Community Food Systems Assessments

Community Leadership TrainingBerea, KY

Definition:

“A collaborative and participatory process that systematically examines a broad range of community food issues and assets, so as to inform change actions to make the community more food secure"

So this is:-A community based investigation of the local

food system-A tool for community organizing around food

issues-Findings make up a Report-Report can include a Strategic Plan-Strategic plan is used to advocate for policy,

infrastructure and education

How the Food System Affects Us

Sustainable Food System

What We Can Investigate

Elements of a Community Food Systems Assessment

Community Food Systems Assessment Process

Community Education and Outreach

How the Work Gets Done

Role Responsibility Time CommitmentFacilitator “Encourager”

Organize meetings, monitor progress, liaison between research partners and community, help provide necessary materials

Varies according to the stage of the project. This is a potentially funded position.

80-160 hours per month

Steering Committee

Approve and guide decisions, monitor progress, develop goals, assist in data collection, help compile a finished report

Meetings twice a month

4-8 hours per month

Work Group Members

Develop work plans, collect data with research partners, Analyze data with research partners

Meetings twice a month

4-8 hours per month

How the Work Gets Done

Steering Committee

Consumption:

Focus of this Group

Community and Household demographics

Incidence of hunger and food insecurity

Incidence of diet-related illnesses, and resulting mortality and costs

Labor statistics (unemployment and under-employment, wage-levels, types of jobs)

Production:

Focus of this Group

Local/regional agriculture (amounts and value of crops, sustainability, farmland loss)

Local employment and sales, in food retail, manufacture, and wholesale

Community food assets/resources (grocery stores, food processing facilities, community gardens)

Resource Work GroupFocus of this Group

Community-based organizations involved in food issues

Local policies related to food issues (preserving agricultural land, promoting small businesses, attractingsupermarkets)

Food and Nutrition resources and services

Community Outreach and Education

Focus of this Group

Media (Newspapers, blogs, Facebook, twitter, T.V., radio)

Recruiting new participants (church bulletins, fliers, community meetings, etc. )

Food advertisements and marketing

The Importance of a Timeline •Allows research partners to plan for their semester course work•Sets an overall goal for the group•Provides deadlines for work group tasks•Informs the broad community of progress•Developing a timeline allows work groups to prioritize for seasonal activities, community events and deadlines

Role Responsibility

Primary Research Partner (Local college/University, High School students)

This group works directly with each work group. They are the technical assistants for the project that live in the community. Help with:-data collection-surveys, focus groups, interviews-report editing

Secondary Research Partner

Help collect raw data from Census-Help analyze data -Make maps-Help design research plans and develop report

Community Farm Alliance

-Currently serving as the facilitator-Technical assistance-Community organizing and leadership development -help with policy development and implementation

Available Resources and Support

Madison County, KentuckyCommunity Profile

Demographics Madison County Population Population, 16 years and older (2010) 65,696 Immigrant Population: Foreign Born Persons (2006-2010) 1.1% Age Structure Population under 18 years of age (2010) 21.53% Population over 65 years of age (2010) 11.24%

Income Income: Median Household Income (2010) $41,945 Labor Force Civilian Labor Force: Employed (2010) 60.3% Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2010) 4.9% Not in Labor Force (2010) 34.6%

Environmental Issues Water Quality: Average level of ammonia average

Water Quality: Average level of nitrite-nitrogen highest

Water Quality: Average level of nitrate-nitrogen above average Water Quality: average level of chloride below average Water Quality: Average level of sulfate average Water Quality: Average level of coductivity average

Madison County, Kentucky - Community ProfileDemographics Madison County

Food & Farming Landscape Household food insecurity status: average (2008-2010) 15.60% Households without vehicles: > 1 mile to grocery store (2006) 3.46% Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch (2010) 49%

Participation of population in food & nutrition program: SNAP (2011) 18.85% Participation of population in food & nutrition program: WIC (2011) 3.25% Number of Food Pantries (2012) 4 Number of Farmers (Primary Occupation) (2007) 552 Number of Farmers (Secondary Occupation) (2007) 776 Number of organic farms in KY (2012) 69 Number of Farmers Markets (2012) 2

The End

Contact us!Heather Hyden:

Heather@cfaky.orgAlexa Arnold: Alexa@cfaky.org

Office Phone: 502-223-3655