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

Summary

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.

Eligibility

Age range

18–75 years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Interventions

• Behavioral
  Food Box + Nutrition Classes

  The Nutrition Security Intervention is a 12-month project enrolling 400 adults across four sites. Participants will receive the intervention for 6 months, with a 9-month and 12-month in person follow-up. Individuals receiving this intervention will receive bi-weekly food boxes, containing 15-20 pounds of fresh produce, grains, and legumes. They will also participate in a bi-weekly nutrition class, led by a Registered Dietician.

• Behavioral
  Food Box Only

  The intervention is a 12-month project enrolling 400 adults across four partner sites. Participants will receive the intervention for 6 months, with a 9-month and 12-month in person follow-up. In this intervention, participants will receive a bi-weekly food box only (no nutrition education) during the intervention period. They will have the opportunity to participate in the educational component after the completion of the intervention period.

Locations (4)