Use of Decision Cases for Building SNAP-Ed Implementers’ Capacities to Realize Policy, Systems, and Environmental Strategies

• Published in: Journal of nutrition education and behavior Vol. 52; no. 5; pp. 512 - 521
• Main Authors: Pope, Holly C., Draper, Carrie, Younginer, Nicholas, Whitt, Olivia, Paget, Christopher
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-05-2020
• Subjects: Capacity Building; decision case study; Food Assistance - organization & administration; Food Assistance - standards; Health Plan Implementation; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Longitudinal Studies; Nutrition Policy; policy, system, and environmental; qualitative research; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program; decision case study; qualitative research; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program; policy, system, and environmental; capacity building
• ISSN: 1499-4046; 1878-2620
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2019.09.020

To develop and validate decision cases as a capacity-building training tool for implementing policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change strategies.
Study phases were: (1) in-depth interviews conducted repeatedly over a year with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) partner sites and once with SNAP-Ed implementers to identify dilemmas when implementing PSE change strategies; (2) decision cases developed to highlight dilemmas; and (3) focus groups with SNAP-Ed implementers to determine decision case utility as a capacity-building training tool.
A southeastern state.
SNAP-Ed partner sites and implementers; Focus group participants.
Decision cases.
To establish content validity, a thematic analysis of interviews identified common dilemmas when implementing PSE change strategies. SNAP-Ed implementers’ focus groups provided feedback to determine the utility and validity of decision cases developed from the analysis.
Common dilemmas of implementation of PSE change strategies reported by SNAP-Ed partner sites (n = 20) and implementers (n = 8) were lack of site and educator readiness and capacity; communication breakdowns; and prioritization of nutrition education over PSE implementation. Focus group participants (n = 8) reviewed a case and discussion guide and recommended them as a capacity-building tool for training.
Using decision cases could help build SNAP-Ed implementers’ capacities to implement nutrition PSE change strategies and strengthen partnerships.