Engaging Community-Based Organizations in the Scale and Spread of WalkOn!
Jaime Hughes, Laura Jakiela, Barbara Nicklas, Elizabeth Kemp, Courtney Hayes, Justin Moore, Case Peters, Michelle Simpson

TL;DR
The paper explores how to adapt and scale a walking program for older adults in rural areas by engaging community-based organizations.
Contribution
The study provides insights into adapting evidence-based programs for rural communities through collaboration with diverse organizations.
Findings
Twenty-four out of 93 CBOs showed interest in implementing the WalkOn! program.
Participants desired adaptations like home exercise instruction and accountability buddies.
Organizational readiness was high, with only a few barriers reported.
Abstract
Few community-based walking programs exist within rural areas. Scaling WalkOn!, an evidence-informed walking program for older adults with mobility limitations, may require adaptations to intervention components and implementation strategies to best align with the needs, preferences, and capacity of rural communities. Informed by principles of implementation science and guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, we engaged diverse community-based organizations (CBOs) in exploring implementation determinants, organizational readiness, and program adaptations. Project invitations were sent to 93 CBOs across four diverse service sectors: faith-based, fitness/recreation, community services (e.g., libraries), and aging organizations. Twenty-four (26%) CBOs indicated interest, 13 (14%) attended an informational session, and 8 (9%) enrolled. While 7 (88%) have…
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Taxonomy
TopicsOccupational Therapy Practice and Research · Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders · Older Adults Driving Studies
