Using Community-Led Mini-Grant Projects to Increase Access to Healthy, Affordable Food and Places to be Active

Abstract

ObjectiveVoices into Action: The Families, Food, and Health Project is a five-year, USDA-funded research and outreach project based out of North Carolina State University, North Carolina State University, A&T State University, and NC Cooperative Extension. Voices into Action (VIA) draws on community-based research to collaborate with community groups to improve access to healthy food and places to be active in three regions in North Carolina.Target AudienceVIA provided mini-grants to organizations working in Southeast Raleigh (in Wake County), western Harnett County, and Lee County to support community-led projects focused on improving access to food and opportunities for physical activity.Theory, Prior Research, RationaleBased on the socio-ecological model, mini-grants facilitate behavior change by creating long-term environmental changes. All projects are required to implement a policy or environmental change, build on or develop community partnerships, and include a plan for sustainability.DescriptionFifty-nine mini-grants were awarded over a four-year period (2013 – 2016). Projects vary in scope, and include community gardens, exercise programs, and nutrition education classes. Mini-grant recipients also receive technical assistance, including support with project impact.EvaluationGrantees were interviewed before and after implementing mini-grant projects. Interviews indicate that the experience increased organizations’ connections to community resources, fostered community partnerships, and enhanced organizational capacity. However, organizations’ success and capacity for long-term sustainability varied.Conclusions and ImplicationsCommunity-led mini-grant projects can be a viable method of putting research findings into practice by supporting efforts to improve access to healthy, affordable food and places to be active.FundingUSDA Grant #2011-68001-30103 ObjectiveVoices into Action: The Families, Food, and Health Project is a five-year, USDA-funded research and outreach project based out of North Carolina State University, North Carolina State University, A&T State University, and NC Cooperative Extension. Voices into Action (VIA) draws on community-based research to collaborate with community groups to improve access to healthy food and places to be active in three regions in North Carolina. Voices into Action: The Families, Food, and Health Project is a five-year, USDA-funded research and outreach project based out of North Carolina State University, North Carolina State University, A&T State University, and NC Cooperative Extension. Voices into Action (VIA) draws on community-based research to collaborate with community groups to improve access to healthy food and places to be active in three regions in North Carolina. Target AudienceVIA provided mini-grants to organizations working in Southeast Raleigh (in Wake County), western Harnett County, and Lee County to support community-led projects focused on improving access to food and opportunities for physical activity. VIA provided mini-grants to organizations working in Southeast Raleigh (in Wake County), western Harnett County, and Lee County to support community-led projects focused on improving access to food and opportunities for physical activity. Theory, Prior Research, RationaleBased on the socio-ecological model, mini-grants facilitate behavior change by creating long-term environmental changes. All projects are required to implement a policy or environmental change, build on or develop community partnerships, and include a plan for sustainability. Based on the socio-ecological model, mini-grants facilitate behavior change by creating long-term environmental changes. All projects are required to implement a policy or environmental change, build on or develop community partnerships, and include a plan for sustainability. DescriptionFifty-nine mini-grants were awarded over a four-year period (2013 – 2016). Projects vary in scope, and include community gardens, exercise programs, and nutrition education classes. Mini-grant recipients also receive technical assistance, including support with project impact. Fifty-nine mini-grants were awarded over a four-year period (2013 – 2016). Projects vary in scope, and include community gardens, exercise programs, and nutrition education classes. Mini-grant recipients also receive technical assistance, including support with project impact. EvaluationGrantees were interviewed before and after implementing mini-grant projects. Interviews indicate that the experience increased organizations’ connections to community resources, fostered community partnerships, and enhanced organizational capacity. However, organizations’ success and capacity for long-term sustainability varied. Grantees were interviewed before and after implementing mini-grant projects. Interviews indicate that the experience increased organizations’ connections to community resources, fostered community partnerships, and enhanced organizational capacity. However, organizations’ success and capacity for long-term sustainability varied. Conclusions and ImplicationsCommunity-led mini-grant projects can be a viable method of putting research findings into practice by supporting efforts to improve access to healthy, affordable food and places to be active. Community-led mini-grant projects can be a viable method of putting research findings into practice by supporting efforts to improve access to healthy, affordable food and places to be active.