From Mounds of Data to Effectively Communicating Results

1. FromMounds of Data toEffectively Communicating Results APHA- Philadelphia, PA November 10, 2009 Changing the Neighborhood Food Environment Presented by: Valerie Quinn, M.Ed., California Department of Public Health, Network for a Healthy California Additional contributors: Alyssa Ghirardelli, MPH,RD, Ellen Feighery, RN, MS

2. Presenter Disclosures Valerie Quinn, M.Ed. (1) The following personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this presentation existed during the past 12 months: No relationships to disclose

3. Focus: Neighborhoods

4. CX3: Project Background • Communities of Excellence in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention = CX3 • Objective: Activate consumers to improve food availability in low-income neighborhoods* • Focused initiative with 23 funded local health depts. • Began 2006 (6 pilot sites) • Collect neighborhood-level data using CX3 standardized tools & methods • 3 – 7 neighborhoods in jurisdiction * >50% 185% FPL

5. Local Role • Change Agents • Data collection by local health department • Involve community members where possible • Disseminate and engage: Community groups, neighborhoods actively involved, community leaders

6. Data Uses • Expose disparities • Resource allocation • Engage residents in advancing change • Design/tailor interventions • Real-world data to create healthier neighborhoods • City/Co Planners, Redevelopment agencies, inform General Plan, health impact, etc.

7. Neighborhood Marketplace • Are healthy food choices available and accessible to residents of low-income neighborhoods? What’s the food store mix? • What is the density of fast food outlets in neighborhood and around schools? • How much and what are the types of healthy/unhealthy marketing messages on billboards around schools? • Is it safe to walk to store? Is it accessible? • What kinds of food are available from emergency food outlets? Nutrition education? • And more!

8. CX3 Data Collection: Mapping • Data layers: retail, farmers’ markets, schools, parks; census level • Built environment: • Street connectivity • Lack of green space/parks • Out-of-balance store mix; saturation of FF and C-stores • Food deserts http://www.cnngis.org Network for a Healthy California Map Viewer

9. CX3 Data Collection: Field Surveys • Grocery stores and small markets • Different types of stores (large to small, c-stores, etc) • Availability and quality of fruits and vegetables, new WIC pkg • Fruit and vegetable prices • Marketing of healthy/unhealthy foods • Walkability & Safety • Fast food • Availability of healthy options • Menu labeling • Marketing • Outdoor marketing • Food Banks • Alternative Healthy Food Sources

10. Mountain of data! Need: Compelling ways to characterize conditions

11. Neighborhood level Store level CX3 Data Analyses

13. Neighborhood level: Retail Food Environment HEALTHY vs. UNHEALTHY FOOD SOURCES* * Percent of neighborhood stores offering predominately healthy food vs. those offering predominately high fat/sugar food. Healthy food sources include supermarkets or large grocery stores, small markets meeting quality standards, farmers markets & fruit/vegetable markets. High fat/sugar food sources include fast food outlets, convenience stores, & small markets not meeting quality standards.

14. Store level • Scores automatically calculated • Formulas

15. CX3 Communications Pieces • Neighborhood Brief • Fact sheets • PowerPoint • Store score card • Fast food score card • Neighborhood markets card • Spanish (all) • Templates

16. CX3 Evaluation Survey • CX3 local health departments • 22 of 23 responded • Administered via Survey Monkey • Qualitative & quantitative • May 2009 • First survey capturing results from CX3 field work

17. Most Useful Data Analyses

18. “Specific store scores have so far been the most useful … Fast food ratio numbers have caused me to get a lot of media, but also caused some ripples in the community.”

19. Most Effective Communications Tools

20. “Fact sheets provided “call to action” which policy makers and key community leaders have found to be most helpful.” “Visuals of neighborhoods – powerful picture says a thousand words.”

21. Skill Improvement

22. Consumer-targeted interventions • Network Retail Program started (73%) • “Where to shop” lists for healthy food (68%) • Skill building to foster parent or youth “Champions for Change” (68%) • Food demos (68%) • Corner store activities (64%) Sites responded as actively implementing or planning to implement

23. Community Actions

24. Discussion & Next Steps • Relevant data • Local innovation in applying data • Analyses & Tools assisting efforts • Addt’l needs: media outreach, school scoring/analysis, more languages • Improve: supermarket analysis • Varying skill level, experience • Focused TA in certain areas

26. Thank you! Valerie Quinn, M.Ed. Network for a Healthy California CA Dept. of Public Health Valerie.Quinn@cdph.ca.gov 916.552.9908 This material was produced by the California Department of Public Health, Network for a Healthy California, with funding from the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.