Recorded presentation

Susan B. Foerster, MPH, RD, Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section, California Department of Health Services, P.O. Box 997413; MS-7204, Sacramento, CA 95899-7413, (916) 449-5385, sfoerste@dhs.ca.gov, Leslie Beckstrom, MS, RD, Dept. of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Colorado Nutrition Network Coordinator, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1571, Joyce M Counihan, MS, North Carolina Nutrition Network, 108 Anderson St, Morganton, NC 28655-3804, Dorrie Lisle, Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network, 111 Sowers St., Suite 600, State College, PA 16801, Doris Montgomery, RD, MS, Iowa Department of Public Health, Lucas State Office Bldg., 5th Fl., Des Moines, IA 50319, Sharon Sass, RD, Office of Nutrition Services, Arizona Dept. of Health Services, 2927 North 35th Avenue, Suite 400, Phoenix, AZ 85017, and Sharon B. Sugerman, MS, RD, FADA, Public Health Institute, Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section, MS-7204, PO Box 997413, 1616 Capitol Ave., Sacramento, CA 95899-7413.

In 1995 and 1996, USDA’s Food Stamp Program stimulated the development of 22 state-based nutrition education social marketing networks. Housed principally in land grant universities, cooperative extensions, and state health departments, the networks moved ahead independently to develop an array of innovative interventions for low-income population groups ranging from pre-schoolers to senior citizens, based on state priorities. Programs varied widely in focus, scope, complexity, and funding levels. In 2003-2004, the Association of State Nutrition Network Administrators conducted surveys to investigate the range of initiatives, users’ perspectives on social marketing as distinguished from traditional nutrition education, and measures of success, especially in systems, policy and environmental change. The surveys focused on USDA’s four core areas, the outer spheres of influence, statewide and sub-state geographical areas, and reporting forms. They also investigated the bridges being built among USDA’s categorical programs—Food Stamps, Child Nutrition, and WIC. The intent was to help states collaborate in order to improve the delivery of their interventions, improve and possibly standardize reporting across state lines, allow comparisons of approaches and results, and begin to identify best practices. This paper will report the findings, the subsequent recommendations, and how this project complements other USDA evaluation activities. This work is important because Food Stamp Nutrition Education is the largest adult-oriented nutrition promotion effort in the U.S.; the lessons being learned may inform the development of other initiatives to prevent chronic diseases, including those aimed at eliminating health disparities and reversing the nation’s obesity epidemic.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to identify early successes and challenges in evaluating large-scale social marketing campaigns
• Attendees will be able to describe types of data being retrieved from diverse interventions

Keywords: Social Marketing,

Related Web page: www.csrees-fsnep.org/progmap.cfm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation