Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #118007

Hugh M. Joseph, PhD, Agriculture, Food and Environment Program, Tufts University, Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, 150 Harrison Avenue, Room 121, Boston, MA 02111, 617-636-3788, hugh.joseph@tufts.edu

Community Food Assessment (CFA) work has grown rapidly as a strategy to address public health food and nutrition concerns at the local level. CFAs build on conventional approaches to food security by incorporating community-oriented food system frameworks in the determination of needs and responses to address them. Based on examination of more than a dozen CFAs, this presentation reviews a broad range of relevant indicators that practitioners have incorporated into these assessments, comprising fifteen categories. It describes how CFA priorities are influenced by the structure as an open or semi-open process; by the choice of participants; by the participatory research methods employed; and by the resources applied. With respect to public health nutrition, CFAs can incorporate food security and food systems perspectives that examine the longer-term threats to the entire population and build community-based roles for food system change. Perspectives emphasize environmentally-based influences on nutrition-related behaviors, and suggest expanding the accountability and responsibility of non-health organizations and institutions and the food industry in addressing these issues. Participatory research methods can engage diverse constituents within the community in the research and planning process, and this can build commitments to participation in initiatives that facilitate behavior changes to promote healthy lifestyles as well as food system changes. Learning objectives: The audience can identify the major components of CFAs most associated with public health nutrition; delineate systemic and community-based approaches to the assessment of public health needs and priorities; and describe practical strategies to integrate CFA strategies into public health nutrition research and practice.

Learning Objectives:

• The audience can identify the major components of CFAs most associated with public health nutrition; delineate systemic and community-based approaches to the assessment of public health needs and priorities; and describe practical strategies to integrate CFA strategies into public health nutrition research and practice.

Keywords: Community Research, Community Health Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.