from the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
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JAFSCD is the world’s only community-supported journal. JAFSCD content is open access (free) thanks to the generous support of our shareholders: the JAFSCD Shareholder Consortium, Library Shareholders, a growing number of Individual Shareholders, and our seven JAFSCD Partners: |
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The community health worker model can integrate with Virginia Cooperative Extension
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JAFSCD peer-reviewed article by Maria DeNunzio, MS (Virginia Tech); Elena Serrano, PhD (Virginia Tech & Virginia Cooperative Extension); Vivica Kraak, PhD, MS, RDN (Virginia Tech); Melissa Chase, PhD (Virginia Tech); and Sarah Misyak, PhD, MPH (Virginia Tech & Virginia Cooperative Extension)
Food systems resources are not equitably distributed, and in the United States, communities of color are less likely to have equitable access to food system resources. Disproportionate access to food systems resources can contribute to diet-related health disparities among communities of color. Virginia Cooperative Extension, the outreach arm of the land grant universities in Virginia, has historically delivered agriculture education that includes food systems programming and garden-based education, across the state through a network of agents and volunteers. The community health worker model has been shown to be an effective outreach model to reach marginalized communities for health promotion and education, but less is known for food systems programming.
In a new JAFSCD article, “A feasibility study of the community health worker model for garden-based food systems programming,” authors Maria DeNunzio (corresponding author), Elena Serrano, Vivica Kraak, Melissa Chase, and Sarah Misyak present findings of an evaluation that aimed to determine the feasibility of a community health worker model for garden-based food systems programming with Virginia Cooperative Extension.
KEY FINDINGS The community health worker model aligns with the values and programming goals of Virginia Cooperative Extension and has the potential to expand reach in communities of color. Study participants employed by Virginia Cooperative Extension reflected on their own cultural biases and were eager to expand their knowledge and skills about cultural humility to effectively collaborate with community health workers. The community health worker model for garden-based food systems programming in Virginia Cooperative Extension fits into the structure of family and consumer sciences, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed), which is administered by Virginia Cooperative Extension in the state. The community health worker position could offer an expanded opportunity for participatory program planning and evaluation for Virginia Cooperative Extension.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH -
The study findings are specific to Virginia Cooperative Extension. However, other state Extension systems and community-based food systems organizations could use this evaluation approach to assess the feasibility of community health worker positions in their organizations. While youth-focused professionals were excluded from this evaluation, study participants shared that garden-based programming was a good fit for youth. We recommend the exploration of the community health worker model for inclusive youth-focused programming as a future research topic.
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Suggested Facebook post: The community health worker model — a well-established key outreach model for health education and promotion with marginalized communities — is a feasible model for garden-based food systems programming for Virginia Cooperative Extension. Results of a new feasibility evaluation, published in JAFSCD, demonstrate the alignment of the model with Virginia Cooperative Extension’s values and programming goals, and show that integration of the model could expand opportunity for participatory program planning and evaluation. Read the JAFSCD article for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2023.131.005
Suggested Tweet: A new feasibility #evaluation demonstrates that community health workers could support garden-based food systems education in Virginia Cooperative Extension. #gardening #Extension #outreach #inclusion Read @JAFSCD for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2023.131.005 |
Photo above: In 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the availability of more than $9 million in outreach and technical assistance for minority farmers and ranchers and military veterans that are new to farming and ranching. The funding, provided through the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program, also known as the 2501 Program, will enable community-based organizations and other partners to work directly with these groups to successfully acquire, own and operate farms and ranches and equitably participate in all USDA programs. More info can be found here.
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Announcing a New JAFSCD Workshop Series
JAFSCD Wicked Problems in Food Systems Workshop Series
Achieving Circularity in Local and Regional Food Systems Development
Workshop co-sponsored by the North American Food Systems Network (NAFSN)
Thursday, November 16, at 9:00-10:30 CT / 10:00-11:30 ET / 3:00-4:30 GMT
Registration is required. A link to the recording and resources will be sent following the session to all who registered. |
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BACKGROUND
Any meaningful progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals is going to require transformative changes in the food system while promoting human and planetary well-being (van Zanten et al., 2023). This will include changes across the food system — in the production, processing, distribution, retailing, consumption, and waste management of food. Moreover, achieving circularity in local and regional food systems will be critical to averting current and future climate-driven social and ecological disasters.
JAFSCD has drafted a call for papers entitled “Community-Based Circular Food Systems: Meeting current and future food needs through local and regional food systems development” (see the draft HERE). Papers in response to the call will be published in a special issue of JAFSCD. Prior to the formal announcement of the call, we will be conducting a workshop with circularity experts who will address three important questions: - How can or should circularity be defined in the context of local and regional food systems development?
- What are the critical issues for localizing and regionalizing food systems circularity that emphasize social justice and community health and well-being, while minimizing waste and protecting shared natural resources?
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How can these goals be achieved together through circularity?
SPEAKERS - Maria Alonso-Martinez, Junior Officer, Circular Development, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (Netherlands)
- Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson (Hopi), Assistant Specialist, Indigenous Resiliency Center, University of Arizona (USA)
- Felipe Cozim Melges, PhD Candidate, Farming Systems Ecology group, Wageningen University (Brazil and Netherlands)
Host: Duncan Hilchey, Editor-in-chief, Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development (USA)
Facilitator: Dr. Jacob Park, Associate Professor, Vermont State University, Castleton Campus (USA) and Visiting Professor, University of Johannesburg (South Africa)
Please note that the time chosen is to accommodate European and North American Participants
Thursday, November 16, at 9:00-10:30 CT / 10:00-11:30 ET / 3:00-4:30 GMT Image above courtesy of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. |
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