An approach to assessing multicity implementation of healthful food access policy, systems, and environmental changes.
Local governments play an increasingly important role in improving residents' access to healthful food and beverages to reduce obesity and chronic disease. Cities can use multiple strategies to improve community health through, for example, land use and zoning policies, city contracting and procurement practices, sponsorship of farmers markets and community gardens, and vending and concession practices in parks and recreation facilities. With 41 cities in the Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department jurisdiction, the county undertook to measure the extent to which cities were engaged in making policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes to increase residents' access to healthful food. The results revealed that some cities, particularly those with higher resident demand for healthful food, are making nationally recommended PSE changes, such as sponsoring farmers markets and community gardens. Cities have moved more slowly to make changes in areas with perceived negative cost consequences or lesser public demand, such as parks and recreation vending and concessions. This article describes the assessment process, survey tools, findings, and implications for other health departments seeking to undertake a similar assessment.
Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Laura Oliven
LO
Silberfarb
Health Promotion Program Supervisor, Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department, 525 Portland Ave, MC L963, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1533. E-mail: Sonja.Savre@co.hennepin.mn.us.
Sonja
S
Savre
Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Gayle
G
Geber
D002947:Cities; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005523:Food Supply; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D008910:Minnesota; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011634:Public Health; D011635:Public Health Administration; D011640:Public Policy