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| ARF- 3019 |
Regular Agenda Item 4. D.
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| Regular BOS Meeting |
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| Information |
| Request/Subject |
| Arizona Nutrition Network SNAP-Ed Request for Grant Application No. ADHS15-00004836 |
| Background Information |
The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net. The Food and Nutrition Service works with state agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood and faith-based organizations to ensure that those eligible for nutrition assistance can make informed decisions about applying for the program and can access benefits.
In 1981, nutrition education, now termed SNAP-Education (SNAP-Ed) was established and added as an optional program in the states. The goal of SNAP-Ed was to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for SNAP would make healthy choices within a limited budget and choose active lifestyles consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate. States could apply for matching funds from the federal government to deliver nutrition education to eligible persons (all persons at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level who may or may not be enrolled in SNAP). In 1992, seven states established nutrition education programs SNAP-Ed. By 2004, nutrition education was being conducted in all 50 states. Recently, the SNAP-Ed program moved away from the matching funds required making this a great opportunity for Gila County.
Gila County is eligible for $201,572 in funding each year of the three-year contract. These funds are to be used for population health initiatives in the areas of: Food Systems, Active Living, School Health, and Early Childhood Education. |
| Evaluation |
For many years, health programs have focused on individual behavior, assuming that if you teach people what will make them healthy, they will find a way to do it. Unfortunately, being healthy is not just about individual choices. Where you live affects how you live - you simply can’t make healthy decisions if healthy options aren’t available to you.
This funding will enable the Gila County Health Department to implement a policy, systems and environmental change focus that makes healthier choices a real, feasible option for every community member by looking at the laws, rules and environments that impact our behavior. Policy, systems and environmental change is a way of modifying the environment to make healthy choices practical and available to all community members. By changing laws and shaping physical landscapes, a big impact can be made with little time and resources. By changing policies, systems and/or environments, communities can help tackle health issues like obesity, diabetes, cancer and other chronic diseases. |
| Conclusion |
| Approval of this grant application will allow the Gila County Division of Health and Emergency Services to implement a policy, systems and environmental change focus that makes healthier choices a real, feasible option for every community member by looking at the laws, rules and environments that impact our behavior. By influencing policies, systems and/or environments, Gila County will have an additional effective medium to impact health issues such as obesity, diabetes, cancer and other chronic diseases. |
| Recommendation |
| It is the recommendation of the Health & Emergency Services Division Director that the Board of Supervisors approve our application for the Arizona Nutrition Network SNAP-Ed Request for Grant Application No. ADHS15-00004836 for the amount of $201,572 in funding each year for period of three years. |
| Suggested Motion |
| Information/Discussion/Action to authorize the electronic submittal of an Arizona Nutrition Network SNAP-Ed Request for Grant Application (RFGA No. ADHS15-00004836) to the State of Arizona Department of Health Services in the amount of $201,572 per year for a 3-year period which, if approved, will enable the Health and Emergency Services Division to implement a policy, systems and environmental change focus to affect positive, healthy behaviors. (Josh Beck) |
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