Progress 09/15/23 to 09/14/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The Tampa YMCA's Veggie Van Produce Prescription Program (hereafter "VVPRx") will serve 200 low-income patients annually who receive medical services in 33607 (at the Judeo Christian Health Clinic) and 33610 (at Tampa General Hospital's Specialty Center at Healthpark) and are at risk of developing a diet-related health condition, specifically Diabetes or heart disease. The proposed locations are low income, low access neighborhoods where residents are more likely to have access to calorie-dense processed food than affordable fresh fruits and vegetables. VVPRx will fill this gap. Working with our healthcare partners, patients at risk of developing a diet- related health condition, such as Diabetes or heart disease, will receive a produce prescription to redeem at the Veggie Van's mobile produce market. Based on intake surveys, patients may be referred into the Tampa YMCA's evidence-based health initiatives, Diabetes Prevention Program or Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring, as appropriate. This program aims to increase participants' consumption of fruits and vegetables, increase household food security, reduce healthcare provider usage and associated costs, and reduce instances of Diabetes and heart disease. • Individuals are eligible to participate if they are eligible for the following: • (1) benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); or • (2) medical assistance under a State plan or a waiver of such a plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) and enrolled under such plan or waiver; and • (3) a member of a low-income household that suffers from, or is at risk of developing, a diet-related health condition. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we will focus on the following activities to advance the program goals: Data Collection and Analysis: Begin collecting post-surveys from participants to compare against baseline data, specifically tracking changes in fruit and vegetable consumption, food security, and self-reported health outcomes. Monitor and document the utilization of produce prescriptions, including redemption rates and feedback from participants. Program Expansion and Outreach: Increase outreach efforts to enroll additional participants, particularly those identified by healthcare providers as at risk of diet-related conditions. Strengthen partnerships with healthcare providers to ensure consistent referrals and integration of the produce prescription program into their services. Participant Support and Education: Continue additional workshops focused on prevention of diabetes, the use of blood pressure cuffs, self-monitoring techniques, and tracking health metrics. Continue to provide recipes and nutrition guidance to participants, ensuring they have practical tools to improve their diets. Facilitate consultations with nutritionists for participants who request personalized dietary advice. Operational Improvements: Address any logistical issues with the Veggie Van, ensuring consistent and accessible delivery of fresh produce to participants. Collect and evaluate participant feedback to identify and address barriers to program engagement, such as transportation or scheduling challenges. Evaluation and Adjustments: Collaborate with healthcare providers to refine referral processes and improve tracking of participant outcomes. These efforts will allow us to move closer to meeting our stated goals and address any challenges encountered in the current reporting period. By focusing on participant engagement, data collection, and program adjustments, we aim to ensure the program's long-term success and sustainability.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Major Goals of the Project Goal 1: Increase Participants' Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables (FV) Major Activities Completed: We have partnered with healthcare providers to identify and refer patients at risk of diet-related conditions. Produce prescriptions have been created, and enrollment into the program has started. The Veggie Van mobile market is operational and supplying fresh fruits and vegetables to participants. Data Collected: Initial surveys have been completed, and post-surveys are scheduled for collection in the coming months. These surveys will track produce prescription utilization and self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption. Summary Statistics and Results: Results are not yet available. Baseline data will be compared with post-survey data to assess participant feedback and self-reported improvements. Key Outcomes/Accomplishments: Outcomes have not been realized yet. We hope to gather self-reported improvement data from participants on their fruit and vegetable consumption as the program continues. Goal 2: Increase Household Food Security Major Activities Completed: Initial outreach to low-income participants has begun, and partnerships with healthcare providers and the Veggie Van are established. Fresh produce is being provided to help address food insecurity. Data Collected: Baseline surveys have been conducted to assess food security, with follow-up surveys planned to track participants' ability to access fresh, healthy food. Summary Statistics and Results: No results are available at this stage. Comparisons between pre- and post-surveys will capture participant feedback on changes in their food security status. Key Outcomes/Accomplishments: While no outcomes have been achieved yet, we are looking forward to seeing self-reported improvements in household food security as participants engage with the program. Goal 3: Reduce Healthcare Provider Usage and Associated Costs Major Activities Completed: Collaboration with healthcare providers has integrated the produce prescription program into their services. This will enable future tracking of healthcare usage changes among participants. Data Collected: Initial data collection efforts include participant surveys on healthcare usage, such as doctor visits and hospital admissions. Follow-up surveys will be conducted post-program. Summary Statistics and Results: No results have been gathered yet. Data collection is ongoing to document participant-reported changes in healthcare utilization. Key Outcomes/Accomplishments: Outcomes have not yet been realized, but we hope to document self-reported reductions in healthcare usage from participants as they gain access to nutritious foods. Goal 4: Reduce Instances of Diabetes and Heart Disease Among Participants Major Activities Completed: Systems have been established to identify at-risk patients and provide produce prescriptions to improve their diets and reduce the likelihood of diet-related conditions. Data Collected: Baseline surveys capturing participant health data have been conducted. Post-program surveys will evaluate participants' self-reported health status over time. Summary Statistics and Results: Results are not available at this time. Future survey data will help capture participant-reported changes related to their health outcomes. Key Outcomes/Accomplishments: No outcomes have been achieved yet. We hope to collect self-reported improvements in health and reductions in diet-related conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, as the program progresses.
Publications
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Progress 09/15/22 to 09/14/23
Outputs
Target Audience: The Tampa YMCA's Veggie Van Produce Prescription Program (hereafter "VVPRx") will serve 200 low-income patients annually who receive medical services in 33607 (at the Judeo Christian Health Clinic) and 33610 (at Tampa General Hospital's Specialty Center at Healthpark) and are at risk of developing a diet-related health condition, specifically Diabetes or heart disease. The proposed locations are low income, low access neighborhoods where residents are more likely to have access to calorie-dense processed food than affordable fresh fruits and vegetables. VVPRx will fill this gap. Working with our healthcare partners, patients at risk of developing a diet- related health condition, such as Diabetes or heart disease, will receive a produce prescription to redeem at the Veggie Van's mobile produce market. Based on intake surveys, patients may be referred into the Tampa YMCA's evidence-based health initiatives, Diabetes Prevention Program or Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring, as appropriate. This program aims to increase participants' consumption of fruits and vegetables, increase household food security, reduce healthcare provider usage and associated costs, and reduce instances of Diabetes and heart disease. Individuals are eligible to participate if they are eligible for the following: (1) benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); or (2) medical assistance under a State plan or a waiver of such a plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) and enrolled under such plan or waiver; and (3) a member of a low-income household that suffers from, or is at risk of developing, a diet-related health condition. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Goal 1: Increase Participants' Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables (FV) Identify at-risk patients, provide produce prescriptions, andprovide produce. Educate participants on healthy eating and track their fruit and vegetable intake to assess changes over time. Goal 2: Increase Household Food Security Provide free fresh produce via the Veggie Van, educate participants on food security benefits, and track improvements in household food access through surveys. Goal 3: Reduce Healthcare Provider Usage and Associated Costs Track participants' health metrics and healthcare usage to assess reductions in doctor visits and costs. Analyze data to measure how better nutrition impacts healthcare needs and costs. Goal 4: Reduce Instances of Diabetes and Heart Disease Among Participants Provide nutrition education and support, monitor health metrics, and track reductions in diabetes and heart disease risk factors over time. Evaluate health outcomes to measure program success in preventing these conditions.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Increase Participants' Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables (FV) Major Activities Completed: We've partnered with healthcare providers to identify and refer patients who are at risk of diet-related conditions. Produce prescriptions have been created and have began enrollment into the program. The Veggie Van mobile market is ready to supply fresh fruits and vegetables to these patients. Data Collected: As the program is just starting, data collection is in the beginning stages.Once participants begin redeeming their produce prescriptions, we will track how many prescriptions are used and survey participants about their consumption of fruits and vegetables. Summary Statistics and Results: We have not yet gathered results, but we plan to measure changes in fruit and vegetable intake through surveys and compare baseline data with follow-up surveys after participants have been in the program for a set period. Key Outcomes/Accomplishments: Since the program is still in the initial phase, no outcomes have been realized yet. However, we expect to see an increase in the frequency and amount of fruits and vegetables consumed by participants. Goal 2: Increase Household Food Security Major Activities Completed: Initial outreach to low-income patients has begun, and partnerships with the Veggie Van and healthcare providers are established. By offering fresh produce atno cost, we aim to alleviate food insecurity in the households of participants. Data Collected: We are in the beginning stagesyet, but we plan to assess household food security through participant surveys that will track changes in their ability to access fresh, healthy food on a regular basis. Summary Statistics and Results: No results yet, as the program is still in the early stages. We will measure changes in participants' food security over time by comparing pre-program and post-program survey data on food access and affordability. Key Outcomes/Accomplishments: No key outcomes have been realized yet, but we aim to see improvements in household food security as participants gain more consistent access to fresh fruits and vegetables through the Veggie Van. Goal 3: Reduce Healthcare Provider Usage and Associated Costs Major Activities Completed: We've coordinated with healthcare providers to integrate the produce prescription program into their services. This lays the groundwork for measuring whether increased access to healthy food reduces participants' need for medical care over time. Data Collected: No data has been gathered yet, but we plan to we will measure changes in participants' healthcare usageover time by comparing pre-program and post-program survey datacollect healthcare usage information (e.g., doctor visits, hospital admissions). Summary Statistics and Results: There are no results yet, but we anticipate tracking reductions in healthcare visits, medication usage, and emergency room visits as a result of improved nutrition and health outcomes over time. Key Outcomes/Accomplishments: We haven't reached this outcome yet. However, we hope to eventually see a decrease in the number of healthcare visits and lower healthcare costs among participants as their health improves through better nutrition. Goal 4: Reduce Instances of Diabetes and Heart Disease Among Participants Major Activities Completed: The groundwork has been laid for identifying at-risk patients and providing them with produce prescriptions. This effort aims to improve their diet and prevent the onset of diet-related conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Data Collected: No health data has been collected at this time, but we will measure changes in participants' health outcomes over time by comparing pre-program and post-program survey datacare providers. Summary Statistics and Results: Since the program just launched, we do not have any health outcomes to report yet. Over time, we expect to see a reduction in the development of diabetes and heart disease among participants, as indicated by the survey answers. Key Outcomes/Accomplishments: There are no immediate health outcomes yet, but we aim to prevent new cases of diabetes and heart disease in at-risk individuals by improving their access to fresh, nutritious foods. As the program progresses, we'll track changes in health status to assess the program's impact.
Publications
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