SNAP-Ed Community PSE Exploration Initiative

MICHIGAN FITNESS FOUNDATION

The Michigan Fitness Foundation’s (MFF) SNAP-Ed collaborative of statewide partners focuses on improving the health of Michigan’s most vulnerable citizens, including children, seniors, families, and communities in crisis. SNAP-Ed programs develop community leaders and enable residents to gain knowledge and access resources that improve opportunities to eat healthy food and be physically active. To complement traditional direct education work, SNAP-Ed partners spent a year exploring community-level policies, systems, and environments (PSE) and deepening organizational capacity to address root causes of health inequities.

Healthy Places by Design served as a strategic thought partner and consultant to MFF staff and SNAP-Ed partners throughout the initiative, providing expertise on emergent learning, ongoing support structures, and network building. Drawing from our Community Action Model, we enabled SNAP-Ed partners to frame analyses around their communities’ unique culture, assets, infrastructure, history of achievement, and challenges.

Through this initiative, Healthy Places by Design:

• Conducted partner listening sessions, synthesized themes, and shared recommendations;
• Designed and facilitated regular peer learning calls to strengthen network ties and build capacity for PSE-based approaches;
• Developed guidance documents, curated resources, and drafted final report templates; and
• Delivered keynote and plenary session presentations for a statewide conference.

Throughout the year as partners shared ideas, successes, and challenges, they expressed appreciation for the opportunity to brainstorm with others doing similar work.

Prior to our engagement with MFF, SNAP-Ed partners had not routinely connected for peer learning. Throughout the year, as partners shared ideas, successes, and challenges, they expressed appreciation for the opportunity to brainstorm with others doing similar work. These peer learning calls were paired with tailored guidance documents, curated resources, and templates that helped them frame their work. Many partners reported outcomes including new and strengthened relationships with community partners and a deeper understanding of the conditions experienced by SNAP-eligible residents.

 

“I appreciate that Healthy Places by Design not only brings ideas to the table, but is also willing to listen and adjust. It feels very collaborative. Also, your team’s content expertise is really fantastic; you truly understand that root-cause piece and you knew how to unpack our needs and then develop tools in a format that is user friendly and so helpful.”

Sarah Panken, Senior Director of Community Impact, Michigan Fitness Foundation

Photo credit: Michigan Fitness Foundation