Phase 2 Produce Prescription Pilot Program (P4) - Sault Tribe Community Health P4 Project Abstract The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians proposes Wiisinidaa Anishinaabe Miidjim (“Let Us Eat Indigenous Food”), a culturally grounded Produce Prescription (P4) program designed to improve access to nutritious and traditional foods, reduce food insecurity, and promote whole-person health among Tribal members. The program responds to significant community need, including high rates of diet-related chronic disease, limited access to affordable healthy foods in a large rural service area, and socioeconomic barriers impacting food security. Aligned with the P4 NOFO, the project integrates clinical care with community food systems by enabling healthcare providers to prescribe fruits, vegetables, and traditional foods to eligible participants. Adult patients will be screened for food insecurity and chronic disease risk using validated tools, then referred to the program for enrollment. Participants will receive produce prescriptions redeemable through local vendors and traditional food providers, along with culturally relevant nutrition education, including cooking, preservation, and traditional food practices. The project will be implemented through a phased, five-year approach. Year 1 focuses on planning, infrastructure development, and partnership formalization. Years 2–3 emphasize program implementation, participant enrollment, food access, and continuous quality improvement. Years 4–5 focus on program expansion, sustainability, and long-term outcomes. A strong network of partners supports program implementation, ensuring comprehensive services without duplication. Healthcare partners will lead screening and referrals, food system partners will supply fruits, vegetables, and traditional foods, education partners will deliver nutrition and skill-building activities, evaluation partners will lead data collection and analysis, and cultural partners will ensure integration of traditional knowledge and practices. The evaluation plan combines quantitative and Indigenous methodologies to measure program performance and impact. Data will be collected on participation, prescription distribution and redemption, food security, nutrition knowledge, and health outcomes, along with community-defined measures such as cultural connectedness and traditional food use. The Sault Tribe Community Health program brings strong organizational capacity, with decades of experience managing federal grants, delivering culturally responsive health programs, and collaborating with Tribal and community partners. Existing infrastructure and experience in produce prescription programming positions the Tribe to successfully implement and sustain this initiative. Overall, this project offers a comprehensive, culturally grounded, and sustainable approach to addressing food insecurity and chronic disease by integrating clinical care with food systems, strengthening partnerships, and promoting traditional food practices to advance whole person wellness.
