Assessing Library Health Education Programs Targeting Youth

Pioneer Library System offers summer programming experiences across its tri-county service area to engage children in learning during their break from school. During June and July, Pioneer’s public libraries located in Blanchard, Noble, and Tecumseh plan to host health and safety education programs for young children multiple times a week at each location. Children will learn about health and safety from community experts identified from Pioneer’s partnerships with the local health and fire departments, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, the Pioneer Library System and Foundation Board of Directors, school districts, and more. Additionally, many of the children attending the programs reside in lower-income areas and often struggle with hunger during the summer months. This program will provide healthy lunches and education about proper nutrition habits. Through this grant opportunity, Pioneer Library System seeks to hire a contractor with a strong background in health assessment to determine the impact and effectiveness of the programs, as well as to identify potential areas for improvement.