Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Primary beneficiaries of this Community Food Project are SNAP participants in rural, suburban, and urban Colorado, many of whom face common barriers to healthy eating: poverty, lack of transportation and/or local access to healthy food, and low levels of education and literacy. The project reaches SNAP recipients through Double Up Food Bucks (Double Up), which operates in nearly 30 counties throughout Colorado. Nearly 14% of Coloradans are living in poverty and over 13% report being food insecure. Of SNAP participants in Colorado, 75% live with children, 23% live with an elderly or disabled resident, and 46% are members of working families. Double Up is one of the many critical programs operating across the state to help ensure Coloradans do not have to choose between being healthy and being hungry. However, many Colorado residents still face food insecurity. More than one in eight (nearly 14%) struggle with hunger, facing times when there is not enough money to buy food. Children are impacted as well--18% of Colorado kids do not always know when or where they will get their next meal. Lack of access to healthy food has significant implications in terms of health for low-income residents. Diet is a significant contributor (or protective factor) related to many chronic diseases, including obesity and other health inequities, yet in Colorado 29% of children, 55% of high school-age kids eat at least one vegetable a day, only 36.5% of Latino and 39.1% of black high school-age kids do. SNAP makes a significant dent in food insecurity and provides a bridge for many vulnerable families to healthier eating. However, many SNAP participants often report lower quality diets than those who don't participate and SNAP dollars often run out well before the end of the month. SNAP incentives such as Double Up help stretch SNAP dollars to last through the month and play and integral role in a robust program that supports healthy eating habits. The feedback from the first two years of program delivery demonstrates the importance of trusted community members being the voices and connectors to healthy food incentive programs. People heard about Double Up in a variety of ways, but community connected linked to strong messages was a key indicator of program participation. By investing in people and building leadership and communication skills, Double Up Community Food Advocates will bring new capacity and energy to their communities. Double Up is designed to increase affordability and access to healthy food for SNAP participants while positively impacting local producers and retailers as well. Community Food Advocates are expected to make a significant impact on the food system in Colorado. This project and its implementation are uniquely Colorado. The state has a decentralized system for social supports (SNAP is administered solely at the county level) and LiveWell and its partners have joined to provide a program that meets needs throughout the state and Community Food Advocates will ensure that the program is ready to do what it takes to increase local fruit and vegetable purchase and consumption. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The program worked to elevate the leadership of Advocates by providing them with opportunities for increased leadership, advocacy, outreach and other skill building. LiveWell currently hosts monthly Community Food Advocate calls. Participation is recommended for all Advocates, as they provide the space for shared learning and peer-to-peer input and networking. On the calls, Advocates describe successes and challenges and various outreach activities that work in their regions. In 2017, 2018, and 2019 LiveWell hosted in-person Advocate meetings in regions throughout the state. These meetings were useful networking spaces for the Advocates as well as tools to learn more about the program through tours of markets. Importantly, these gatherings also included professional skill-building sessions such as a social media training, training on conducting market tours, and training and discussion on racism in the food system and how to focus Advocate work on food justice. The Advocates met in Grand Junction for an in-person meeting in 2019. Throughout the duration of the program, Advocates have had the opportunity for a variety of professional development opportunities, including serving on the Double Up Advisory Team. Additionally, two Advocates participated in the inaugural Voices for Colorado Food Systems program in 2019. This program brings together a cohort of individuals from across the state with lived experience with food insecurity and/or farming to participate in public speaking, storytelling, and advocacy training that culminates with advocating at the state capitol. Several Advocates have also moved on to full-time positions because of their positions with the program. One Advocate in the Denver metro area now manages the program at LiveWell, an Advocate in Jefferson County has a position at the Jefferson County Public Health Department, and an Advocate in Montrose County was hired as the farmers market manager. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?LiveWell evaluates the Community Food Advocate program alongside the Double Up program because the two are so closely linked. LiveWell releases yearly Double Up Evaluation reports and will release the 2019 report in September, which will a section specifically related to Community Partnership and Outreach that focuses on Advocates' impact on program participation. The report will be distributed via email to the Double Up Advisory Team, all program partners (over 200 organizations throughout the state, and to all program funders. The report is also posted to LiveWell's website (2018 Double Up Evaluation report). The 2019 report will be posted when it is completed. Additionally, Advocates participate in monthly phone calls and discuss monthly successes and challenges. These peer-led meetings allow for discussions of what is working in each community and what can be improved. Throughout the past three years, LiveWell has received consistent feedback and innovative ideas from Advocates. These calls include program updates, an occasional guest presentation, and significant time for sharing and questioning and amongst Advocates. Additionally, each year the external evaluator joined one of these calls to share the results specific to the Advocate evaluation and capture any feedback from Advocates to ensure the evaluation reflected findings accurately. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This is the final report for LiveWell's Community Food Projects grant. Advocates not only helped contribute to other outreach methods, but they also provided valuable feedback on what outreach methods are working and where there are challenges. Based on their feedback, programmatic and individual adjustments can be made to improve the development of community partnerships and overall outreach approaches. As LiveWell has developed and established the Advocate program, it has become clear that a Regional Advocate model would be best positioned to identify regional assets in strengthening food systems. While neighborhood- or community-based outreach is still critically important, we have observed that when someone is positioned to work across their food shed (typically a broad region) and work alongside the many organizations supporting food accessing in a region, they are better able to make connections and find additional resources to increase participation in Double Up. In mid-2020 and beyond, LiveWell will shift the Community Advocate program to a Regional Advocate model, starting with three Advocates in regions of the state where there 1) is at least one market that operates on an extended timeline and 2) has high SNAP enrollment. LiveWell will partner with Hunger Free Colorado's Regional Food Coordinators as well as the most active local food coalitions/policy councils to assess where there is already strong mobilization around food program and where there is a gap in local/regional coordination. LiveWell will work with partners who have the capacity to promote Double Up in regions without Advocates. Because we have built strong partnerships, we can be targeted and efficient where we place Advocates and ensure there is a strong and coordinated approach to outreach across the state. Advocates will also have the opportunity to lead regional listening sessions in their regions every year. These sessions will include open conversations about the program and networking for regional partners. (Please note, this shift in programming is dependent on funding.)
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Reach low-income communities. The goal of the LiveWell Community Food Project: Community Food Advocates program is to provide meaningful leadership in outreach and implementation for Double Up through community-informed, innovative marketing activities that benefit low-income community members and agricultural producers. By 2019, LiveWell established 16 Advocates in 13 areas of the state. Advocates are instrumental in distributing information and promotional materials in the communities and region. In 2019, according to customer surveys of SNAP recipients, 21% said they saw information about Double Up on a flyer or a poster, 38% said they heard about it from the farmers market, and 21% said they learned about it from their county department of county human services or SNAP offices. All other sources of information about the program were below 20% of customers. During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, only about 10% of Double Up participants reported their DHS/SNAP office as a source of learning about the program. This means that the flyers and posters that were handed out almost exclusively by the Advocates were displayed and seen by SNAP recipients outside of their local DHS/SNAP offices. Flyers and posters and partnership with county human services officers were prioritized strategies in 2018. It is promising to know that they are working, as both strategies greatly increased compared to the previous two years. Advocate outreach focused on how best to reach SNAP shoppers. As part of the Advocate evaluation, Advocates were asked about how they talk about the program directly to SNAP participants. The perspective of how Advocates message the program is valuable because it was a regular practice and they were able to refine their approach over time to see what worked best. Most Advocates said above all else highlighted the economic benefit of the program. They noted that the concept of "doubling your money" is very attractive to lower-income individuals. After the economic benefit, Advocates mentioned framing their communication about the program around health benefits and eating more fruits and vegetables. A few Advocates specifically mentioned that individuals with children often found the health-focused messaging to be compelling. Advocates cited two common barriers to participation that they believe creating a personal connection can help address: Individuals were reluctant to admit they receive SNAP. Individuals thought Double Up was "too good to be true" or did not fully understand how the program works. In 2019, Community Food Advocates shifted more of their efforts to partnership with organizations rather than specifically targeting individuals who might qualify for Double Up. Advocates also continued to interact with individual potential Double Up customers and found two outreach strategies particularly helpful: providing supplemental materials, such as recipe cards or seasonal produce charts to be helpful; and providing contact information of the market manager so the new customer would have someone to guide their market experience during their first visit to the market. The impact that Advocates have on Double Up voucher redemption in the regions they serve was statistically inconclusive over the duration of the program, but regions with Advocate support did experience more growth in Double Up redemption than regions without Advocate support. Overall, counties with Advocate support saw a 43% increase in Double Up redemption compared to a 10% decrease for all other regions in Colorado. It is difficult to report conclusively that Advocates are the reason for these increases--as other attention and resources may have been incorporated in these regions. Advocates were not active in all regions in 2018, so the growth in the level of Double Up redemption in the second year of the program may indicate that the Advocate program may be more effective the longer Advocates are in place. Based on historical Double Up and Advocate, it seems to take more than one year for Advocates to get to know their roles and the best strategies to promote Double Up in their communities, as there is a steep learning curve to understand local partners. We have documented several regional findings and stories that explain some of the trends in redemption: Jefferson County: This was the only Advocate region to experience a decline in Double Up redemption between 2018 and 2019. San Luis Valley Region: This region reversed a three-year trend in continuously dropping levels of Double Up redemption with a with a 15% increase in Double Up redemption in 2019. Southwest Colorado Region: Southwest Colorado continues to grow its Double Up redemption levels at an increasing rate every year that an Advocate has been present in the region--perhaps testifying to the importance of program longevity. If Advocates have more than one year to establish themselves in the community, their strategies can transition to maintaining and leveraging existing partnerships, rather than focusing only on forging new relationships and explaining the program. Adams, Boulder, Denver, Garfield, and Montrose counties: These five counties all experienced positive redemption growth in 2019. Denver and Adams counties both experienced a reversal of 2018's trend of negative change in Double Up redemption. Support local farmers and regional economic development. Double Up has supported small, beginning fruit and vegetable farmer viability through increased revenue from produce sales (59% of farmers reported increased sales in 2016, 68% in 2017, 78% in 2018, and 65% in 2019--an average of nearly 70% over four years). In 2019, Double Up supported over 622 farmers and vendors and nearly 5,000 SNAP participants (49% of whom reported having children under 18 in the home). In 2019, SNAP customers spent a total of $522,157 at Double Up locations ($277,155 in SNAP dollars and $245,002 in Double Up dollars). According to 2019 vendor survey responses, 76% of vendors agreed that their market was stronger as a result of the program, 65% agreed that they sold more fruits and vegetables as a result of the program, 57% agreed that they had a new customer base as a result of the program, and 68% of vendors agreed that their revenue from produce increased as a result of the program. Bring implementation partners together. Advocates were encouraged to connect and build relationships with their local county department of human services agencies and offices. The customer surveys and website comments confirm this strategy is working as 32% of surveyed Double Up customers and 20% of website commenters reported that they learned about the program through their local SNAP office. All Advocates reported that they were able to train SNAP caseworkers directly on the Double Up program. This is an important component of outreach as caseworkers can share information with their clients as they enrolled them in SNAP. Advocates also worked with local department of public health offices, local food coalitions, local Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) offices, local resource centers, food banks, and the office of Veterans Affairs. It is important to note that some Advocates experienced challenges in reaching organizational partners due to a variety of reasons, including high turnover rates at local food assistance organizations or questions about whether staff members at agency offices were promoting the program regularly when Advocates were not present.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Primary beneficiaries of this Community Food Project are SNAP participants in rural, suburban, and urban Colorado, many of whom face common barriers to healthy eating: poverty, lack of transportation and/or local access to healthy food, and low levels of education and literacy. The project reaches SNAP recipients through Double Up Food Bucks (Double Up), which operates in nearly 30 counties throughout Colorado. Nearly 14% of Coloradans are living in poverty and over 13% report being food insecure. Of SNAP participants in Colorado, 75% live with children, 23% live with an elderly or disabled resident, and 46% are members of working families. Double Up is one of the many critical programs operating across the state to help ensure Coloradans do not have to choose between being healthy and being hungry. However, many Colorado residents still face food insecurity. More than one in eight (nearly 14%) struggle with hunger, facing times when there is not enough money to buy food. Children are impacted as well--18% of Colorado kids do not always know when or where they will get their next meal. Lack of access to healthy food has significant implications in terms of health for low-income residents. Diet is a significant contributor (or protective factor) related to many chronic diseases, including obesity and other health inequities, yet in Colorado 29% of children, 55% of high school-age kids eat at least one vegetable a day, only 36.5% of Latino and 39.1% of black high school-age kids do. SNAP makes a significant dent in food insecurity and provides a bridge for many vulnerable families to healthier eating. However, many SNAP participants often report lower quality diets than those who don't participate and SNAP dollars often run out well before the end of the month. SNAP incentives such as Double Up help stretch SNAP dollars to last through the month and play and integral role in a robust program that supports healthy eating habits. The feedback from the first two years of program delivery demonstrates the importance of trusted community members being the voices and connectors to healthy food incentive programs. People heard about Double Up in a variety of ways, but community connected linked to strong messages was a key indicator of program participation. By investing in people and building leadership and communication skills, Double Up Community Food Advocates will bring new capacity and energy to their communities. Double Up is designed to increase affordability and access to healthy food for SNAP participants while positively impacting local producers and retailers as well. Community Food Advocates are expected to make a significant impact on the food system in Colorado. This project and its implementation are uniquely Colorado. The state has a decentralized system for social supports (SNAP is administered solely at the county level) and LiveWell and its partners have joined to provide a program that meets needs throughout the state and Community Food Advocates will ensure that the program is ready to do what it takes to increase local fruit and vegetable purchase and consumption. Changes/Problems:Advocates participating in the pilot program shared various challenges they faced when helping to implement the Double Up program. One specific challenge to implementation identified was the difficulty explaining a "complex" or "confusing" program in a way that is understandable to potential customers. Some Advocates did not feel prepared to engage with different ethnic, linguistic, and cultural communities and identify with the best way to communicate once connections were made. Recognizing the causes and consequences of food insecurity, Advocates recognized the need to be nimble in their approaches due to fluctuations in customers' financial circumstances over the course of the season, and in turn their SNAP eligibility. The reality that customers' SNAP eligibility may not be consistent complicated Advocates' ability to do outreach and form relationships in the community. Advocates suggested readiness for program adoption and implementation appeared to be low in some communities. Advocates perceived there was limited knowledge of the program when engaging potential customers. In contrast to individual customers, community organizations and institutions seemed excited about Double Up and were eager to promote the program. Advocates identified several barriers to participation for Double Up customers. Commonly identified barriers, both in Denver and the Southwest area, include language barriers, lack of cooking experience, and negative perceptions about markets as being unwelcoming and elitist. Moreover, inconvenient market days and times can be an obstacle for potential customers. For example, Advocates reflected that most markets are held on Saturday mornings, which is not an ideal time for those who work long hours and multiple jobs during the week. Additionally, the location of the markets can be a barrier to customers. A market may be in a location that requires extra driving time and expenses, particularly in rural areas of the Southwest. Advocates in both regions also thought cultural differences in food preferences and shopping norms may prevent shoppers from trying the program at a Double Up site. Finally, among Latino communities, Advocates warned that there is considerable distrust of federal programs. Although some Latino families may already receive SNAP benefits, potential customers are concerned about revealing their personal information to people they do not know. Advocates shared that some of these SNAP recipients feared that drawing attention to themselves would have negative consequences for their immigration status. Program improvements. Several Advocates felt that LiveWell's goals were disconnected from the needs on the ground to implement the program. For example, some Advocates believe time spent building relationships in the community should be valued, and these activities are not easily recorded in Advocates' activity logs, which were designed to capture outreach efforts. These Advocates also requested other ways to provide feedback to LiveWell, other than monthly calls. These perceived the staff at LiveWell to be distant at times and feel they would benefit from regular, individual check-ins. Finally, the Advocates felt the expectations for respective scopes of work did not align with the compensation they received. Recommendations. The Advocate program has grown beyond just outreach for Double Up and become more expansive: three of the Voices for Healthy Food Systems were Advocates who wanted to advocate for stronger local food systems, two Advocates are now on contract with the Colorado Farmers Market Association to do regional work in supporting farmers markets in their regions become more welcoming and inclusive and provide outreach to customers who live on a limited budget about the benefits of shopping locally. We have seen the benefits of integrating food systems efforts in a more comprehensive efforts in a more comprehensive manner and have observed how impossible it is to keep programs like Double Up, the Colorado Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP), Local Procurement Colorado (LoProCO), and state policy work (all programs focused on increasing access to healthy local foods) in silos. Once activated around one of them, the connections to others become apparent. LiveWell is proposing to expand the Community Food Advocate program to a program that would have an opportunity to weave this work together more effectively at local levels, while being supported through a statewide network that guarantees training, peer support, program sustainability, and connections to policy efforts. The idea for the Regional Food Systems Network was developed by working with Community Food Advocates. The network will be composed of four hubs that are coordinated by Regional Advocates who have lived experience with food insecurity and federal food assistance programs. Regional Advocates will link local programs to statewide advocacy initiatives by 1) maximizing participation in all of the federal and local programs that promote healthy eating by low-income community members and support local farmers and producers, and 2) connecting these activities, issues, and solutions to a statewide network of advocacy initiatives. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Additionally, the program is working to elevate the leadership of Advocates by providing them with opportunities for increased leadership, advocacy, outreach, and other skill building. LiveWell currently hosts monthly Community Food Advocate calls. Participation on the calls is recommended for all Advocates, as they provide the space for shared learning and peer-to-peer input and networking. On the calls, Advocates describe successes and challenges and various outreach activities that work in their regions. Additionally, LiveWell hosted an in-person all-Advocate meeting on June 14 and 15 in 2018 in Saguache and Alamosa. The Advocates joined the Double Up advisory board to learn more about the program. The meeting also included tours of all of the various markets where Double Up can be implemented, including farm stands, CSAs, and small retailers. Additionally, several Advocates participated in training with Cooking Matters to conduct market tours. Advocates have the opportunity for a variety of professional development opportunities, including serving on the Double Up Advisory Team. Additionally, two Advocates participated in the inaugural Voices for Colorado Food Systems in 2019. This program brings together a cohort of individuals from across the state with lived experience with food insecurity and/or farming to participate in public speaking, storytelling, and advocacy training that culminates with advocating at the state capitol. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?LiveWell evaluates the Community Food Advocate program alongside the Double Up program because the two are so closely linked. LiveWell released the 2018 Double Up Program Evaluation Report in July, which included a section specifically related to Community Partnership and Outreach, which focused Advocates' impact on program participation. This report has been distributed via email to the Double Up Advisory Team, all program partners (over 200 organizations throughout the state), and to all program funders. The report is also posted to LiveWell's website at https://livewellcolorado.org/healthy-communities/double-up-colorado/. Additionally, Advocates participate in monthly phone calls and discuss monthly successes and challenges. These peer-led meetings allow for discussion of what is working in each community and what can be improved. Throughout the past two years, LiveWell has been able to receive consistent feedback and innovative ideas from Advocates, as we continue to build the program together. These calls include program updates, an occasional guest presentation, and significant time for sharing and questions and updates between Advocates. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?LiveWell requested an extension to our Community Food Project grant to December 31, 2019, so that Advocates could work through the 2019 market season. June - November is the busiest time of the year for Advocates as they are actively promoting Double Up in their communities. LiveWell will continue to host monthly calls and support Advocates in the next four months to effectively provide outreach for the Advocate program.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
? Reach low-income communities. By July 2019, we have established 16 Advocates in 13 areas of the state. The goal of the LiveWell Community Food Project: Community Food Advocates is provide meaningful leadership in outreach and implementation for Double Up through community-informed, innovative marketing activities that benefit low-income community members and agricultural producers. According to customer surveys of SNAP recipients, 34% said they saw information about Double Up on a flyer or a poster, 32% said they heard about it from the farmers market, and 24% said they learned about it from their county department of human service or SNAP office. All other sources of information about the program were below 20% of customers. Advocates are instrumental in distributing information and promotional materials in the communities and regions. Flyers and posters and partnership with county DHS officers were prioritized strategies in 2018. It is promising to know that they are working, as both strategies greatly increased compared to the previous two years. During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, only about 10% of customers listed DHS/SNAP office as a source for learning about the program. This means that the flyers and posters that are handed out almost exclusively by the Advocates were displayed and seen by SNAP recipients. As part of the Advocate evaluation, Advocates were asked about how they talk about the program directly to SNAP participants. The perspective of how Advocates message the program is valuable because it was a regular practice and they were able to refine their approach over time to see what worked best. Most Advocates reported that above all else they highlighted the economic benefit of the program. They noted the concept of "doubling your money" as very attractive to lower-income individuals. After the economic benefit, Advocates mentioned framing their communication about the program around health benefits and eating more fruits and vegetables. A few Advocates specifically mentioned that individuals with children often found the health-focused messaging to be compelling. Advocates cited two common barriers to participation that they believe creating a personal connection can help address: Individuals were reluctant to admit they receive SNAP Individuals thought Double Up was "too good to be true" or did not fully understand how the program works. Several Advocates mentioned the importance of connecting with people in person as a way to address these barriers. By forming a person connections, Advocates were able to share their personal stories explaining why the program is meaningful to them, as well as clarify aspects of the program and give those interested in Double Up the opportunity to immediately ask questions about how it works. Some Advocates mentioned that giving the opportunity to ask questions about the program when they first learn about it means that there is one less step people have to go through to get to the Double Up markets or look for information online. In conducting outreach and communicating Double Up, one Advocate described her approach as "meeting (people) were they are and being human with them and trying to help them get a step ahead." The impact that Advocates have on Double Up voucher redemption in the regions they serve was inconclusive overall, but there were some notable findings at the local level. The evaluation compared the difference in Double Up redeemed each year as well as regions with Advocates compared to all other regions in Colorado. Overall, counties with Advocate support did not see an increase in Double Up redeemed compared to all other regions in Colorado. By region, some areas saw increases while others experienced decreases in redemption. Given that each region varied with the challenges that they faced, the partnerships they formed, and the addition of new sites each year, the evaluation was unable to attribute any growth or reduction specifically to the work of Advocates. Additionally, Advocates were only active in six of eight regions for the first time in 2018. This is not enough information to form any conclusions around trends or impact. It also seems to take more than one year for Advocates to get to know their role, as there is a steep learning curve to understand the partners and the personalities in their community. It is still important for the program team to pay attention to redemption in Advocate regions and this information can be used as a tool to follow up with Advocates and better understand way the program did not experience growth in some areas, despite having Advocate support. Support local farmers and regional economic development. In 2018, Double Up supported over 400 farms and more than 4,400 SNAP participants, with a reported 3,940 children benefiting from the program as well. In 2018, SNAP customers spent a total of $369,703 at Double Up locations ($203,130 in SNAP dollars and $166,573 of Double Up dollars), compared to a total of $334,074 ($188,176 in SNAP dollars and $145,898 in Double Up dollars) in 2017. According to 2018 vendor survey responses, 84% of vendors agreed that their market was stronger as a result of the program, 84% agreed that they sold more fruits and vegetables as a result of the program, 84% agreed that they had a new customer base as a result of the program, and 78% of vendors agreed that their revenue from produce increased as a result of the program. Half of all Advocates in rural areas noted that many members of their communities have a lot of pride in farming and local agriculture. In this way, it may be beneficial for Advocates in rural areas to frame their discussions about Double Up in a way that emphasizes local agriculture, whereas this kind of messaging may not be as persuasive in urban areas. Bring implementation partners together. When conducting outreach for Double Up, Advocates used a variety of strategies and focused their efforts on different groups within their communities. Some Advocates focused more on forming relationships with local agencies and organizations, while other Advocates focused more on tabling, one-on-one, and word of mouth outreach. Most Advocates employed a combination of both approaches. Nearly all Advocates interviewed mentioned making efforts to connect with local health organizations like the county DHS and/or the county departments of public health (DPH). Many Advocates mentioned giving presentations or dropping off flyers at schools, places of worship, senior centers, food backs, and recreation centers. Some Advocates also mentioned reaching out to other local food groups, like food coalitions, to present on Double Up and that they local organizations were often very receptive to the program. Most Advocates mentioned regularly attending their local markets that accept Double Up or making a point to visit and connect with their local farmers market at least once every season. Some Advocates noted that they worked in some capacity in the farmers market. A few Advocates mentioned that they volunteered or were asked to run the Double Up booth when they visited the market. Several Advocates mentioned facilitating market tours with Cooking Matters staff. One Advocate described the impact of these tours: "With the tours, it's almost like magic... As I take these folks who have never been to a farmers market before, who are a little bit shy, a little bit intimidated, and we go around and we meet the farmers. You know what farmers are like. They love to talk about their produce and how they grow. So, we have instant friends all of a sudden." While the interviews indicate that several Advocates have established relationships with markets in their regions, there is still work to do based on other program input.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:? Primary beneficiaries of this Community Food Project are SNAP participants in rural, suburban, and urban Colorado, many of whom face common barriers to healthy eating: poverty, lack of transportation and/or local access to healthy food, and low levels of education and literacy. The project reaches SNAP recipients through Double Up Food Bucks (Double Up), which operates in nearly 30 counties throughout Colorado. Nearly 14% of Coloradans are living in poverty and over 13% report being food insecure. Of SNAP participants in Colorado, 75% live with children, 23% live with an elderly or disabled resident, and 46% are members of working families. Double Up is one of the many critical programs operating across the state to help ensure Coloradans do not have to choose between being healthy and being hungry. However, many Colorado residents still face food insecurity. More than one in eight (nearly 14%) struggle with hunger, facing times when there is not enough money to buy food. Children are impacted as well--18% of Colorado kids do not always know when or where they will get their next meal. Lack of access to healthy food has significant implications in terms of health for low-income residents. Diet is a significant contributor (or protective factor) related to many chronic diseases, including obesity and other health inequities, yet in Colorado 29% of children, 55% of high school-age kids eat at least one vegetable a day, only 36.5% of Latino and 39.1% of black high school-age kids do. SNAP makes a significant dent in food insecurity and provides a bridge for many vulnerable families to healthier eating. However, many SNAP participants often report lower quality diets than those who don't participate and SNAP dollars often run out well before the end of the month. SNAP incentives such as Double Up help stretch SNAP dollars to last through the month and play and integral role in a robust program that supports healthy eating habits. The feedback from the first two years of the Double Up program delivery demonstrates the importance of trusted community members being the voices and connectors to healthy food incentive programs. People heard about Double Up in a variety of ways, but community connected linked to strong messages was a key indicator of program participation. By investing in people and building leadership and communication skills, Double Up Community Food Advocates will bring new capacity and energy to their communities. Double Up is designed to increase affordability and access to healthy food for SNAP participants while positively impacting local producers and retailers as well. Community Food Advocates are expected to make a significant impact on the food system in Colorado. This project and its implementation are uniquely Colorado. The state has a decentralized system for social supports (SNAP is administered solely at the county level) and LiveWell and its partners have joined to provide a program that meets needs throughout the state and Community Food Advocates will ensure that the program is ready to do what it takes to increase local fruit and vegetable purchase and consumption. Changes/Problems:We are currently finishing interviews of Advocates who participated in the winter 2017-2018 season and do not have data compiled and analyzed for this report. However, we do have feedback from Advocates participating in the pilot program who shared various challenges they faced when helping to implement the Double Up program. One specific challenge to implementation identified was the difficulty explaining a "complex" or "confusing" program in a way that is understandable to potential customers. Some Advocates did not feel prepared to engage with different ethnic, linguistic, and cultural communities and identify with the best way to communicate once connections were made. Recognizing the causes and consequences of food insecurity, Advocates recognized the need to be nimble in their approaches due to fluctuations in customers' financial circumstances over the course of the season, and in turn their SNAP eligibility. The reality that customers' SNAP eligibility may not be consistent complicated Advocates' ability to do outreach and form relationships in the community. Advocates suggested readiness for program adoption and implementation appeared to be low in some communities. Advocates perceived there was limited knowledge of the program when engaging potential customers. In contrast to individual customers, community organizations and institutions seemed excited about Double Up and were eager to promote the program. Advocates identified several barriers to participation for Double Up customers. Commonly identified barriers, both in Denver and the Southwest area, include language barriers, lack of cooking experience, and negative perceptions about markets as being unwelcoming and elitist. Moreover, inconvenient market days and times can be an obstacle for potential customers. For example, Advocates reflected that most markets are held on Saturday mornings, which is not an ideal time for those who work long hours and multiple jobs during the week. Additionally, the location of the markets can be a barrier to customers. A market may be in a location that requires extra driving time and expenses, particularly in rural areas of the Southwest. Advocates in both regions also thought cultural differences in food preferences and shopping norms may prevent shoppers from trying the program at a Double Up site. Finally, among Latino communities, Advocates warned that there is considerable distrust of federal programs. Although some Latino families may already receive SNAP benefits, potential customers are concerned about revealing their personal information to people they do not know. Advocates shared that some of these SNAP recipients feared that drawing attention to themselves would have negative consequences for their immigration status. This season, some of the challenges have included the fact that a majority of Advocates are single mothers, many of whom face challenges of their own on a daily basis. Oftentimes, Advocates must cancel appointments or meetings at the last minute. Some Advocates have had to step back from their program responsibilities because they were facing significant barriers, such as lack of housing and/or transportation. At times, balancing Advocate requirements in addition to parenting, moving, working other jobs, etc., proved to be too much at the time. Recommendations. Based on recommendations from the pilot program, Advocates offered recommendations for future cohorts of the Advocate program. Advocates encouraged LiveWell to facilitate more opportunities for in-person meetings and collaboration among Advocates. They also wished they were encouraged to establish institutional relationships early in the season before markets are fully operational and managers and Double Up partners are less consumed with market and retail operations. Advocates also suggested that maps that detail their territories and related resources would be helpful to understand the extent and distribution of outreach efforts to identify target areas where enrollment is lacking. Advocates who participated in the pilot program made the following recommendations to improve Double Up outreach: Host events at farmers markets. Provide promotional media and materials to be used on social media and in ways that are tailored to local and cultural means for communication. Expand social media presence. Provide understandable materials that explain how Double Up works and how customers can use their benefits. Create more opportunities for Advocates to get together and work together. Establish institutional relationships early in the season Establish a regular schedule and flow of communication among Advocates. Map areas in the community that have been reached. Additionally, program staff members are committed to expanding the program to include training and professional development. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As we continue to learn about the program from Advocates and community input, we are proposing to launch a professional development program, composed of three tiers of training, for the 2019 Advocate cohort. The tiers will include mandatory trainings, optional trainings, and Advocate-initiated trainings. Mandatory trainings will include Advocate and Double Up orientation, how to build partnerships, and an overview of the communities participating in Double Up. Optional trainings will include skill-building options like social media best practices, basic technology, and public speaking. Advocate-initiated will include trainings that the Advocates request that assist them in working in their communities, including Spanish and various certifications. These are trainings that LiveWell staff do not have the capacity to offer, but can be provided to the Advocates on a case-by-case basis. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?At the end of the 2018 program season, LiveWell will compile results from program evaluation and distribute the results to Advocates and program stakeholders. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?LiveWell continues to learn from program delivery and will make changes as needed. We will continue to deliver the program described above.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The goal of the Community Food Advocate program is provide meaningful leadership in outreach and implementation for Double Up through community-informed, innovative marketing activities that benefit low-income community members and agricultural producers. Advocates will: Reach low-income communities in diverse geographies across the state by working with markets to provide culturally relevant outreach materials and a welcoming and comfortable environment for SNAP participants. Bring implementation and outreach partners together under a unified, statewide incentive program. Support local farmers and regional economic development by focusing incentives on Colorado-grown produce. Utilize SNAP participant voices in the process of developing and implementing Double Up. The program is also working to elevate the leadership of Advocates by providing them with opportunities for increased leadership, advocacy, outreach, and other skill building. Reach low-income communities. LiveWell piloted the programto increase participation of SNAP recipients in the Double Up program in summer 2017. The pilot, launched with six Advocates in Denver, Archuleta, La Plata, and Montezuma counties, was followed by a larger roll-out in Fall 2017 supported by a USDA Community Food Projects Grant. Advocates play a vital role in informing and guiding Double Up outreach strategies in Colorado, sharing ideas and advising on decisions regarding the program, and making recommendations for best practices to support welcoming, accessible, and inclusive markets and other participating retailers. Advocates are often, but not always, community members enrolled or previously enrolled in SNAP and current and past participants in the Double Up program. By July of 2018, we have established 13 Advocates in the 10 areas of the state: Denver - 3 Advocates Boulder County - 1 Advocate Jefferson County - 1 Advocate Adams County - 1 Advocate Garfield County - 2 Advocates Montrose County - 1 Advocate (through July 2018) Alamosa County - 1 Advocate (through July 2018) Archuleta County - 1 Advocate La Plata County - 1 Advocate Montezuma County - 1 Advocate Advocates engaged in the following activities between September 2017 - July 2018: Presenting information about the Double Up program to different agencies during community meetings. Partnering with local radio stations to provide one-minute advertising slots to promote Double Up at no charge. Recruiting, supporting, and speaking at Cooking Matters farmers market tours at local markets. Tabling or passing out promotional materials about Double Up at community events. Posting local farmers market information on social media. Sharing social media posts about Double Up that local partners could post/share. Creating partnerships with various organizations that can promote Double Up to their constituencies (for example, schools, businesses, and nonprofit organizations). Checking in with partners monthly to make sure they have Double Up materials for promotional purposes. Additionally, Community Food Advocates are working with Hunger Free Colorado to plan a SNAP enrollment class. Hunger Free Colorado assists families and individuals enroll in SNAP. The class will include a presentation about Double Up by an Advocate. While we do not yet have end-of-season data on where and how Advocates influenced Double Up participation, we can report some significant points of success (comparing July 2017 and July 2018 sales): At the Cortez Farmers Market (served by the Montezuma County Advocate), there was a 59% increase in Double Up Bucks redeemed and a 22% increase in new customers using SNAP benefits at the market. At the Durango Farmers Market (served by the La Plata County Advocate), Double Up sales increased by 654% ($277 in July 2017 and $2,089 in July 2018) and a 9% increase in new customers using EBT cards at the market. The Alamosa Farmers Market (served by the Alamosa County Advocate) experienced a slight decrease in sales, but had a 33% increase in customers shopping with EBT cards at the market. In Jefferson County (served by the Jefferson County Advocate), markets experienced mixed results from July 2017 and July 2018. The Arvada Farmers Market had a 62% increase in Double Up redemption, but a 15% decrease in new SNAP customers. At the Four Seasons Market in Golden, the market had a 7% increase in Double Up redemption, but a decrease in new customers. Support local farmers and regional economic development. Farmer evaluation from the 2017 season indicated that nearly half (49%) of farmers reported making more money, 66% of farmers reported that they sold more fruits and vegetables, and 54% of farmers reported having a new customer base. In 2017, a total of $334,074 was spent at Double Up sites, including $188,176 in SNAP dollars and $145,898 in Double Up dollars. One farmer reported, "We sold more because the shopper had more coupon dollars to spend. This program is strengthening our community. Thank you!" While we will not know the impact that Advocates have on markets until after the first full year of operation of the Community Food Advocate program, the increase in sales at several markets (listed above) indicate that Advocates are helping to increase Double Up participation, which increases sales for local farmers and keeps SNAP dollars in local communities. Bring implementation partners together. Most Advocates (6/8) who participated in the pilot project conducted outreach with institutions and other community organizations. Advocates generally reported positive interactions with agency personnel, although one indicated that it was difficult to obtain a response from one specific organization. Advocates agreed that scheduling meetings was important to better explain how the Double Up program works, who is eligible for benefits, and how to refer potential customers to the program. Advocates who participated in the pilot program initiated and participated in the following activities: Attending and speaking at community meetings that brought together different agencies, including: The southwest area of the state hosts a monthly meeting to provide an overview of the human services provided in the area. Advocates in the area have made presentations there. The Jefferson County Department of Human Services hosted a community meeting where the Advocate for that community presented information about Double Up. Connecting organizations, for example: At a Double Up listening session an Advocate connected an agency representative to Cooking Matters, a SNAP-Ed provider in Colorado so that referrals could be made for Cooking Matters farmers market tours. Offering recommendations to address gaps in services, for example: During a statewide Double Up meeting in southwest Colorado, Advocates noted that the community and region desired more winter markets and the Colorado Farmers Market Association offered to provide technical assistance to any market that was interested in extending their season. Utilize SNAP participants' voices and elevate the leadership of Advocates. LiveWell currently hosts monthly Community Food Advocate calls. Participation on the calls is recommended for all Advocates, as they provide the space for shared learning and peer-to-peer input and networking. On the calls, Advocates describe successes and challenges and various outreach activities that work in their regions. Additionally, LiveWell hosted an in-person all-Advocate meeting on June 14 and 15 in 2018 in Saguache and Alamosa. The Advocates joined the Double Up advisory board to learn more about the program. The meeting also included tours of all of the various markets where Double Up can be implemented, including farm stands, CSAs, and small retailers. Additionally, several Advocates participated in training with Cooking Matters to conduct market tours and four Advocates sit on the Double Up Advisory Team, which meets regularly to review the program and suggest changes.
Publications
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