Recipient Organization
GREAT PLAINS TRIBAL LEADERS HEALTH BOARD
2611 ELDERBERRY BLVD
RAPID CITY,SD 57703
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health BoardCommunity Food Projects competitive Grant ProgramUSDA-NIFA-CFP-010954Technical ReviewThe Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board (GPTLHB) will implement a strategy to address food and nutrition security for the population in the Mni Luzahan (Rapid City), SD area. This initiative will focus on improving nutritional quality and accessibility, promoting healthy foods, and advancing economic opportunity. GPTLHB will strengthen food distribution partnerships, support community gardening efforts, expand educational outreach, and integrate traditional foodway practices. These efforts will empower communities to achieve greater self-reliance and long-term food security through locally driven solutions and collaborative engagement.
Animal Health Component
25%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
25%
Developmental
50%
Goals / Objectives
GPTLHB's Mni Luzahan Food and Garden Project will draw on existing community feedback to guide toward a future food project encompassing a community garden with a food forest component, food distribution system, feasibility of farmers' market, and nutrition education activities. The planning project will focus on one short-term and two long-term goals outlined by the Short-Term Goal - Improve access to nutrient-dense food as part of a comprehensive strategy; Long-Term Goal #1 - Develop long-term sustainable projects that increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the community; Long-Term Goal #2 - Develop long term projects that lead to the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and income-eligible consumers.To accomplish the Short-Term Goal and Long-Term Goals 1 & 2, GPTLHB will implement a one-year planning timeframe to design a comprehensive approach that assists the Rapid City Area. All planning, designing, development, and evaluation activities will be facilitated by GPTLHB staff and guided by community stakeholder input, especially by those who deal with nutrition security in their lives.Short-term Goal, Objective 1: Complete one Community Needs Assessment on Rapid City area food and nutrition security by the end of the one-year project period.We will assess food insecurity challenges in the community by evaluating existing services to identify gaps and determine effective strategies for addressing unmet needs. As part of this effort, we will also implement an educational program to raise awareness about the community's food needs and encourage greater local citizen participation in initiatives aimed at alleviating food insecurity.The Community Needs Assessment (CNA) will bring together community members and community partner organizations that represent multiple sectors of the Rapid City food system, from consumers to suppliers and non-profit food banks, and linking their voices in a shared process for identifying and addressing food security needs.Short-term Goal, Objective 2: Establish two advisory groups, with a minimum of five members each, to provide ongoing guidance and community voice to project planning by the end of the project period.We will establish a group of individuals, including low-income participants, to develop and implement policies and programs that address food insecurity. This group will also monitor how responsive existing services are and work to identify and address the underlying causes and contributing factors of hunger in our communities.Establishing two advisory groups to inform the planning project will set the foundation for multistakeholder collaboration to examine and address food and agricultural problems in the Rapid City Area. Once established, these two groups can continue to build project capacity and encourage long-term planning activities beyond the life of this grant-funded project.Long-term Goals 1 and 2, Objective 3: With community guidance, create one Strategic Action Plan for at least two of the Community Food Projects identified by GPTLHB and community members by the end of the project period.The creation of Strategic Action Plans for at least two Community Food Projects in Rapid City will draw on community feedback to develop new strategies - such as a community garden and food distribution system - for reducing food and nutrition insecurity. With the results of the CNA, the planning project can develop plans that creatively utilize existing food resources in the area, coordinate with community programs to help reduce access to these resources, and implement nutrition education programs that increase awareness of food preparation, storage, and the connection between diet and health.A plan will be implemented to ensure the availability of information and referral services for accessing both public and private programs. In addition, initiatives will be developed to alleviate food shopping constraints through creative approaches such as community gardens, buying clubs, food cooperatives, community-owned and operated grocery stores, and farmers' markets.
Project Methods
Evaluation PlanTo meet our Short-Term Goal, Long-Term Goals 1 and 2, the program will work with partner organizations, leaders, subject matter experts, and community member beneficiaries from various nutrition and food assistance programs to establish a CAB and a Food and Nutrition Stakeholder Group whose members will provide input on program goals, objectives, activities, and strategies. In the short term, these groups will help interpret need assessment results, define disparities, and identify or provide resources that can offer short-term solutions. The EU will evaluate short-term goal progress and achievement using indicators identified in objectives 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, and 2.2. In the long term, these groups will provide essential insight in the planning of the community food projects identified in objective 3. Partner and stakeholder groups will help identify the strategies, potential challenges, resources, and other considerations that will maximize the chances of successfully implementing and sustaining community food programs that meet the community's needs and promote improved health outcomes. The program expects at least some of the partners included in the CAB to potentially have resources to help sustain and market implemented programs. Resources may include related advertising funding, education and outreach materials, and training programs that will help gain media and word-of-mouth support that will benefit community consumers and growers. The EU will evaluate long-term goal #1 progress and achievement using indicators identified in objectives 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3. The EU will evaluate long-term goal 2 progress and achievement using indicators identified in objectives 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3.The EU will utilize formal and informal mixed and non-experimental methods that may include, but not be limited to, objective, participatory, consumer, collaborative, empowerment, and theory-driven approaches to conducting formative, process, and outcome evaluations. Quantitative data analysis methods will include univariate and multivariate statistical methods. Qualitative data analysis methods may include content, narrative, and thematic analyses. Data analysis software and tools may include, but not be limited to, Alchemer, Excel, SAS, and Monday.com.The Evaluation Team will assess and report program successes and opportunities for improvement, help identify challenges and lessons learned and provide recommendations for improving program activities quarterly. A comprehensive outcome evaluation report will be provided at program completion.