Planning and Reporting Policy, System and Environmental Changes for Alabama SNAP-Ed: An Assessment and Evaluation Tool

Abstract

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) in Alabama recently added policy, system and environmental (PSE) strategies to facilitate positive changes to state and local food and physical activity environments. A tool, PSE Action Plan and Report, was developed to support 33 SNAP-Ed educators serving 57 counties in facilitating PSE changes, aggregate statewide data and track SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework indicators. The Alabama SNAP-Ed Community Health Coordinator (CHC) works alongside a county educator to develop and update the tool. Alabama SNAP-Ed identified four strategy areas ensuring broad, yet coordinated, PSE efforts. The strategy(ies) for the PSE effort is indicated on the tool. A measurable, expected outcome also is devised. Other information collected with the tool includes setting, organizational lead, number of individuals reached and complimentary direct education. The tool also includes a table to plan activities within seven steps educators follow to ensure sustainable change: engage, assess, plan, implement, evaluate, celebrate and sustain. The CHC and county educator discuss and include activities necessary to accomplish within each step. Additionally, start and completion dates are included for each activity. Lastly, the CHC provides information on progress and challenges associated with each recorded activity based on information gleaned from a monthly reporting call with a county educator. Each up-to-date tool is electronically shared with county educators using a secure site. Initial evidence demonstrates efficacy of this PSE Action Plan and Report in coordinating and reporting PSE efforts. Plans are underway to complete a process evaluation of this tool.