-strictly confidential- 1 nclr health summit american heart association-southwest affiliate...

-Strictly Confidential- 1

NCLR Health SummitAmerican Heart Association-SouthWest Affiliate

September 23, 2015

Advocating for Healthy Food in Our Communities


Overview• Grocery Store Access – A Statewide Approach

– Policy Basics– Grassroots Advocacy in the State Capitol– Volunteer Perspective

• Healthy Corner Store Initiative – A Local Approach– Policy Basics– Grassroots Advocacy in the Community– Media Advocacy

• Questions?


Healthy Food FinancingBringing Access to Healthy Foods to All Communities


Healthy Food FinancingoGrocery Store Access

•Creation or expansion of a Healthy Food Financing Initiative program to increase the number of healthy food retail outlets (i.e. grocery stores) in underserved communities

oHealthy Corner Stores•Creation or expansion of a Healthy Corner Store Initiative to increase the amount of healthy food offered in existing corner stores located in low- to moderate- income communities


Grocery Store AccessPolicy BasicsPolicy: –Establishment of Program funded by State Agency–Provides grants or revolving loans to food retailers for development

or expansion of food retail outlets (i.e. grocery stores)–Program supported with education and visibility activities–Guidelines and minimum requirements must be met by food retailer

Target Impact: –Underserved, Low- to Moderate-Income Communities–Rural, Urban, or Suburban

Appropriation: –$5 million to $10 million investment by state


Texas Grocery AccessA Case Study

Problem:- Texas has the least number of grocery stores per capita in the

U.S., resulting in poor health and higher healthcare costs- 3.4 million Texans lack grocery access with healthy food options- Texas is among the 15 most obese states in the country

Solution:- The Texas Grocery Access Investment Act - Legislation will make healthy eating obtainable to Texas families

who are already stretched thin, and lack transportation to travel for healthy food options

- $10 million investment for program to provide grants and financial support for food retailers to develop or expand healthy grocery stores in underserved areas


Texas Campaign • Policy and Direct Lobbying Tactics

–HB 1485 and SB 1590 filed during 84th Texas Legislative Session–Meetings with Legislators and Staff–Development and Creation of Fact Sheets; Polling

• Media and Social Media Engagement–Social Media Posts and Blogs–Texas Tribune

• Coalition Development/Texas Grocery Access Task Force• Grassroots Advocacy


Grocery Access Taskforce


Grassroots AdvocacyWorking with Latino

Populations


Cultivating Relationships with Latino Lawmakers


Youth Advocacy

The Youth Advocating for Heart Day at the CapitolOver 70 youth advocates, community members, school teachers and administrators, heart disease survivors, and AHA volunteers came together from across the state to

meet with 65 legislative offices to advocate for Texas Grocery Access Investment Act.


You’re the Cure advocates kick-off the 84th Legislative Session with Advocating for Heart “181 or Bust” on January 21st.


Later in April the Voices for Healthy Kids Texas team hosted an Advocating for Heart Day focused on Priority Populations.


The May 6th Advocating for Heart Day with guest speaker Jennifer White, Voices for Healthy Kids Health Equity Partnerships Manager.


Healthy Corner Stores

A Local Approach to Healthy Food Access


Grocery Store AccessPolicy Basics

Policy: –Establishment of Program funded by City Investment–Provides grants existing corner stores to provide healthy food –Program supported with education and visibility activities–Guidelines and minimum requirements must be met by corner

store

Target Impact: –Underserved, Low- to Moderate-Income Communities–Rural, Urban, or Suburban

Appropriation: –$250,000 to $1 million+; often depending on city’s population size


City of Austin Healthy Corner Store Initiative Problem:

- 8.7% of Travis County’s low-income population did not live close to a grocery store

- Obesity and food access are issues disproportionally affecting Austin’s minority communities

Solution:- The Austin Healthy Corner Store Initiative - City allocation of $400,000 for obesity prevention measures,

including $150,000 for creation of corner store program- Provides for mini-grants for existing corner stores to expand or

reinvade, as needed, to provide healthy food options (i.e. refrigeration, shelving, kiosks, etc.)


Case StudiesPhiladelphia, PA- $1.5 million one-time investment; $400,000 recurring- 660+ Corner Stores impacted by program- 478,000 customers reached and 25,000 healthy products introduced

Washington, D.C- $300,000 allocation to launch program- Program provides grants, loans, equipment, and technical assistance to

corner store owners to increase access to healthy foods in low-income communities

Minneapolis, MI- City passed ordinance in 2008 requiring small food stores to carry at

least five varieties of fresh produce- City allocation of $200,000 to create program to focus on education,

planning, and implementation


Engaging the Community

Bringing the Voice of the Neighborhoods to City

Council


Demonstrating the Need for Increased Access to Healthy Food


La Mujer Austin Spanish Radio Interview


Media Advocacy


Media Advocacy1 Billboard2 one-week long online ads on the Austin Monitor2 two-week long online ads on the Austin Chronicle1 two-week long online ad on the Austin American Statesman2 Print ads in the Austin Chronicle1 front page print ad in the Austin American Statesman1 business page ad in the Austin American Statesman1 KAZI Radio PSA (aired 100 times)1 KEYE interview1 Opinion Editorial in Austin American Statesman (written Dr.

Eduardo Sanchez and Bobby Jenkins)Submitted 3 Letters to the Editor to Austin American

Statesman


QUESTIONS?Please contact us with any questions

Kaitlyn Murphy, Senior Government Relations Director, Texas• [email protected]• 512-338-2449

Vanessa Fuentes, Senior Grassroots Director• [email protected] • 512-338-2649

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

-strictly confidential- 1 nclr health summit american heart association-southwest affiliate...

Documents

healthy grocery stores

healthy food optionstexas

healthy foods

food retailers

lack of grocery stores

number of grocery stores

healthy eating obtainable

healthy kids campaign