Publications and Evaluation

Michigan’s primary goal for SNAP-Ed is to increase fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity behaviors as a means to prevent diet-related health problems in Michigan SNAP recipients. The Michigan Fitness Foundation’s (MFF’s) SNAP-Ed program aims to expand access to and increase fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity or reduce sedentary behavior through both direct education and policy, systems, and environmental change (PSE) strategies. A customized, comprehensive evaluation plan will be developed to assess the following:

Direct Education

Evaluation of the intended outcomes of locally-relevant interventions selected to meet the unique needs of the SNAP-eligible population in defined communities.

Short-term, medium-term, long-term, and/or contribution to population level outcomes related to increased fruit and vegetable consumption, increased physical activity and/or reduced sedentary behavior, and health-related quality of life

Process evaluation related to fidelity and program improvement.

Community Change Strategies

Short-term outcomes related to assessment of need and readiness for PSE change, and collaboration with local champions, partnerships and/or coalitions;

Medium-term outcomes for adoption and promotion of policy, system or environmental change to expand access to or improve healthy eating and/or increased physical activity and/or reduced sedentary behavior;

Long-term outcomes of organizational implementation and effectiveness of policy, system or environmental change to expand access to or improve healthy eating and/or increased physical activity and/or reduced sedentary behavior.

As SNAP-Ed programming evolves, careful and deliberate formative, process, outcome and impact evaluations are required. These evaluations allow MFF to share best practices and continuously improve the quality of its programming.