As Research Associate for WestEd's Human Development Program, Barbara Dietsch develops, implements, and evaluates programs targeting adolescent health behaviors, with an emphasis on the predictors of substance use, early sexual activity, and other associated high-risk behaviors.

Dietsch served as Project Director for WestEd's 1999 Out-of-School Youth Study of Substance Use and Associated Behaviors. Currently, she co-directs the evaluation of a large-scale school district teen pregnancy prevention program in Southern California.

She is Editor of the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) Network newsletter and Assistant Editor of the Pregnancy Prevention for Teens (PPFY) Network Newsletter.

In addition to her work at WestEd, Dietsch teaches masters-level nutrition classes and is a registered dietitian.

Prior to joining WestEd, Dietsch served as Coordinator of the Los Angeles Unified School District Tobacco Use Prevention Education project and Assistant Director of the school district's Safe and Drug-Free Schools/Comprehensive Health Education programs. As such, she wrote grants, collaborated with the external evaluator in developing assessment instruments, developed and conducted teacher trainings and workshops, and served as a liaison with community-based organizations to improve services to students, teachers, staff, and parents.

Dietsch received a BS in home economics from California State University, Northridge, an MA in home economics from California State University, Long Beach, and a PhD in preventive medicine from the University of Southern California.