Voices for food: methodologies for implementing a multi-state community-based intervention in rural, high poverty communities

Authors

Suzanne Stluka, South Dakota State UniversityFollow
Lindsay Moore, Moore Healthy Living
Heather A. Eicher-Miller, Purdue UniversityFollow
Lisa Franzen-Castle, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Becky Henne, Michigan State UniversityFollow
Donna Mehrle, University of MissouriFollow
Daniel Remley, Ohio State UniversityFollow
Lacey McCormack, South Dakota State UniversityFollow

ORCID IDs

Suzanne Stluka

Date of this Version

2018

Citation

BMC Public Health (2018) 18:1055

Comments

© The Author(s).

Open access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5957-9

Abstract

Background: Rural communities experience unique barriers to food access when compared to urban areas and food security is a public health issue in rural, high poverty communities. A multi-leveled socio-ecological intervention to develop food policy councils (FPCs), and improve food security in rural communities was created. Methods to carry out such an intervention were developed and are described.

Methods: A longitudinal, matched treatment and comparison study was conducted in 24 rural, high poverty counties in South Dakota, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio. Counties were assigned to a treatment (n = 12) or comparison (n = 12) group. Intervention activities focus on three key components that impact food security: 1) community coaching by Extension Educators/field staff, 2) FPC development, and 3) development of a MyChoice food pantry. Community coaching was only provided to intervention counties. Evaluation components focus on three levels of the intervention: 1) Community (FPCs), 2) Food Pantry Organization, and 3) Pantry Client & Families. Participants in this study were community stakeholders, food pantry directors, staff/volunteers and food pantry clients. Pantry food access/availability including pantry food quality and quantity, household food security and pantry client dietary intake are dependent variables.

Discussion: The results of this study will provide a framework for utilizing a multi-leveled socio-ecological intervention with the purpose of improving food security in rural, high poverty communities. Additionally, the results of this study will yield evidence-based best practices and tools for both FPC development and the transition to a guided-client choice model of distribution in food pantries.