Agenda

1. Share Our Strength’s Operation FrontlineCDC DNPAO TeleconferenceJanet McLaughlin August 14, 2008

2. Agenda • Background • Why We’re Here • Program Overview • Partnership Model • Questions

3. Background • Share Our Strength is a national nonprofit dedicating to ending childhood hunger in America. • Share Our Strength founded in 1984 with the belief that it takes more than food to fight hunger – and that everyone has a strength to share. • In 2007, Share Our Strength and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s DNPAO entered into a partnership to address childhood hunger and obesity.

4. Background Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline is a chef-led nutrition education program for families at risk of hunger. 4

5. Why We’re Here • To decrease food insecurity and improve nutrition for children in the United States • 1 in 6 households with kids at risk of hunger • Between 14% and 19% of kids are overweight.

6. Why We’re Here • “Before the class I always knew that healthy foods were important for my children but I didn’t know what the right foods were. Eating healthy meals has helped have more energy now and I’m able to be my best for my children.  They are getting used to eating the healthy foods and now thanks to this class I can make their food fun to eat.”  - Brenda, Boston mother with children in Head Start

7. Why We’re Here • “My doctor tried so hard to give me tips on eating right and I didn't pay attention. I have many nutrition pamphlets, but they didn't get my attention like this class. I have truly enjoyed this class because of Chef Mike. He has been a true inspiration to my cooking.” - Operation Frontline graduate from Chicago

8. Why We’re Here • Share Our Strength launched Operation Frontline in 1993 as a long-term solution to hunger. • Operation Frontline gives family the knowledge and skills they need to get the most nutrition out of their limited budgets – and allows culinary and nutrition professionals to share their strengths.

9. Our Approach • Chef volunteersteam withnutrition educators to provide cooking-based classes that teach how to prepare healthy meals on a limited budget. • Each participatory multi-session courses features: • Hands-on meal preparation • Practical nutrition information • Food budgeting and shopping techniques • Interactive discussion and activities

10. Our Guiding Principles • The negative health and economic effects of hunger and poor diet can be avoided if families know shop for and prepare healthy, low-cost meals. • Chefs are valued instructors because of their expertise in food and food budgeting as well as their creativity and energy.

11. Our Guiding Principles • Food is to be enjoyed. Those living on a low-income deserve to enjoy their food as well – and need to know how to create food that is delicious, satisfying, and healthy • Cooking family meals is an important social activity. • Volunteering, or sharing strengths, is a way to create community wealth.

12. Our Approach • 5 Nutrition Curricula • Eating Right for adults • Side by Side for parents and kids • Kids Up Front for children 8 to 12 • Power of Eating Right for teens • Step Up to Eating Right for pregnant and parenting teens • 1 Financial Literacy Curriculum • Saving Smart, Spending Smart on household money management

13. Eating Right • Revised for 2008 to incorporate best practices from the field as well as current adult learning theory • Collaborative 20-month process with expert review, instructor feedback, and two rounds of pilot courses

14. Eating Right • Designed to engage participants in active learning that facilitates lasting behavior change • Nutrition: MyPyramid, Nutrition Facts panel, Ingredient lists • Food budgeting: Unit prices, Menu planning, Grocery store tour, $10 Challenge • Cooking: Culinary techniques, Food safety, Quality recipes, Take-home groceries

15. Side by Side • Engages parents and children together • Focus on family meals and family food decision making

16. Step Up to Eating Right Thanks for showing us how to cook even though sometimes we didn’t want to have it but then we liked it. The class was great. I now look at food differently and more open to try new foods. I am now more aware of what I eat and am a lot healthier.

17. Our Impact • 89% of adult and teen graduates improved their nutrition practices, such as eating variety of foods and using the nutrition facts label. • 81% improved eating habits, such as getting the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables each day. • 62% improved their food resource management, such as comparing prices and using a grocery list. • 84% of the low-income participants graduate • Graduates maintain changes made during courses three and six months after completion. (Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, July/August 2007)

18. Our Partnership Model

19. Our Partnership Model

20. Our Current Program Partners • Boston Operation Frontline Massachusetts • Chicago Near North Health Service • Dallas North Texas Food Bank • Denver Operation Frontline Colorado • Detroit Gleaners Community Food Bank • Fort Worth Tarrant Area Food Bank • Houston Houston Area Food Bank • Hudson Valley The Queen’s Galley • Ithaca Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tompkins County • Manchester New Hampshire Food Bank • Miami FLIPANY • New York City City Harvest • Omaha Visiting Nurses Association • Portland Oregon Food Bank • Raleigh Inter-Faith Food Shuttle • Seattle Solid Ground • St. Louis Operation Food Search • Washington Capital Area Food Bank (DC) • and growing….!

21. Our Partnership Model

22. Community Host Sites • Operation Frontline reaches target audience through community agencies where they already receive services, like: • Head Start • Afterschool programs and summer camps • Housing programs • Community centers • Health Clinics

23. Our Partnership Model

24. Our Partnership Model • Share Our Strength provides: • Proven program model and systems • Six specialized curricula • Materials for volunteer instructors and participants • Regular training • Ongoing technical assistance • Evaluation services • AmeriCorps members • Material support from program sponsors • Operation Frontline support network • Access to Share Our Strength network • Opportunity for grant funds

25. Our Partnership Model • Local Program Partners provide: • Course implementation including scheduling, groceries, equipment • Community partnerships that access to target population • Volunteer recruitment and training • Funding for local program costs

26. Our Partnership Model • Effective: Clear expectations and understanding each partner’s role and value supports quality. • Efficient: Structure is designed to make the most efficient use of both local and national resources and expertise. • Sustainable: Current structure allows Share Our Strength and community partners to come together to leverage resources.

27. Conclusion • Consider Operation Frontline as a case study • Engage with existing Operation Frontline program in your state • Start an Operation Frontline program

28. Operation Frontline Case Study • Consider the gap between knowledge and behavior • What is needed for people to take action? • What are motivators? What are barriers? • Consider how to incorporate a food-based approach to nutrition • How can you make the healthy choice exciting, cool, a source of pride? • How can you capitalize on current interest in cooking?

29. Operation Frontline Case Study • Consider creating a “value chain” for your collaborative efforts • What are unique contributions at each level • How can secondary results strengthen overall efforts? • Where are the economies of scale? • Consider existing resources in the community aren’t being tapped or could be more effective in collaboration • How can your programs build community wealth? • Are there some “un-usual suspects” that your could engage?

30. Engage with existing Operation Frontline programs • Explore collaboration with existing Operation Frontline state and local programs • Where can efforts reinforce one another • Opportunities for expansion • Joint funding proposals • Promote volunteerism with Operation Frontline – and consider volunteering yourself! • Culinary professionals (and students) • Nutrition professionals (and students) • Support volunteers for classroom management, grocery shopping, and administration

31. Starting Operation Frontline in your state • Share Our Strength is seeking new Operation Frontline program partners • Expand to 30 partnerships over next three years • Limited grants for start-up funding available • Key factors to consider • Who will be the lead partner organization to manages and implement Operation Frontline program on the local level? • How will local program costs – including staffing, groceries, transportation, and equipment – be covered? • What existing resources or partnerships could be tapped into or strengthened through partnership on Operation Frontline?

32. Starting Operation Frontline in your state • Review detailed information on Operation Frontline program provided • Discuss interest and opportunity with partners in your state • Contact Janet McLaughlin by email to express interest • Janet may connect interested parties in the same state • Explore funding opportunities and mechanisms in your state • Submit request for funding to Share Our Strength

33. Starting Operation Frontline in your state • Share Our Strength will offer start-up funding through an RFP process • Funding available as a result of new national partnership with ConAgra Foods. • Grant amount up to $100,000. • Looking for minimum three year commitment and intention for long-term partnership • Specifics of RFP process will be determined based on the level of interest

34. Questions? • www.operationfronline.org • Janet McLaughlin jmclaughlin@strength.org 202-478-6541