Page Contents
Framework Component
Indicator Description
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).
Background and Context
These measures are intended, on a setting-by-setting basis, to provide a vehicle for overall, comprehensive, and long-term improvement in PSEs that will make the healthy choice the easy choice in environmental settings and narrow the gap in best practices or quality standards seen between organizations in SNAP-Ed qualified sites compared to those in more highly resourced locations.
Second, by meeting externally determined standards, SNAP-Ed partners become empowered and are sustained to establish new norms through new peer networks. Recognition programs may acquire meaningful advantages in terms of business, public relations, and so forth.
Outcome Measures
LT7a. | The number of program recognition awards received, by setting or domain. |
LT7b. | The number and percentage of SNAP-Ed partner organizations and sites that secured a higher rank in their level of recognition (e.g., from silver to gold, etc.) |
LT7c. | The number and percentage of SNAP-Ed partner organizations and sites that maintained participation at the same level of recognition. |
LT7d. | Total number and reach of partner organizations and sites that received program recognition awards and the number of people who were expected to benefit by setting or domain. |
What to Measure
For aggregation purposes, the sites and organizations in which program recognition awards are given and that could be assigned a level within the following categories are:
- Environmental settings where external recognition programs exist:
• Restaurants
• Communities (e.g., health care, faith, nonprofits)
• Early care and education, child care
• Schools and after-school programs
• Worksites
• Recreation sites for adults, children and youth; transportation (walking, bicycles)
• Food stores, markets, and food banks - National, state, or locally defined standards for recognition programs
- Recognition level: All levels (for example, bronze, silver, gold….)
Number and proportion of SNAP-Ed organizations and sites in LT5 and LT6 that achieve program recognition from a national, state or local authoritative body for voluntarily meeting externally determined standards on an annual basis
- Newly achieved (initial recognition)
- Sustain same level of program recognition
- If appropriate for the recognition program, organizations that progress toward meeting increasingly higher levels of program recognition, e.g., bronze to silver, silver to gold, or gold to platinum OR Tier 1 to 2, Tier 2 to 3, and so forth.
Population
Surveys and Data Collection Tools
National program recognition awards for food, nutrition, and physical activity, overall and by domain (eat, learn, live, play, shop, and work):
OVERALL
- National Cooperative Extension Awards including Excellence in Extension Awards and National Extension Diversity Award: https://www.aplu.org/members/commissions/food-environment-and-renewable-resources/board-on-agriculture-assembly/cooperative-extension-section/extension-directors-and-administrators/awards/
EAT and SHOP
Restaurants and retail grocery outlets
- American Heart Association’s “Heart-Check Meal Certification” program, implemented at restaurants and grocery stores:
https://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/Heart-CheckMarkCertification/Heart-Check-Meal-Certification-Program-Foodservice_UCM_441027_Article.jsp
American Restaurant Association’s restaurant recognition programs for children’s menus: https://restaurant.org/kidslivewell
LIVE
- Baby Friendly Hospitals: https://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/about/
LEARN
Schools
- Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s National Healthy Schools Award: https://www.healthiergeneration.org/take-action/schools/national-healthy-schools-award and Family Engagement Distinction: https://www.healthiergeneration.org/campaigns/americas-healthiest-schools/award-winners-promotion-toolkit/family-engagement-distinction
- S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/green-ribbon-schools/index.html
- Presidential Youth Fitness Program- School Recognition Program: https://www.pyfp.org/earn-recognition/school-recognition
- American School Health Association’s Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Award: https://www.ashaweb.org/news-events/awards/
WORK
- WELCOA’s Well Workplace awards: https://www.welcoa.org/services/recognize/well-workplace-awards/
- American Heart Association’s Workplace Health Achievement Index: https://www.heart.org/en/professional/workplace-health/workplace-health-achievement-index
PLAY
- Society of Health and Physical Education Adapted PE/Activity Program of the Year Award: https://www.shapeamerica.org/recognition/awards/awards-programs.aspx
Organizations that may sponsor or be familiar with state or local program recognition awards:
EAT and SHOP
- State restaurant association
- State food retailer association
- State departments of health (retail stores, restaurants)
- State agriculture department (farmers markets)
- State social services department (licensed ECEs, food banks)
WORK
- State associations of cities or counties
- EXAMPLE: Golden Apple Award: Washington State Worksites: https://wacities.org/events-education/conferences/healthy-worksite-summit/awards
- State association of business
- State department of health
LEARN
- Pre-K department of education
EXAMPLE: SHINE Award (California) https://www.cdss.ca.gov/cacfp/preschools-shine-program#REC - Healthy Behavior Initiative, Step-by-Step Guide (After-School, see SNAP-Ed Toolkit): https://www.ccscenter.org/healthy-behaviors-initiative
County & city level: LIVE
- County/community coalitions
EXAMPLE 1: BEAL Award (Built Environment & Active Living offered by Healthy King County Coalition): https://www.healthykingcounty.org/projects
EXAMPLE 2: Spokane Food Access Committee. Works to get nutritious food to all.
https://www.spokanefoodpolicy.org/ - City, county, and regional planning departments
EAT
- County health departments
- EXAMPLE: Los Angeles County, California Choose Health LA: https://choosehealthla.com/eat/restaurants/
Key Glossary Terms
Additional Resources or Supporting Citations