VERB™ Scorecard
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Resources Required

Staff: A lead agency should be identified, in addition to other agencies and community involvement, to support the effort. In Kentucky, a local health department serves as the lead agency and there are several team members instrumental to the implementation of the program. The following full-time equivalents are required for one complete implementation of VERB Scorecard during the summer:

Program organizer:.35 FTE for 6 months
Community organizer:.50 FTE for 4 months
Marketing specialist:.25 FTE for 4 months
Grand Finale coordinator:.35 FTE for 3 months

Training: Communities interested in implementing this intervention may benefit from training in marketing principles that guide the program. Minimally, they need to understand the importance of adhering to the developed marketing plan and how it guides programmatic decision-making. (See the Training and Technical Assistance section of the template for training opportunities.)

Materials: The cost of materials can be minimal, but this will depend on what community partners donate and how promotional materials are secured. Budgets for community campaigns have ranged from $100 - $35,000. The primary materials include:

  • Scorecard (hardcopy)
    • Communities can adapt the scorecards developed by Kentucky and provide as a hard copy, a downloadable PDF from a web site or both.
    • Printing costs are dependent upon features (glossy card stock, perforation, accordion fold) and volume. Costs have ranged from $0.10/card to .70/card.
    Note: Implementation of the hardcopy version is what was reviewed for this document, but the intervention has transitioned to an online format. There is a web-based version of the scorecard made available by the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. Communities can tailor the website for their own communities. An outside web designer may charge $500-$2000 for adaptations.
  • Incentives
    • Incentives may be donated or purchased, so this cost varies depending on the items used for incentives and how they are procured.
    • The incentives that each participant receives have averaged $6.00/child the five years the program has been held.
    • Grand Finale prizes can be donated from the YMCA, martial arts studios, sporting good stores, scouting organizations, orthodontic offices, banks, etc.
  • Promotional Materials for the National VERB campaign are provided for free by the CDC.
    • The three planning guides (Scorecard, Tween-centric Event, and Event Logistics) are available for ordering or downloading in PDF format. Download any of the three guides from the following location: http://www.cdc.gov
      /youthcampaign/partners/planning.htm
    • The following link provides access to order the three guides (scroll down to the bottom of the page to the VERB section). There are also VERB Activator CDs, Native American Posters and copies of the AJPM special issue available from this order form: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/pubs/dash.aspx

Other Costs:

  • Discounts are provided by community businesses and organizations to provide structured physical activity opportunities, e.g. basketball, karate, paintball, etc. for tweens. Providers choose the discount level: free, two for one, second game free, $3.00 discount, etc.
  • The costs of special events such as Longest Day of Play and the Grand Finale depend on the complexity, size and level of community cooperation. They can be simple events such as free swimming at a public pool or include a variety of physical activity stations (climbing walls, laser tag, water games, Dance Dance Revolution, etc.). Costs include staff time, promotion, signage and any activities that are not donated (such as renting inflatable slides).
  • If the program is used in communities with large Latino audiences, it may be necessary to translate the card and materials into Spanish. If staff is not available to complete this task, translation services may be required.