HealthCorps® has partnered with Affinity Health Plan, a not-for-profit managed care organization serving the needs of underserved residents in New York City, to undertake a rigorous scientific evaluation that will measure the effectiveness of specific HealthCorps interventions. HealthCorps and Affinity believe that within two years they will be able to show statistic proof of the physical and mental benefits of the HealthCorps curriculum.

Pilot Program Experience
In September 2004, lunchtime workshops on nutrition began at George Washington High School for Health Careers and Sciences in New York City. At the conclusion of the 3 month nutrition module, almost half of the students reported that they were making or contemplating making changes to their personal nutrition habits. Concrete measures showed a 12.5% average increase in scores on the nutrition section of the Health Habits questionnaire, which assesses healthy eating habits. The response from the students and staff was overwhelming. Interest among the student body was so great that enrollment had to be limited for the second semester. Data from the mid-year feedback forms are as follows:

87% of students reported that HealthCorps had influenced their outlook on health.
78% said HealthCorps taught them things they did not already know.
98% considered their HealthCorps community coordinator well trained and approachable.
89% said HealthCorps was interactive and kept their attention.
28% said they get enough practical health education without HealthCorps.
96% considered the program a good idea and hoped to see it continue in their school.