Community Partnerships Research Corner

Published: December 2, 2025

Travis County Physical Activity Landscape Assessment (completed: October 2024): This was a 1-year, rapid community assessment of physical activity based in a mixed methods approach that includes secondary analysis of existing data, key informant interviews, and a scoping review of community assessments from the past 10 years that have had some focus on physical activity. Beyond exploration of barriers and facilitating factors, we documented disparities in adult leisure-time physical activity by city/community within Travis County, which has yet previously been published (Funder: MD Anderson).

Mapping Opportunities for Roadway Safety in Partnership with the Montopolis Community (completed: March 2025): This was a young-adult engaged community assessment guided by a mixed methods approach (analysis of existing data, photovoice, walkability audits, peer interviews) that explored barriers and facilitating factors for roadway safety and active commuting in the Montopolis area (Funder: City of Austin; Co-PIs: Springer & Salvo).

Exploring the activation of environmental supports for child out-of-school-time physical activity in partnership with the Acres Homes community of Houston, Texas: A pilot community assessment study of needs and opportunities (completed: August 2025). This pilot community assessment of barriers, assets, and opportunities for promotion of out-of-school-time physical activity included a mixed methods approach of analysis of existing TX SPAN data (which showed significant disparities in physical activity for Acres Homes children with our statewide sample), a parent survey of OST PA, key informant interviews with parents, school leaders, and community PA providers, and assessment school park utilization (SOPARC) (Funder: MD Anderson/NIH; PI: Springer).

Austin/Travis County Chronic Disease Community Health Workers - Train, Deploy and Engage Project “The HEART ATX Project” (completed: August 2024). The final report for this 3-year evaluation of a community health worker-led initiative (HEART ATX) aimed at mitigating COVID-19 via COVID-19 vaccination outreach, social service referral to address social determinants, and healthy living classes (diabetes prevention, walking groups) (Funder: CDC; Co-PIs: Springer & van den Berg).