Capacity, communication, and coordination are key to successful implementation of policy, systems, and environmental strategies at SNAP-Ed partner sites in one Southeastern US State: A qualitative approach.

BACKGROUND: The United States Department of Agriculture expanded the SNAP-Ed program to all fifty states in 2004. In 2010, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act required that agencies implementing SNAP-Ed support policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies, in addition to providing direct education (DE). There is research evaluating the impact of PSEs on health, but few studies have investigated the process of PSE implementation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify facilitators and barriers to PSE implementation at SNAP-Ed partner sites from the perspectives of site contacts and SNAP-Ed implementers.

DESIGN: This study employed a qualitative longitudinal design. The PSE planning and implementation process was observed over one year at SNAP-Ed partner sites. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with site contacts and SNAP-Ed implementers throughout the year.

PARTICIPANTS/ SETTING: Participants were SNAP-Ed implementers (n=8) and site contacts (n=18) from 18 partner sites where both PSE and direct education were occurring. SNAP-Ed implementers were debriefed once and site contacts were interviewed three times over the course of the study. This study was conducted in a Southern US state with SNAP-Ed partner sites that intended to implement PSEs. The duration of data collection was October 2017 through September 2018.

ANALYSIS: A thematic analysis of barriers and facilitators to PSE implementation across sites was conducted.

RESULTS: PSE implementation barriers were lack of site or implementer readiness or capacity; breakdowns in communication; and DE prioritized over PSE. Facilitators were: effective communication; site capacity or readiness; and alignment between site and SNAP-Ed goals.

CONCLUSIONS: Communication, capacity, and coordination between SNAP-Ed and partner sites were key components over the timeline of PSE planning and potential implementation.