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Healthy Communities initiatives across the state are making policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes to address health disparities, combat obesity, and improve overall health in Louisiana. These reports provide a look into how Healthy Communities is impacting parishes across Louisiana.
In 2018, the LSU AgCenter entered into a 5-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to address the nutrition and physical activity environments in six rural Louisiana parishes with some of the highest obesity rates in the state: Assumption, St. Helena, Tensas, Madison, Morehouse, and East Carroll. These asset maps identify and provide information about each community's assets including resources, knowledge, and skills.
Louisiana Agriculture is a peer-reviewed quarterly magazine that showcases the LSU AgCenter’s current research projects and extension programs. Click the links below to read articles featuring Healthy Communities research and projects over the past several years.
The Food Systems Assessment below identifies the needs and assets of the food systems in six rural Louisiana parishes: Assumption, East Carroll, Madison, Morehouse, St. Helena, and Tensas. The key recommendations document summarizes the assessment's findings and provides recommendations and resources for next steps.
In August 2020, LSU AgCenter Healthy Communities assessed the physical activity environment in six rural Louisiana parishes with an obesity rate over 40%: Assumption, St. Helena, Tensas, Madison, Morehouse, and East Carroll. These RALA report cards provide a snapshot of the "friendliness" of each community for walking, biking, and playing based on data collected from 2019 to 2020. The goal of the audit was to identify strengths and areas for improvement in each community. This assessment was made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1809 High Obesity Program (HOP).
The St. Helena Farmers Market connects low-income families to local farmers through a SNAP match program, which offers $3 in free tokens for every $1 spent on fresh fruits and vegetables using SNAP/EBT benefits. Read more about the SNAP Match program here or view the infographic and video below!
St. Helena SNAP Match Infographic 2020-2021
The Healthy Young People Empowerment (HYPE) Project is a curriculum-based program developed by the South Carolina Eat Smart Move More Coalition that teaches youth to become advocates for change, develop leadership skills, partner with adults, and address health disparities in their communities. HYPE activities focus on the policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change process. Read about Louisiana HYPE coalitions below!
Healthy Communities does more than educate. We focus on making the healthy choice the easy choice by implementing sustainable, community-driven changes in each unique community. Whether it's addressing affordable access to healthy foods or improving physical activity environments, our local coalitions prioritize solutions that fit best for them. In this article, LSU's Office of Research and Economic Development highlights how Healthy Communities provides more than knowledge.
The Louisiana Healthy Communities 2018 Program Report contains information on obesity in Louisiana, CDC High Obesity Program (HOP) target parishes, primary partnerships, our top priorities and our accomplishments.
As part of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, the LSU AgCenter Healthy Communities program works with extension agents and educators to bring the latest research-based information to communities across the state. Below you will find recent research from the LSU AgCenter related to Healthy Communities and PSE work in Louisiana.
Authors: Katherine Seals, Jessica Stroope, Jamila Freightman, Laura Ainsworth, Aimee Moles, Denise Holston
This study evaluated data collection methods in rural Louisiana parishes served by the High Obesity Program (HOP). The goal of the research was to ensure data representation included underserved residents. Results indicate that Community-Based Participatory Research methods accurately reflect the needs of rural communities.
Author: Makenzie Miller
This poster outlines steps of the Geaux Shop Healthy Program from development to implementation and evaluation. The Geaux Shop Healthy program was launched after a study revealed the need for partnerships with SNAP-authorized retail stores.
Authors: Matthew Greene, Catherine Ruth Losavio, Denise Holston
The goal of this study is to identify the attitudes of a Cooperative Extension audience as it relates to virus prevention behaviors, nutrition education, and sources of information during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicate that there are different preferences within the audience. These preferences may vary by race, SNAP-Ed eligibility, and age. Different methods of communication and recruitment should be considered for different groups.
Authors: Bailey Houghtaling, Matthew Greene, Kaustubh V. Parab, Chelsea R. Singleton
The purpose of this article is to summarize and evaluate research that has been performed on the topics of nutrition security and health equity. Evaluating the previously performed research provides insight on the best strategies to use to improve fruit and vegetable accessibility, purchasing, and consumption. This article can be used to address disparities and reduce barriers to fruit and vegetable access.
Authors: Matthew Greene, Bailey Houghtaling, Claire Sadeghzadeh, Molly De Marco, De’Jerra Bryant, Randa Morgan, Denise Holston
The purpose of this scoping review is to examine the research available that describes African Americans’ opinions of and experiences participating in nutrition interventions. Most studies only assessed satisfaction with educational interventions. The review revealed that future work should evaluate African Americans’ experiences with nutrition-focused policy, systems and environmental (PSE) changes using qualitative research methods.
Authors: Matthew Greene, Bailey Houghtaling, Claire Sadeghzadeh, Molly De Marco, De’Jerra Bryant, Randa Morgan, Denise Holston
This scoping review evaluates existing literature concerning nutrition interventions for African Americans that address structural racism in the food environment. The “Getting to Equity in Obesity Prevention” framework of suggested interventions was used to assess the current available literature, which revealed gaps in research that addresses structural barriers to healthy eating for African Americans. Existing articles on this topic reveal that providing additional healthy food options and nutrition education have been used to address the issue, but the focus should shift toward reducing deterrents to healthy eating and improving social and economic resources of African Americans.
Authors: Jessica Stroope, Alex Garn, Lisa Cadmus-Bertram
This study aimed to identify the relationship between physical activity levels and age over time. Results indicated that individuals who walk and bike for transportation are more likely to maintain or increase their physical activity. These findings provide evidence that built environments and policies supportive of active transportation are necessary to maintain quality of life.
Author: Jessica Stroope
This study explores the relationship between active transportation and social capital. Social capital is a measure of community participation, sense of community, and sociopolitical control. The findings reveal that creating environments that are conducive to active transportation through policy and planning work can improve social capital of a community.
Authors: Denise Holston, Jessica Stroope, Matthew Greene and Bailey Houghtaling
LSU AgCenter researchers held focus group discussions to better understand experiences of food access among mostly Black residents in rural Louisiana. The study found that low-income and majority Black rural residents in Louisiana do not have adequate access to food in their community and experience challenges getting food in and outside their community. Food insecurity, transportation, prices, store choice, and SNAP/WIC benefits emerged as major themes during the focus groups. Researchers suggest fixing water issues, increasing food retail competition, improving public transportation, and providing more job opportunities as potential solutions to existing food access challenges.
Authors: Bailey Houghtaling, Melissa Cater, De'Jerra Bryant, Allie Brooks, Denise Holston
This study examined the healthy food options in stores that accept SNAP/EBT (formerly known as food stamps). The results demonstrate a need to improve healthy food options in SNAP-authorized stores in Louisiana and suggest that healthy food retail interventions should be prioritized by Cooperative Extension Services.
Author: Katherine Seals, Makenzie Miller, Jamila Freightman, Denise Holston
This study evaluated the implementation of a SNAP match program at a rural farmers in Louisiana during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that the match program increased the market's geographic reach and customer base (+131.42%) and expanded access to fresh produce during the public health crisis.
Authors: Denise Holston, Matt Greene
A cross-sectional study assessed potential SNAP-Ed participants' attitudes toward COVID-19 mitigation behaviors and virtual nutrition education preferences. The study found significant differences between Black participants and white participants.
Authors: Matthew Greene, Jessica Stroope, Denise Holston
Abstract: "Community development projects continue despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Participatory evaluation of these projects is crucial. Ripple effect mapping (REM) is a participatory approach to evaluation that captures coalition and community member perspectives on program outcomes and impacts. In response to COVID-19, the Louisiana State University AgCenter Healthy Communities Initiative adapted REM for online delivery. The REM evaluation was found to be an effective way for community coalitions to reflect on outcomes and impacts and to motivate continued engagement."
Authors: Jessica Stroope, Matt Greene, Katherine Seals, Denise Holston
This study looked at the strategies used to gather community input and prioritize interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicate that Qualtrics surveys were an effective tool to gather input and allowed wider participation than virtual meetings, especially in lower-income, rural communities.
Authors: Matt Greene, Bailey Houghtaling, Denise Holston
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education (SNAP-Ed) is meeting the needs of Black participants. The study found that most outcomes (aside from fruit juice, low fat milk, and whole grain pasta consumption) were not significantly different between Black and white participants.
Authors: Matt Greene, Andrew Garcia, William Lee, Denise Holston
This study was a process evaluation of direct education and PSE change work by the LSU AgCenter SNAP-Ed program using Microsoft Dynamics 365. The study found that Microsoft Dynamics 365 was easily adapted to the program's needs.
Authors: Matt Greene, Denise Holston, Jessica Stroope, Jamila Freightman, Joy Sims
A Healthy Communities forum in Tallulah, the parish seat of Madison Parish, identified unsafe, unusable walking trails and sidewalks and lack of fitness facilities as barriers to physical activity. In response, the local Healthy Communities coalition focused on revitalizing the unused Fairgrounds Park, known locally as the Slab. Following the revitalization, adults reported a perceived reduction in crime at the park. However, youth reported ongoing concerns about crime and gun violence in the area, and all adult interviewees expressed they would not feel safe exercising in the area.
Authors: Denise Holston, Jessica Stroope, Melissa Cater
LSU AgCenter researchers held focus group discussions with Cooperative Extension Service (CES) Family and Consumer Science (FCS) agents to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to better implementing community-based obesity prevention approaches. Results indicate that knowledge of the socio-ecological model, beliefs about roles of CES, funding, human resources, community connectedness, community buy-in, guidance, and internal support play an essential role in implementation efforts.
Authors: Denise Holston, Jessica Stroope, Melissa Cater, Michelle Kendall, Stephanie Broyles
This article provides an overview of the LSU AgCenter's Healthy Communities program and outlines the policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies implemented in 3 rural parishes with an obesity prevalence of 40% or higher.
Authors: Michelle Kendall, Stephanie T. Broyles, Jamila Freightman, Melissa Cater, Denise Holston
This study focused on the local food store environment in 3 Louisiana parishes with an obesity prevalence above 40%. Interventions focused on healthy food demonstrations, stocking guidelines and in-store marketing practices. Results showed that the interventions did not change customers' purchasing or dietary habits but did result in positive changes to the food store environments.
Authors: Bailey Houghtaling, Denise Holston, Courtney Szocs, Jerrod Penn, Danyi Qui, Valisa Hedrick
Have you ever grabbed a soda while waiting in the checkout line at the grocery store? The Policy and Environmental Responses For Health Equity Research Group reviewed sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) stocking and marketing practices in U.S. food stores and found that:
Authors: Denise Holston, Melissa Cater, Stephanie Broyles
This study assessed the nutrition environment in three rural Louisiana parishes with high poverty, obesity and chronic disease rates. The results showed that the nutrition environments in these communities present challenges for residents trying to adopt suggested preventative health behaviors. The authors recommend implementing PSE (policy, systems and environmental) strategies to improve nutrition environments in these parishes.
Authors: Denise Holston, Matthew Greene, Jessica Stroope
This study explored the perceptions of food access and local food environments among residents with low-incomes in high-poverty, rural Louisiana parishes. The results indicate that several complex factors contribute to food insecurity in the selected parishes including price, transportation, and food availability. The authors suggest providing public transportation to affordable grocery stores as a possible solution to food insecurity in rural areas.
Authors: Matthew Greene, Jessica Stroope, Denise Holston
This study used ripple effect mapping to identify the perceived impact of the Healthy Communities Initiative among members of communities with local coalitions. The results indicate that community members perceived improvements to the community's political capital, inequity awareness, fresh produce access, and organizational interconnectedness. The authors suggest continuing to encourage PSE changes through the Healthy Communities Initiative and utilizing ripple effect mapping to assess programmatic impacts.
Authors: Matthew Greene, Jessica Stroope, Denise Holston
This study examined Cooperative Extension (CE) staff's perceptions of barriers and facilitators in the implementation of policy, systems and environmental (PSE) interventions. The results indicate that CE staff may find PSE work challenging when they have traditionally focused on direct education interventions. The authors suggest presenting PSE work as a priority and providing training and proper preparation for CE staff transitioning their intervention efforts away from direct education and toward PSE strategies.
Authors: Linda Fergus, Richie Roberts, Denise Holston
The purpose of this study was to conduct formative research to determine optimal distribution channels and messaging for nutrition-related social marketing campaigns that target people with low-incomes living in rural Louisiana. The results indicate that messaging should address budgetary concerns, motivation for sustaining healthy behaviors and palatability of healthy foods. Additional research may be needed to clarify results regarding distribution channels. Research that further segments the population may benefit future social marketing campaigns targeting older youths.
Authors: Linda Fergus, Katherine Seals, Denise Holston
This systematic literature review looked at effective nutrition interventions among retailers in low-income environments in both rural and urban settings. The results demonstrate that more research is necessary to determine the intervention needs of retailers in low-income rural settings.
The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture