Framework Categories: Effectiveness & Maintenance

LT9: Leveraged Resources

This indicator focuses on the planned or intentional contributions of SNAP-Ed partners and other stakeholders. It captures the dollar value and type of resources that partners and other stakeholders invested over the period assessed for implementation of discrete interventions in MT5, MT6, LT5, and LT6 in one or more domains or settings. Implementing Agencies may choose which interventions have required significant, measurable fiscal inputs by SNAP-Ed and partners and use a case study approach to document how SNAP-Ed [glossary]funding[/glossary] and activities encouraged partners to co-invest in new, ongoing, or sustained interventions and community efforts within each domain or setting.

LT8: Media Coverage

Number of commercial and organizational outlets with estimated reach to SNAP-Ed and total audiences that reported favorable attributions to specific SNAP-Ed social marketing campaigns and policy, systems or environmental change (PSE) projects:

  • Local outlets (commercial TV, radio, and print)
  • National outlets (commercial TV and print)
  • Websites
  • Social media, including those of partnering organizations (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest)

LT7: Program Recognition

This indicator focuses on organizations that have met and been publicly recognized for achieving authoritative, externally established performance standards. This indicator reports the number of organizations and sites in each domain whose work achieving new standards is attributable, in whole or in part, to the efforts of SNAP-Ed during the period assessed. Since comprehensive changes take time, many recognition programs have established increments for awards that help organizations show progressive accomplishments. For such recognition programs, this indicator also captures movement from one level of performance to another, as well as maintenance of effort.

At the national level, recognition programs bring together efforts among multiple agencies in entire communities and multiple sectors (please see LT19, Community-wide Recognition Programs).

LT6: Physical Activity Supports Implementation

This indicator measures implementation and effectiveness of PSE changes. Implementation is defined as the aggregate number of sites or organizations in each type of setting within the eat, live, work, learn, shop, and play domains that report a multi-component and multi-level intervention. Effectiveness is defined as the aggregate number of sites or organizations with improved physical activity environment assessment scores.

LT5: Nutrition Supports Implementation

This indicator measures implementation and effectiveness of PSE changes. Implementation is defined as the aggregate number of sites or organizations in each type of setting within the eat, learn, live, play, shop, and work [glossary]domain[/glossary]s that report a multi-component and multi-level intervention. Effectiveness is defined as the aggregate number of sites or organizations with improved food environment assessment scores.

LT4: Food Safety

Long-term indicators inform whether SNAP-Ed participants continue to demonstrate targeted behavioral changes even after graduating from a direct education program. LT1–LT4 indicators measure which behaviors are sustained at a minimum of 6 months post-intervention. The maintenance stage of the Transtheoretical (Stages of Change) Model lasts from 6 months to 5 years.

LT3: Physical Activity and Reduced Sedentary Behavior

Long-term indicators inform whether SNAP-Ed participants continue to demonstrate targeted behavioral changes even after graduating from a direct education program. LT1–LT4 indicators measure which behaviors are sustained at a minimum of 6 months post-intervention. The maintenance stage of the Transtheoretical (Stages of Change) Model lasts from 6 months to 5 years.

As LT3 measures which behavioral changes to increase physical activity and/or reduce sedentary behavior are sustained at a minimum of 6 months post-intervention, SNAP-Ed agencies should use the same survey and data collection tools used in MT3 to measure the extent to which physical activity is increased and sedentary behavior is decreased.

LT2: Food Resource Management

Long-term indicators inform whether SNAP-Ed participants continue to demonstrate targeted behavioral changes even after graduating from a direct education program. LT1–LT4 indicators measure which behaviors are sustained at a minimum of 6 months post-intervention. The maintenance stage of the Transtheoretical (Stages of Change) Model lasts from 6 months to 5 years.

As LT2 assesses the maintenance (6 months or longer) of behavior changes resulting from smarter shopping and food resource management (FRM) strategies, SNAP-Ed agencies should use the same survey and data collection tools used in MT2 to assess behavior change before and after participation in a series of nutrition education and food resource management classes.

LT1: Healthy Eating

Long-term indicators inform whether SNAP-Ed participants continue to demonstrate targeted behavioral changes even after graduating from a direct education program. LT1–LT4 indicators measure which behaviors are sustained at a minimum of 6 months post-intervention. The maintenance stage of the Transtheoretical (Stages of Change) Model lasts from 6 months to 5 years.

As LT1 measures which adopted healthy eating behaviors are sustained at a minimum of 6 months post-intervention, SNAP-Ed agencies should use the same survey or data collection tools used in MT1 to measure the extent to which participants are improving their dietary patterns across food groups on the pathway toward achieving current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations.