1. Dennis Savaiano, Purdue University
Leadership
Dennis Savaiano, Purdue University
Director and Research Coordinator
Marci Scott, Michigan Fitness Foundation,
Associate Director-Implementation
Jo Britt-Rankin, University of Missouri
Associate Director-Communications
Dawn Contreras, Michigan State University
Associate Director- Center Assessment

2. Priorities for research:
Address the policy, systems and/or environmental aspects of the rural communities of the North Central region
Address the specific needs of immigrant, minority and/or other at-risk populations in this region
Strengthen the evidence base on effective nutrition-education/obesity-prevention programs for diverse groups, notably SNAP-Ed and EFNEP

3. Funded research University of Missouri Photo Voice project
University of Illinois Network Assessment project
University of Illinois/Michigan Network project II
Ohio State University Summer camp PSE for SNAP-Ed children
Purdue University SNAP-Ed and rural and urban food insecurity and obesity
Michigan State PSE in low income rural and urban childcare settings
Purdue/North Central States collaboration on PSE perspective of SNAP-Ed/EFNEP participants

4. Eat Smart in Parks: Photovoice to Inform Health Food Environments
Sonja Wilhelm Stanis, PhD; Cindy DeBlauw, RD, LD; Kimberly Keller, PhD, CFLE; Amy Dunaway, MPH, MA; & Natalie Hampton, MPH
Photovoice is a participatory process that gives voice to underrepresented groups. The goal of this photovoice project is to leverage the existing Eat Smart in Parks (ESIP) best-practices program designed to improve the healthfulness of foods offered at parks.
Deepen the community’s voice in healthy food decisions being made in their parks
Include the voice of youth to help direct these decisions and potential policy changes
Help mobilize youth to improve equitable access to healthy food park environments in underserved communities.

5. Community Gallery Event (showcase youth findings)
50 youth (ages 10-17) from four Missouri low-income & SNAP-Ed eligible communities: two urban in Kansas City & two rural in Eldon & Sedalia
Three Components:
Youth Photovoice Project (3 workshops: introduce project, photovoice assessment of park food environment, write captions & identify themes)
Community Gallery Event (showcase youth findings)
Youth & Community Surveys (assess impact of project and gallery event)
Project status and next steps:
Data collection and gallery events complete
Data analysis and sharing results underway
Youth identified three themes:
Ads & Influence
Access
Healthy/unhealthy opportunities
Inclusion of youth perspectives into ESIP toolkit

6. Jennifer McCaffrey Naiman Khan Ruopeng An Dawn Contreras Marci Scott
Evaluating a Multi-Modal Community Nutrition Education Model within SNAP-Ed and EFNEP
Jennifer McCaffrey
Naiman Khan
Ruopeng An
Dawn Contreras
Marci Scott

7. Specific Aims
Examine the organizational structure and policy dynamics in relation to program effectiveness using Social Network Analysis in both Illinois and Michigan
Examine the impact of the University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Ed and EFNEP on participants’ diet-related and physical activity behaviors as well as their home food environment, weight status and adiposity

8. Illinois Social Network Analysis completion rates
Vermilion County -75%
Southern region (Alexander, Massac and Pulaski Counties) %
Macon County - 65%
A relevant manuscript has been accepted by the American Journal of Health Behavior detailing the findings from the initial Social Network Analysis. Program proposal for conference session submitted to SNEB.

9. Michigan Social Network Analysis completion rates
Ingham (44%)
Allegan (90%)
Tuscola (100%)
Hartford (95%)
Isabella (81%)
Muskegon (49%)
A relevant manuscript has been submitted to Preventative Medicine Reports this fall.

10. SNA Conclusions
Agencies in 8 out of the 9 areas were weakly connected regarding communication networks for SNAP-Ed and EFNEP.
May have limited familiarity with other agencies.
No one agency seems to be influential.
Agencies of similar types (schools, pantries, etc.), are not more connected than others.
If an agency was connected in one way, much more likely to be connected in several areas (funding, communication, coordination, collaboration).
All networks strategized about ways to communicate and become more connected to better serve the low income population. Networks meeting quarterly. Reassessment planned for spring.
Related concepts: that we don’t present, but we do analyze: Correlation between networks (Are people who sending funding to sites more likely to collaborate?) The correlation coefficient will answer that question; answers whether and to what degree 2 networks are connected to each other.
 Potential reason for low data: low reciprocity, lack of knowledge in some sites regarding site operations; perhaps we asked the wrong person? Perhaps the site has changed locations, names, funding sources, personnel? The frequency of communication may be so low that they don’t remember(timeframe was 12 months).
11/11/2018

11. Program Participant Progress
303 total participants recruited throughout five counties in Illinois
117 participants completed three weigh-ins and three phone calls (Stage 1)
105 have agreed to continue on in the study for an additional nine months (Stage 2)
Analysis ongoing regarding food security status, assistance program usage, BMI, and physical activity.
Abstract submitted to Experimental Biology

12. Summer Weight Environmental Assessment Trial
SWEAT:
Summer Weight Environmental Assessment Trial
PI Carolyn Gunther, PhD, Assistant Professor and Extension State Specialist
The Ohio State University, Dept of Human Sciences

13. SWEAT Project Teams PI Carolyn Gunther, PhD
The Ohio State University, Human Nutrition
 Laura Hopkins, MSPH, RD, PhD Candidate
 Christine Penicka, BS, MS Student
Co-PI Blake Jones, PhD
Purdue University, Human Development and Family Studies
 Carly Evich, PhD Student

14. 3 Treatment Arms Enhanced Care Standard Care Active Control
Access to healthy meals and snacks (USDA SFSP)
Access to safe play (school)
Curriculum
CATCH Nutrition and PA
COPE Mental Health*
Parental Engagement
Access to healthy meals and snacks (USDA SFSP)
Access to safe play (school)
Curriculum
CATCH Nutrition and PA
Access to healthy meals and snacks (USDA SFSP)
Access to safe play (school)
Curriculum
4-H (no nutrition, PA, or mental health)
*Cognitive behavior techniques: goal setting, problem solving, decision making

15. Hypotheses
Compared to the Active Control, children randomized to the 2 types of intervention groups (Standard Care; Enhanced Care) will demonstrate:
Improved diet
Decreased sedentary time
Prevention of unhealthy weight gain

16. Does SNAP-Ed affect food security differentially in urban and rural environments? A longitudinal, randomized & controlled study
Heather A. Eicher-Miller, PhD; Melissa K. Maulding, MS, RD; Bruce A. Craig, PhD; Dennis A. Savaiano, PhD; Rebecca L. Rivera MPH.

17. Goals
to investigate the effect of SNAP-Ed on household food security among adults ≥18 years who qualify for SNAP and whether changes are differential in rural/urban counties using a longitudinal (1 year), randomized and controlled study design with SNAP-Ed as the intervention.
to determine how the availability of nutrition-related community resources moderates the effect of SNAP-Ed on food security and whether the effect is dose-dependent.
to determine the individual impact of factors associated with improvements in food security through integration of direct and PSE SNAP-Ed approaches.
The study design was a randomized, controlled, nutrition education intervention with assessments at baseline and post-intervention. The intervention was the first 4 lessons of the Indiana SNAP-Ed curriculum. SNAP-Ed Paraprofessionals recruited participants.
They also delivered lessons and assessments to participants using the normal SNAP-Ed protocol either one-on one or in groups in participant homes or community locations. We had 39 paraprofessionals recruit 560 participants from 38 counties across Indiana.
A total of 427 participants completed both baseline and post-intervention assessments and were included in data analysis. To be in the study, participants must have been living in Indiana and had at least 1 child in the household. They must have been willing to wait 1 year to receive SNAP-Ed lessons because this short-term study was part of a longitudinal study that lasted 1 year. Participants were compensated for their time.

18. Progress
Socioeconomic Environment; Rural/Urban
Completed: Mixed-Modeling Analysis & Manuscript of Environmental Factor Influence on Food Security Improvement due to SNAP- Ed
1 Paper submitted to American Journal of Public Health on 12/2016
TITLE: Urban or rural county status and environmental, nutrition, and lifestyle- related resources do not influence SNAP-Ed’s improvement in household food security in Indiana
Transportation; Food Environment
Community Assistance Programs
Direct SNAP-Ed
Household Food Security
In Progress: Path analysis investigation of how factors (rural/urban status, community resources, and county characteristics) individually contribute to the impact on improvement in food security through integration of direct and PSE SNAP-Ed approaches.
The study design was a randomized, controlled, nutrition education intervention with assessments at baseline and post-intervention. The intervention was the first 4 lessons of the Indiana SNAP-Ed curriculum. SNAP-Ed Paraprofessionals recruited participants.
They also delivered lessons and assessments to participants using the normal SNAP-Ed protocol either one-on one or in groups in participant homes or community locations. We had 39 paraprofessionals recruit 560 participants from 38 counties across Indiana.
A total of 427 participants completed both baseline and post-intervention assessments and were included in data analysis. To be in the study, participants must have been living in Indiana and had at least 1 child in the household. They must have been willing to wait 1 year to receive SNAP-Ed lessons because this short-term study was part of a longitudinal study that lasted 1 year. Participants were compensated for their time.

19. Dawn Earnesty, MS, RDN Lorraine Weatherspoon, PhD, RD
The Influence of Policy, System and Environmental Nutrition Education Intervention on Foods and Beverages Served at Diverse, Low-Income Home Child Care Provider Settings
Dawn Earnesty, MS, RDN
Lorraine Weatherspoon, PhD, RD

20. Goals
To improve the nutritional variety and quality of meals and snacks served to 2-5 year old children in diverse, SNAP-Ed child care provider homes.
To strengthen the evidence base of a policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change intervention for child care providers using a 6- month Extension coaching model.

21. Randomized Control Trial
PSE
Examine and Compare the Foods and Beverages (fruits and vegetables) Served by SNAP-ED Home Child Care Providers
51 Home Child Care Providers Recruited
37 pre-observations completed including five day menu Analysis and direct diet observation of lunch and snack
Healthier Childcare Environment
6 month Intervention with Extension and Kidney Foundation using NAP SACC and coaching/mentoring
25 randomized to Intervention
25 randomized to delayed intervention
Examine and compare the dietary quality as measured by fruits and vegetables served by diverse low-income childcare providers to children 2-5 years of age in unlicensed, family and group childcare provider settings in Michigan.
Michigan State University Institutional Review Board expedited application approved May The application was amended to add additional counties, investigators, the addition of a process evaluation tracking document and a child IRB consent was child care assistants under the age of 18 was approved in August 2016.
Fifty-one of fifty projected child care providers have been recruited and randomized into intervention and control sites for the Healthier Child Care environment study in Michigan.
Licensed and unlicensed child care providers have been recruited in twelve counties. These include the following urban counties in Michigan: Saginaw, Genesee, Kalamazoo, Kent, Wayne, Oakland and Ingham. Additionally, rural counties of target include Shiawassee, Sanilac, Arenac, Branch, Barry and Gratiot.
Four research assistants have been trained in the direct diet estimation method from North Carolina State University.
Thirty nutrition professionals from Michigan State University Extension and Michigan Kidney Foundation (MKF) have received training on human research, recruitment and sample selection, intervention education and process evaluation to track dosage, duration and topic selection for the intervention groups.

22. Food and Activity Environment Perceptions Among SNAP-Ed and EFNEP Participants in the North Central region
Bhagyashree Katare, PhD
Krystal Lynch, PhD
Melissa Maulding, MS RD
Dennis Savaiano, PhD
and the North Central Steering Committee

23. Goals
To develop a system/tool to assess individuals’ perception of their surrounding food and physical activity environment and their health behavior, health choices and health outcome.
To asses participants’ current perception of their food and physical activity environment.
To evaluate the relationship between individuals’ present perception of environment and their health behaviors and outcomes.

24. Progress and Timeline
Literature reviewed and survey developed based on validated questions
Focus group evaluation conducted
IN pilot data collected for further validation
Survey instrument reviewed by NCNECE Steering Committee
Winter/spring data collection in NC States
April/May NC meeting to review data