Project Abstract
The purpose of this 1807 cooperative agreement is to work with local and state partners to improve the physical activity and nutrition status of North Carolinians. We will provide funding and support for local coalitions to implement evidence-based strategies related to food service guidelines, breastfeeding, safe and accessible places for physical activity, and nutrition and physical activity standards. These strategies will be implemented in early care and education, faith communities, health care settings, schools, worksites, parks, recreation centers and other community settings chosen based on their needs and readiness. We will work with state level partners to change policies, systems and environments to support the implementation of these strategies.
Through previous cooperative agreements including 1305 and 1422, North Carolina has created and implemented evidence-based programs to prevent, manage, and reduce risk factors associated with chronic diseases including childhood and adult obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. This experience informs NC’s 1807 workplan which outlines activities the Community and Clinical Connections for Prevention and Health Branch (CCCPH), NC Division of Public Health will implement to increase healthy eating, safe and accessible physical activity and breastfeeding through the following strategies:
• implement food service guidelines that increase the availability, accessibility and affordability of healthier options in various settings (e.g., worksites, faith communities, early care and education). CCCPH will work with partners to develop and promote resources and provide technical assistance to support implementation.
• support birthing facilities, outpatient clinical settings, child care programs, worksites and community organizations to achieve the NC Breastfeeding-Friendly Designation, which signifies support for breastfeeding families to help them succeed in their breastfeeding goals.
• increase safe and accessible pedestrian and bicycle-friendly transportation systems for travel to or from home, school and work as well as the use of those systems to promote physical activity.
• integrate nutrition and physical activity standards into state-wide early care and education systems (e.g., NC Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care Designation Program as part of Quality Rating and Improvement Systems) and to support local implementation of those standards
Through a request for application (RFA) process, CCCPH will fund the work of 22-30 local coalitions over the 5-year cooperative agreement. CCCPH, along with state and local partners, will provide training and technical assistance to funded coalitions to: 1) implement strategies, 2) engage community members and build effective coalitions, 3) identify and address assets, gaps and disparities and 4) evaluate and report progress. CCCPH will work with coalitions to analyze local demographic data, programs, environments and policies to develop tailored action plans that guide the coalition’s work to achieve outcomes with settings and populations of focus.
Outcomes expected from the coalitions include increase number of:
• places that implement food service guidelines
• places that implement supportive breastfeeding interventions
• places that implement community planning and transportation interventions that support safe and accessible physical activity
• early care and education systems that implement nutrition and physical activity standards
The work outlined in our application will increase healthy eating and physical activity, improve overall health and reduce significant risk factors for obesity and other chronic diseases across NC.