case study
Innovative Solutions for the Advanced Training of Lifestyle Coaches
service category
Advancing People
client
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
challenge
Since 2013, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has partnered with Emory Centers-DTTAC to scale and sustain the National Diabetes Prevention Program in Wisconsin through Lifestyle Coach education and support. In 2018, WI DHS was awarded a cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support the design, testing, and evaluation of novel approaches to address evidence-based strategies aimed at reducing risks, complications, and barriers to prevention and control of diabetes in high-burden populations. WI DHS wanted innovative solutions for the advanced training of Lifestyle Coaches to strengthen skills needed to engage and retain participants in the year-long National DPP.
case study
Innovative Solutions for the Advanced Training of Lifestyle Coaches
service category
Advancing People
client
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
challenge
Since 2013, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has partnered with Emory Centers-DTTAC to scale and sustain the National Diabetes Prevention Program in Wisconsin through Lifestyle Coach education and support. In 2018, WI DHS was awarded a cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support the design, testing, and evaluation of novel approaches to address evidence-based strategies aimed at reducing risks, complications, and barriers to prevention and control of diabetes in high-burden populations. WI DHS wanted innovative solutions for the advanced training of Lifestyle Coaches to strengthen skills needed to engage and retain participants in the year-long National DPP.
The Solution
A virtual space for Lifestyle Coaches to connect and learn:
In partnership with Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging (WIHA) and WI DHS, Emory Centers-DTTAC launched a private group in 2019 on Common Ground, DTTAC’s online learning community for Lifestyle Coaches. This space provides a platform for peer-to-peer support, problem-solving, sharing of best practices, and engaging in learning opportunities to enhance facilitation skills and impact National Diabetes Prevention Program enrollment, participation, and retention.
Custom ‘Communities of Practice’ Series:
Gaps in Lifestyle Coach skills and areas for development were identified by WI DHS and WIHA. Based on these topics for growth, Emory Centers-DTTAC created and delivered a bi-annual ‘Communities of Practice’ series that included webinars and semi-structured peer dialogues to address barriers/challenges of National DPP implementation, share best practices, success stories, and lessons learned.
impact and results
- A connected WI Lifestyle Coach ‘Badgerland’ Community!
As of fall 2020, there are over 130 Lifestyle Coaches in the ‘Badgerland Lifestyle Coach’ group on Common Ground!
- Engaged Lifestyle Coaches with Ongoing Advanced Training.
As of fall 2020, three ‘Community of Practice’ learning series have been held and more are planned for 2021. Past participants said:
“Great to learn more about the real-world experiences and perspectives of Lifestyle Coaches and Coordinators who are involved in the delivery of this program. Helpful to learn how (1) coaches are connecting with participants between sessions (2) how coaches use the readiness to change model (3) how coaches can follow up with participants after/during the program.”
– WI COP Participant Oct. 2019
“Just hearing from peers about ideas of ways to get participants to be more engaged with one another during meetings was helpful”
– WI COP Participant July 2020
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, this infrastructure allowed WI DHS and WIHA to pivot quickly and offer several opportunities outside of the Community of Practice for Wisconsin Lifestyle Coaches to provide education around distance learning delivery/engagement techniques and peer dialogues to support Lifestyle Coaches as they transitioned to distance learning delivery during spring/summer 2020.
dttac case studies
Innovative Solutions for the Advanced Training of Lifestyle Coaches
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WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES