Health & Technology Partners conducts research for nonprofits, local, state, and federal agencies, academic partners, and community organizations, including project design, implementation, and analysis leading to a range of deliverables.

Current Projects

Collaboration with The Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve. This multi-year project will provide the evidence and data necessary to answer visit and visitor use management questions, informing Emiquon’s development of nimble and responsive visitor management approaches for the health of people and planet.

Co-Investigator on the Coping and Nature During COVID-19 Survey (CANS) research project. CANS was developed to explore multiple components that may influence the use of greenspace and its impact on well-being in response to perceived threats of COVID-19. This survey was conducted May 2022 and questions were referenced to the spring of 2021 and 2022, before and after vaccines against COVID-19 were widely available. The online survey (n=1,621) sampled individuals residing in the largest 100 metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S. either in the top or bottom poverty tertiles per the American Community Survey. Ongoing active member of the Horton Research Group.

Providing program evaluation across Hike it Baby’s core programming. The ongoing program evaluation continues to assess how the programs have impacted the knowledge, beliefs and skills of families with babies and children to spend time in nature. Serve as a “Train the Trainer” Instructor for the Bring it Outside Curriculum.

The electronic Community Park Audit Tool (eCPAT) System is a comprehensive SaaS technology solution for professionals and researchers to audit, assess, and promote equitable park use for community health. Our three-component system includes 1) a valid and reliable park data collection mobile app, 2) an interactive and searchable map-based web database, and 3) a unique health promotion scoring system. As a member of the eCPAT team, providing industry insights and collaboration on continuing R&D.

As a member of the Parks and Green Space Work Group, currently assisting with the Perceptions of Knowledge and Experience in Nature-based Health Interventions/Prescriptions Survey. Previously co-authored A scoping review of the health benefits of nature-based physical activity. PAPREN is a CDC funded thematic research network to support local, state and national level policy approaches to influence physical activity opportunities.

Recently Completed Projects

Completed a study examining Forest Therapy trails. Very little research has examined the characteristics of forest settings that might help improve these experiences and their delivery by park and forest managers, forest therapy guides, and health care providers. We conducted research to identify the key natural, built, and social attributes of forest settings relevant to forest therapy experiences. Findings from this project were published including: Key characteristics of Forest Therapy trails: A guided, integrative approach and Forest therapy trails: A conceptual framework and scoping review of research.

Developed a program evaluation approach and validated metrics to help guide the Brushwood Center as they continue to steward the growth of the At Ease program which serves veterans, active-duty members, and their families in experiencing wellbeing through the natural world. This included generating recommended metrics and measurement tools for the At Ease program overall and for sub-programs.

Recently completed two workforce development products for NRPA. These included the Workforce Development: A Resource Guide for Parks and Recreation which features case studies highlighting programs dedicated to workforce development opportunities, primarily working with youth and young adults, to engage future generations of park and recreation professionals and advocates. Along with the accompanying workbook, Workforce Development: Self-Guided Workbook for Parks and Recreation, which helps agencies assess their current situation and opportunities for growth.