Mississippi Community Engagement Alliance (MS CEAL): Fostering Community Solutions

Mississippi Community Engagement Alliance (MS CEAL): Fostering Community Solutions

The Mississippi Community Engagement Alliance (MS CEAL) Team proposes to address the complexities of Mississippi's health issues and social determinants of health through its Fostering Community Solutions (FOCUS) Project, with two objectives: (1) advance the health and wellbeing of Mississippi's populations experiencing differing health outcomes; and (2) enhance the resilience and power within communities to disseminate and implement evidence-based interventions. This study's specific aims include: (1) examine whether the inclusion of a nutrition education program increases fruit and vegetable consumption in a food box distribution program and (2) recruit and train community nutrition liaisons to implement sustainable community strategies to longitudinally support nutrition security. The primary outcome for the first specific aim will be fruit and vegetable consumption. Secondary outcome measures will include changes in perceptions and knowledge related to food consumption and dietary intake. Clinical outcomes will include changes in blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol. For Specific Aim 2, outcomes will include the ability to recruit community nutrition liaisons at each site, the number of trainings, pre/post training assessments, and outreach metrics.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Self-identify as Black/African American, Latinx, or Choctaw
• Age between 18-75

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cognitive impairment
• Pregnant or plans to become pregnant within 12 months
• Currently enrolled in a food box delivery program or nutrition education program
• Food allergies that will be exacerbated with food box distribution