Measuring and Testing How Food Policy Councils Function to Influence Their Food Systems ...

• Main Author: Calancie, Larissa
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries 2016
• Subjects: Canada; First Nations
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17615/47fr-sh93; https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/concern/dissertations/jm214q36j?locale=en

The number of Food Policy Councils (FPCs) in the United States (US), Canada, and Native American & First Nations increased from 43 in 2005 to 278 in 2015. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend establishing FPCs to improve the local and state food environments. Despite increased interest in FPCs, there is little evidence about what makes FPCs effective. First, we conducted a case study of an FPC in a rural county to understand how a council facilitates change across their food system using interviews (n=8) and network analysis (n=12). Council members indicated that council connections helped them work more effectively in their home organizations. Social network analysis revealed a dense network of connections and complemented qualitative findings. This case study illustrates connections between FPC members in a rural county, and identifies examples of how FPCs can facilitate policy, systems, and environmental-level change in their communities. Next, we developed and tested the Food ...