title: The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition: "we have evolved".
abstract: Several pieces of legislation passed in Cleveland, Ohio, from 2007 to 2011, focused on improving the city's food environment through urban agriculture initiatives. We used qualitative, case study methods, including interviews with 7 key informants, to examine the policy development process and investigate the role of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition in developing and implementing 4 pieces of legislation. In this article, we focus on 2 pieces of legislation: zoning designation of an urban garden and allowance of small farm animals and bees on residential property. Five key themes emerged: impetus for policy came from community needs; education and raising awareness helped mitigate barriers; a cultural shift took place among policy makers; social connections and individual champions were needed; and concerns over food access and health influenced policy decisions. Legislative actions are important tools to influence the nutrition environment, as long as they are based on local needs and context.
authors.affiliation: Cleveland State University Mail: School of Health Sciences, 2121 Euclid Ave, Fenn Hall 219, Cleveland, OH 44115. Email: c.c.walsh@csuohio.edu. When the research was conducted, Dr Walsh was affiliated with the Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University.
authors.forename: Colleen C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Ohio State University Extension, Cuyahoga County, Cleveland, Ohio. Ms Taggart is now with St. Clair Superior Development Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taggart
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Darcy A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Erika S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Trapl
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Elaine A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Borawski
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D000383:Agriculture / Q000193:education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees; D002645:Chickens; D018672:Community Health Planning; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004779:Environment Design / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005523:Food Supply / Q000592:standards; D051639:Gardening / Q000193:education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008004:Licensure; D009111:Local Government; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009820:Ohio; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D011640:Public Policy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D064890:Social Determinants of Health; D060756:Social Networking; D014505:Urban Population