Food Nutrition and Consumer Services, USDA , and Division of Nutrition,

Physical Activity and Obesity, CDC Collaboration and Communication

FNCS – DNPAO Detail, Jan. 2010 – July 2010

Christa Essig, MPH, Public Health Analyst, NCCDPHP and NCEH

Today’s Discussion…

• CDC-FNCS Detail Goals• FNCS Overview• Detail Activities and Communications• Recommendations and On-going Activities • Collaboration Opportunities for State

Departments of Agriculture and Public Health

Purpose

• Facilitate connections for ongoing communication at various levels

• Develop understanding of each other for identifying collaboration entry points including goals, research, future directions, and each other’s perspectives

• Develop an action plan with steps for CDC and FNCS to integrate programs, strengthen and institutionalize organizational linkages

Goals– Scan of FNCS and CDC obesity-related projects and

initiatives– Mechanism for state level communication and

collaboration– Link actions for Child Nutrition Reauthorization– Connecting CDC and SNAP Education programs for

broader reach and effectiveness– Connecting support for school food programs– How can USDA funded programs and service can

benefit CDC-funded states and communities, and vice versa

Crossing Mission Areas

• Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, USDAReduce hunger and food insecurity by ensuring better access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education for children and needy families

• Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, USDA

The mission of the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion is to improve the health of Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers

• Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity

Lead strategic public health efforts to prevent and control obesity, chronic disease and other health conditions through physical activity and good nutrition

Previous Relationships

• FNS, WIC and PedNSS/PNNS • Healthy People 2020 • Food Environment and Diet Quality Research with ERS• Farmers Market Consortium & Eval Project, AMS• National Fruit & Vegetable Alliance• National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research• School and Child Nutrition, School Wellness Policies• State Childcare Nutrition • FTC/CDC/FDA/USDA foods marketed to children

criteria

Food and Nutrition Services

Under Secretary FNCS: Kevin ConcannonDeputy Under Secretary: Janey Thorton

Administrator FNS: Julie ParadisDeputy Administrator FNS: Lisa Pino

Deputy Administrator FNS/ SNAP: Audrey Rowe

Placement – Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP)

• Raj Anand, Executive Director and Rob Post, Deputy Director (POC)

• Nutrition Marketing and Communications Division• Nutrition Guidance and Analysis Division• Evidence Analysis Library Division

- Nutrition Evidence Library- Dietary Guidelines for Americans- Food Guide Pyramid- Nutrient Content of the US Food Supply- USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food

FNS RESEARCH AND EVALUATION PLAN, 2010

USDA PRIORITY: ALL OF AMERICA’S CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE, NUTRITIOUS AND BALANCED MEALS

FNCS Priority: - End Childhood Hunger by 2015 - Develop a Comprehensive National Effort to Reduce Obesity - Make Nutrition Education More Effective - Expand the Farm-Food Connection in FNS Programs- Continue Modernizing FNS Programs - SUPPORT FOR NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE http://www.fns.usda.gov/ora/menu/Published/Research/

2010RandE.pdf

Challenges• Obesity vs. Hunger• Individual benefit vs. population approach• Streamlining programs• CNR - FNCS ‘authority’• Legislative language interpretation• SNAP-Ed reach to non-SNAP people• Making SNAP-Ed comprehensive and integrated• Balancing Guidance vs. Individuality• Accountability - Address evaluation/effectiveness

of SNAP-Ed(EARS)• State feedback• SNAP use of Partnerships

Challenges Cont.

• Child and School Health• My Pyramid• Evidence library• Translation of science panel, public

comments, to a policy • Politics and industry

USDA Priorities

1) Thriving Rural Communities2) Conserve Working Lands, Resilience to

Climate Change and Enhance Water Resources

3) Exports, Biotechnology, Sustainable Ag in Food-Insecure Nations

4) Ensure Children have Access to Safe, Nutritious, and Balanced Meals

Culture

• Responsibility to Congress• Hierarchy and Formality• US Agriculture Industry and Business• Shift to include Ag-of-the-middle• Barriers to integrate new visions into

programs without legislation

Activities

• Education Webinars• Presentations – KYF, Interns, meetings• Key POC meetings and new person-to-person

connections• Healthy Incentive Pilot review and grants• CPPW share• Other USDA Agencies• Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food

Other USDA Agencies

• NIFA – Research, Education, and Extension• Rural Development (RD) • Agriculture Research Service (ARS)• Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS)• National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)• Economic Research Service (ERS)• Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food

MISSION: Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KFY2) strengthens the critical connection between farmers and consumers and supports local and regional food systems. Through this initiative, USDA integrates and emphasizes programs and policies that:

• Stimulate food- and agriculturally-based community economic development; • Foster new opportunities for farmers and ranchers; • Promote locally and regionally produced and processed food; • Cultivate healthy eating habits and educated, empowered consumers; • Expand access to affordable fresh and local food; and • Demonstrate the connection between food, agriculture, community and the

environment.

KYF2 also leads a national conversation about food and agriculture to increase the linkages between consumers and farmers.

Steward cross-agency initiatives to better leverage USDA resources

I. Farm-to-school and school-to-farm II. Local meat III. Food distribution hubs IV. Food deserts V. USDA in-house operations VI. Opportunities in agriculture VII. Business structures

Executive Summary – Priority FNCS-CDC Collaboration Recommendations

1) Communications and Partnerships

2) Support Child Nutrition and Health: School Wellness Policies and Healthier US Schools Challenge

3) Support Multi-Agency State Level Collaboration

1. Priority Action 2. Immediate Opportunities

3.Ongoing and Long-Term Activities

• Communications and Reporting• Programs and Projects• Partnerships• Policy• Research and Data• Resources, training, technical assistance,

promising practices/ strategies• Grants and Funding

Key Approaches for Collaboration• Support complementary programs for broad system impact• Support common policy change at the local, state, and

national levels• Share data, grant opportunities, resources, joint trainings,

technical assistance, and co-identify and communicate promising practices

• Coordinate program messages• Plan cross-program research and data inventories and

reporting: conduct and share program area research that focuses on the intersection of obesity and health disparities, food insecurity, food access, and healthy food system support

USDA Grant Opportunities

FNS: Fresh Fruit and Vegetable ProgramHealthy Incentives PilotsFarmers Market Nutrition Programs School Facilities

Grant Opportunities• NIFA:

Community Food ProjectsHealthy Urban Food Enterprise DevelopmentAgriculture and Food Research Initiatives4-H Youth Development

• RD:Community Facilities ProgramFaith Based and Community Initiatives

• ERS:Specialty Crops Block GrantsResearch Innovation and Development Grants in Economics (RIDGE) Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP)

Cross-Agency Examples:• Farm-to-School • Farmers Markets EBT• Urban Agriculture• Food Policy Councils • Comprehensive City Plans• Food Hubs• Healthy Food Financing Initiative• Community Food Assessments, Food Shed/ Local

Food Assessments, Health Impact Assessment, F2S Analysis

Lessons Learned

• Listen• Engage• Invite• Language• Look for co-benefits• Be open to creativity and difference of opinion

and perspective• Multi-level coordination and communication