The Southern Obesity Summit (SOS) is the largest regional obesity prevention event in the United States, drawing hundreds of participants from the 16 Southern States consisting of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.  Together, these states are joining forces to fight obesity.

When

Sunday, November 17, 2013 – Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Where

About

Just say YES! This year’s SOS is more than a conference.  It is the place to find technical assistance for your state through learning collaboratives.  It is a time to connect with others in your field of expertise and develop strategies to work together.  SOS is implementing a NEW format, and they request that each state bring a team that is ready to learn, engage and take action!  Recruit your experts in public health, health care, schools, industry, education, academics, insurance, nutrition and government.  SOS will work within the pillars established at prior Summits and define actions to take across all 16 southern states that will truly make a difference.  The 7th Annual Southern Obesity Summit has two over-arching goals:

1. To effectively engage youth in SOS strategies to prevent obesity
2. To help stakeholders strategize policy and program initiatives across all 16 states

Join SOS as they map out a healthier future for the South!  Engage with Southern youth, share your successes and overcome your barriers.  Just say YES! to eating healthy, being active, getting involved; and, get energized in Nashville!

Fees

The registration fee includes admission to all sessions (exclusive for pre and post-Summit workshops which are an additional $75.00 each), including all breakouts, town hall, plenary, stakeholder meetings, state team meetings, pillar workgroup meetings, exhibit hall, poster display, networking sessions and more! Meals included are: Sunday, snacks; Monday, breakfast, snacks, lunch and light reception; Tuesday, breakfast, snacks and lunch.  Summit fees have stayed the same for the past 3 years!

Adult Registration:
$450 through Friday, August 2, 2013
$500 August 3rd- through November 07, 2013

Learn more about the 7th Annual Southern Obesity Summit

Little Rock, AR – Thanks to a grant from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention is excited to offer its 2013 Growing Healthy Communities Regional Summits FREE for up to 975 attendees interested in receiving training from experts and learning:

• How to Implement Cooking Matters Programs in Your Community
• How to Build Community Gardens & Farmers’ Markets
• How to Make Your School & Community Healthier
• How to Lead Walkability Audits
• How to Make Your Worksite Healthier

Summit Dates & Locations:

• Northwest:  Harrison, AR, Durand Conference Center, Tuesday, May 21. (Preempted by a screening of A Place at the Table on May 20)
• Southeast:  Stuttgart, AR, Grand Prairie Center, Wednesday, May 29.
• Northeast: Batesville, AR, Lyon College campus, Friday, June 14.
• Central: Bryant, AR, Bishop Park Community Center, Monday, June 24.
• Southwest: Fordyce, AR, Fordyce High School, Friday, June 28.  .

For more information and/or to register for a summit near you, go to: arkansasobesity.org/2013/04/2013-ghc-regional-summits

Each community with representatives at a summit is eligible to apply for grant funds in support of projects putting this training to work! Grants will be made for 6 month projects. Funds for grants are allocated by region. Each of the five regions will receive a minimum of $10K in grants. Communities may only apply for grant projects utilizing the training received at a regional summit. For more information on regional grants, continue reading.

Overview

Thanks to funding from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention is excited to open grant opportunities to communities represented at 2013 Growing Healthy Communities Regional Summits.

A minimum of $10K will be awarded among communities in each region in support of 6 month projects starting July 15, 2013 and ending January 15, 2014. Applications will have tiered budget requests, allowing communities to request funding for priority projects.  Grant Information & FAQs.

Timeline

• Friday, July 12, 2013: Application deadline at 11:59 PM; no exceptions
• Monday, July 15, 2013: Grant awards announced; projects begin
• Tuesday, October 15, 2013: Midpoint evaluation report due by 5:00 PM
• Wednesday, January 15, 2014: Final evaluation report due by 5:00 PM

Eligibility Guidelines

Communities represented at ArCOP’s 2013 Growing Healthy Communities Regional Summits are eligible to apply for grant funds in support of projects utilizing the training received at the summit.

Communities may only apply for grant projects utilizing the training received at a regional summit. (In other words, if your community thinks it’ll want to apply for funding for a project promoting its farmers’ market, at least one person from your community must attend the “How to Build Community Gardens & Farmer’s Markets” track.)

The trainings provided at 2013 summits are:

• How to Implement Cooking Matters Programs in Your Community
• How to Build Community Gardens & Farmers’ Markets
• How to Make Your School & Community Healthier
• How to Lead Walkability Audits
• How to Make Your Worksite Healthier

All information requested must be submitted in the proposal for proposal to be considered.

501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, hospitals, schools, religious organizations and government agencies are eligible to apply. Other organizations that do not qualify for tax‐exempt status are not eligible unless operating under a fiscal agent that falls under one of the above-stated categories.

Selection Criteria

The following factors are considered, although not exclusively, in reviewing proposals:

• Potential benefit to community
• Capacity of community to achieve results as outlined within 6 month project period
• Evidence of a plan for evaluating project
• Potential for sustainability of project beyond grant period
• Evidence of cooperation or collaboration within the community
• Innovation & creativity of the project
  

Funding

ArCOP’s 2013 Growing Healthy Communities Regional Summits & Project Grants are available thanks to funding from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas.

Each region will receive a minimum of $10K in grants, plus any amount that was budgeted for the regional summit and not spent on summit expenses. Example: if the final cost of the Northeast Summit is $3,003.52, a total of $16,996.48 will be available for grants made to communities in the Northeast region.

Award payments will be made as reimbursements for approved expenses and/or purchase orders may be submitted for direct payment to vendors.  All reimbursements or purchase orders are to be submitted via email to: amanda.pottercole@gmail.com

Promotion Policy

ArCOP is proud of the communities the Coalition works with and projects on which it collaborates. All grant collaborations & projects will be publicized on arkansasobesity.org and other sources as a means to inform others on the work happening in Arkansas to reduce obesity.

Community Identification

Each community with representatives at any of the 2013 summits is eligible to apply for grant funds in support of projects putting this training to work.  While ArCOP’s definition of “community” is flexible, applicants are asked to think about who it is that they work with in their fight against obesity.

A community can be a neighborhood, town, city, county…  For example, if your focus is the school district, that might be your community – but if you serve on a county-wide committee whose focus is to decrease obesity, that might be your community.  If you are a member of a group who has received the “Growing Healthy Communities” title, well, then, it’s pretty simple who your community is!

Applicants may change community identification from that listed on summit registration in order to work with other summit participants on grant projects.

What is a tiered budget?

An example of a tiered budget looks like this:

• Project Priority 1: for $a, we will do x project
• Project Priority 2: for $b, we will do y project
• Project Priority 3: for $c, we will do z project

Tiered budget requests allow communities to request funding for projects based on priority.  In the case that ArCOP chooses to fund a community, but is not able to fund the highest requested amount, ArCOP will be able to fund an entire project or project(s) instead of granting an arbitrary amount.

What does the application look like?

Download a PDF of the application to preview questions & formatting.

It is highly suggested that applicants type their responses in a Word document before entering & submitting into the actual application – that way you can also keep a copy of your submission.  Grant award recipients will receive a copy of their submission with their Grant Agreement Form.

Grant Agreement

ArCOP grant recipients are required to sign a Grant Agreement Form.

Grantee Evaluation Reports

ArCOP grant recipients are required to submit two Evaluation Reports: a midpoint evaluation report (due Oct 15) and final evaluation report (due Jan 15).

Apply Online

Click here to submit your Grant Application.

50 million people in the U.S. don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

Join representatives from North Arkansas College & the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention for a FREE screening of A Place at the Table followed by a brief question & answer session on the evening of Monday, May 20.  This event will set the stage for the May 21 Summit and allow those present to find out what’s being done across Arkansas and in their communities to address hunger & access to healthy foods.

Funding for this special screening and community conversation is provided by NAPHE, Healthy Kids Healthy Ozarks, Participant Media and Active Voice.  A complimentary hors d’oeuvre buffet will begin at 6:30 p.m.  Register early to save your seat: Register to attend.

Who

Everyone interested in joining the conversation of what we can do to provide better access to healthy foods is welcome to attend.  This screening will also serve as an early check-in opportunity for Growing Healthy Communities Northwest Summit registrants.

When & Where

Monday, May 20 | evening

• 6:30 – 7:00  Registrant check-in, hors d’oeurves, networking
• 7:00 – 8:30  Film Screening
• 8:30 – 9:00  Panel Discussion

North Arkansas College Durand Center A & B

Reservations are free, but need to be made in advance.  Reserve your seat here.

About the Film

50 million people in the U.S.-one in four children-don’t know where their next meal is coming from, despite our having the means to provide nutritious, affordable food for all Americans. Directors Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush examine this issue through the lens of three people who are struggling with food insecurity: Barbie, a single Philadelphia mother who grew up in poverty and is trying to provide a better life for her two kids; Rosie, a Colorado fifth-grader who often has to depend on friends and neighbors to feed her and has trouble concentrating in school; and Tremonica, a Mississippi second-grader whose asthma and health issues are exacerbated by the largely empty calories her hardworking mother can afford.

Their stories are interwoven with insights from experts including sociologist Janet Poppendieck, author Raj Patel and nutrition policy leader Marion Nestle; ordinary citizens like Pastor Bob Wilson and teachers Leslie Nichols and Odessa Cherry; and activists such as Witness to Hunger’s Mariana Chilton, Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio and Oscar®-winning actor Jeff Bridges.

Ultimately, A Place at the Table shows us how hunger poses serious economic, social and cultural implications for our nation, and that it could be solved once and for all, if the American public decides-as they have in the past-that making healthy food available and affordable is in the best interest of us all.

Has the 2013 legislative session left you wondering “What the heck just happened at the Capitol this year?” Are you thinking: What’s coming next?  What does all of it mean? What went wrong? What went right? AACF’s Post-Legislative Conferences will answer these and other question at conferences in Bentonville and Little Rock on May 14 and 16, respectively. Register for the events here: Bentonville, Little Rock.

Little Rock

AACF’s Little Rock conference will feature a plenary session and special topic breakout sessions. They will also have two featured luncheon speakers: Hendrix professor and Arkansas Times columnist Jay Barth, and the Surgeon General of the State of Arkansas, Joe Thompson (pictured). Experts who understand the health, education, tax, child welfare, juvenile justice, and economic policies that were enacted during the session will explain what the new laws intend to do and how it might affect you and the people you care most about.

Registration cost includes a box lunch and a publication summarizing the legislation that has impacted the children and families of Arkansas.  Plus you’ll get to hang out with a lot of great child advocates. Find out more info, and see a complete list of panel speakers, here.

Limited scholarships are available for grassroots advocates, students, and under-paid activists.  REGISTER HERE.

Contact Paul Kelly at 501-371-9678 or pkelly@aradvocates.org

May 16, 2013
Registration from 8-9 a.m.
9 a.m-1:30 p.m.
St. John’s Conference Center
2500 North Tyler Street, Little Rock
Registration is $10 for Kids Count Coalition members and $25 for non-members.

Bentonville

Join colleagues from health, child welfare, juvenile justice and education fields to learn more about the outcomes of the session. Panels will include policy experts to break down what went right and what didn’t, as well as a chance for a Q and A session with Northwest Arkansas lawmakers.

This event wouldn’t be possible without AACF’s co-hosts, the National Child Protection Center at Northwest Arkansas Community College. More info here. REGISTER HERE.

May 14, 2013
1-3:30 p.m.
White Auditorium, Burns Hall
Northwest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville
Registration is free (but be sure to sign up so they get a good count).

To reach these goals, they’ve made it easy to apply and get started. Anyone who’s interested should go online for general info and/or an application.  Decided you want to host a site?  Contact Stan Cotton at 501-320-6404 or Dr. Lackey at the information below:

Dr. Lackey
Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education
Department of Human Services
Donaghey Plaza South
Post Office Box 1437, Slot S155
Little Rock, AR 72203-1437
Phone: 800-482-5850 ext 28869
Fax: 501-682-2334

As a result of funding provided by Congress through the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012, USDA last year announced the availability of $4 million in funding to expand the availability of wireless point-of-sale equipment in farmers markets not currently accepting SNAP benefits. Today’s action expands eligibility for grant funds to include direct marketing farmers, as well as farmers markets. Funds may be used to purchase or lease equipment or pay for wireless access. Funds are available to States through September 30, 2013. 

“These grants increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables to SNAP customers and further encourage them to purchase and prepare healthy foods for their families using SNAP benefits,” said Concannon. “In general, research shows that about 20 cents of every SNAP dollar spent on food ends up in the pocket of American farmers. Installing wireless technology at farmers markets expands the customer base for markets and increases the share of the SNAP dollar that goes directly back to local farmers and into local economies.”

USDA has made expanding SNAP recipients’ access to fresh fruits and vegetables through farmers markets a priority in recent years. In 2008, about 750 farmers markets and direct marketing farmers accepted SNAP. In 2012, over 3,200 participated – a four-fold increase in markets, which was accompanied by a six-fold increase in redemptions at these outlets.

Along with other criteria, a farmers market is defined as a multi-stall market at which farmer-producers sell agricultural products, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables (but also meat products, dairy products, and/or grains), directly to the general public at a central or fixed location. Direct marketing farmers are individual producers of agricultural products. In order to qualify for the funding announced today, the direct marketing farmer must sell products at a market stall within a farmers market that is not currently participating in SNAP.

Research shows that many farmers markets and direct marketing farmers value their ability to accept SNAP as a means to attract a wider customer base and increase sales.  At the same time, a significant number cited the cost of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) equipment as a barrier to accepting SNAP. These findings and others are part of USDA’s Nutrition Assistance at Farmers Markets: Understanding Current Operations report released last week.  Today’s announcement helps to address this barrier by supporting farmers markets and direct marketing farmers in obtaining and operating EBT technology.

To find out more about available farmers market equipment funding or to learn more about accepting SNAP benefits at your farmers market, contact your SNAP State agency or visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/ebt/fm.htm.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs, including SNAP, that touch the lives of one in four Americans over the course of a year.  These programs work together to form a national safety net against hunger. Visit www.fns.usda.gov for information about FNS and nutrition assistance programs.

Thanks to a grant from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention is excited to offer its 2013 Growing Healthy Communities Regional Summits FREE for up to 975 attendees interested in receiving training from experts and learning:

• How to Implement Cooking Matters Programs in Your Community
• How to Build Community Gardens & Farmers’ Markets
• How to Make Your School & Community Healthier
• How to Lead Walkability Audits
• How to Make Your Worksite Healthier

Summit Dates & Locations

• Northwest:  Hosted by Harrison in the Durand Conference Center on Tuesday, May 21.  Register online. Preempted by a screening of A Place at the Table.
• Southeast: Hosted by Stuttgart in the Grand Prairie Center on Wednesday, May 29.  Register online.
• Northeast: Hosted by Batesville on Lyon College campus on Friday, June 14.  Register online.
• Central: Hosted by Bryant in Bishop Park Community Center on Monday, June 24.  Register online.
• Southwest: Hosted by Fordyce at Fordyce High School on Friday, June 28.  Register online.

Eligibility

Each community with representatives at the appropriate summit is eligible to apply for grant funds in support of projects putting this training to work!  Ok, so who can attend?

NWAR:  Anyone passionate about making the healthy choice the easy choice who represents a community (county, city, town, neighborhood) in Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Conway, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Pope, Scott, Searcy, Sebastian, Van Buren, Washington, and Yell counties.

NEAR:  Anyone passionate about making the healthy choice the easy choice who represents a community (county, city, town, neighborhood) in Clay, Cleburne, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Fulton, Greene, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, Randolph, Sharp, Stone, White, and Woodruff counties.

Central AR:  Anyone passionate about making the healthy choice the easy choice who represents a community (county, city, town, neighborhood) in Faulkner, Garland, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, and Saline counties.

SWAR:  Anyone passionate about making the healthy choice the easy choice who represents a community (county, city, town, neighborhood) in Calhoun, Clark, Columbia, Dallas, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Montgomery, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Polk, Sevier, and Union counties.

SEAR:  Anyone passionate about making the healthy choice the easy choice who represents a community (county, city, town, neighborhood) in Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Desha, Drew, Jefferson, Lee, Lincoln, Monroe, Phillips, Prairie, and St. Francis counties.

Registration is free, but all attendees must be registered in advance.  Use the links above to register!

Summit Agenda

• 8:00 – 8:30 Registrant Check-in, Pre-summit evaluation, Networking
• 8:30 – 9:00 Welcomes, Coalition Building 101
• 9:00 – 11:30 Breakout Tracks (to be continued after lunch)
• 11:30 – 12:00 Lunch
• 12:00 – 3:00 Breakout Tracks (continued from morning)
• 3:00 – 3:30 Closing, Grant Writing 101, ArCOP Regional Grants, & Post-evaluation

Note that breakout tracks are all day trainings. Each attendee may only register for one (1) track, so we suggest getting at least five (1 per track) folks from your community to attend the summit!

Breakout Tracks

Each of the breakout tracks will focus on “how to” training for its specific topic and will include social marketing tips, stakeholder suggestions, and much more!

How to Implement Cooking Matters Programs in Your Community

One component of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance/No Kid Hungry campaign is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting kids in need with nutritious food and teaching families how to cook healthy, affordable meals, through Cooking Matters. With the help of volunteer culinary and nutrition experts, participants learn to shop smarter, make healthier food choices, and cook delicious meals.

Register for this session to: learn how to implement Cooking Matters and Cooking Matters at the Store programs in your community and learn what tools are available through the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention!

How to Build Community Gardens & Farmers’ Markets

A community garden can be urban, suburban or rural. It can grow flowers, vegetables, herbs or community. It can be one community plot or many individual plots. It can be at a school, hospital or in a neighborhood. It also can be a series of plots dedicated to “urban agriculture” where the produce is grown for a market.

Farmers’ markets are one of the oldest forms of direct marketing by small farmers and, in the last decade, have experienced a renascence throughout the US.  In a farmers’ market, a group of farmers sell their products at a designated day, time and public place. Some farmers’ markets also have live entertainment, prepared food vendors, and artisan booths.

Register for this session to: learn how to increase access to healthy foods by getting started on (or expanding!) a community garden & farmers’ market in your community!  During the track, participants will be exploring ways to address policy changes, picking a location, and planning implementation strategies.

How to Make Your School & Community Healthier

A joint use agreement (JUA) is a formal written agreement which forms a partnership between two separate entities – often a school and a city or county-setting forth the terms and conditions for shared use of public recreational property or facilities. Joint use is intended to maximize access to physical activity spaces and recreational programming and is considered a cost effective use of local resources, as partnering entities share space and operation costs for the space. Successful JUAs require ongoing collaboration and cooperation in identifying each partner’s roles and responsibilities of the partnership to address areas such as scheduling, operation and maintenance costs, and liability.

Nutrition & physical activity resources are constantly being updated, and can get overwhelming.  Because of that, ArCOP’s Early Childhood & Schools workgroup is creating a resource toolkit that will include the latest nutrition and physical activity opportunities including steps to conduct vending machine audits within the school districts, healthy fundraiser options, and more.

Register for this session to: learn how to make your school & community healthier by utilizing Joint Use Agreements and the latest nutrition & physical activity resource toolkit!

How to Lead Walkability Audits

Compact, walkable communities allow residents to walk to services, shopping, schools and jobs and can reduce traffic congestion, air pollution and improve public health.  Walkability audits are a key planning tool that provides communities & schools with the technical assistance necessary to assess walking and biking conditions and create a plan for improving them.

Register for this session to: learn how to get started leading walkability audits!

How to Make Your Worksite Healthier

The CDC’s Worksite Health ScoreCard assists employers in identifying gaps in their health promotion programs, and helps them to prioritize high-impact strategies for health promotion at their worksites across the following health topics: organizational supports, tobacco control, nutrition, physical activity, weight management, stress management, depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke, and emergency response to heart attack and stroke.

Arkansas’s Department of Health has created a smartphone application that makes using the ScoreCard even easier.  Register for this session to: receive a free download of the app & learn how to get started utilizing the Worksite Health ScoreCard!

Who are these “experts”?

ArCOP’s Workgroups are planning the curriculum and organizing speakers.  Notifications regarding speakers will be shared on ArCOP’s facebook page and twitter feed.  Are you an expert in one of the areas listed above?  Do you know someone who is?  Feel free to let us know!

The date for my region’s conference doesn’t work for me – am I out of luck?!

Nope!  Register for whichever conference works best for your schedule.  However, you are still only eligible for a grant from the region your community is in.

But I really, really want to attend several (maybe all) of the tracks!

Unless you have a time turner or other powers over the space/time continuum, you can only participate in one training at the summit because each track will last all day long.

However, if you really want to (and promise to show up!), you can register for different tracks at multiple summits. You’ll still only be eligible for a grant from the region your community is in.  And, please, be conscientious that you will truly be able to attend since we have a limited number of slots for each track.

Why am I asked to say who my “Community” is when I register?

Each community with representatives at the appropriate summit is eligible to apply for grant funds in support of projects putting this training to work!  Because of that, we need all registrants to tell us the name of their community.  A community can be a neighborhood, town, city, county…  If your focus is the school district, that might be your community – but if you serve on a county-wide committee whose focus is to decrease obesity, that might be your community.  If you are a member of a group who has received the “Growing Healthy Communities” title, well, then, it’s pretty simple who your community is!  While our definition of “community” is flexible, think about who it is that you work with in your fight against obesity – and who you will be representing at the summit.

Tell me more about these grants.

Here’s the basics: Grants will be made for 6 month projects. The application will be tiered (example: for $a we will do x, for $b we will do x & y, for $c we will do x, y, z).  Funds for grants are allocated by region. Each region will receive a minimum of $10K in grants, plus any amount that was budgeted for the regional summit and not spent on summit expenses. Communities may only apply for grant projects utilizing the training received at a regional summit. (In other words, if your community thinks it’ll want to apply for funding for a project promoting its farmers’ market, at least one person from your community must attend the “How to Build Community Gardens & Farmer’s Markets” track.) More information & application available.

Why are these awesome summits free?

ArCOP’s 2013 Summts & Project Grants are available thanks to funding from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas.

Arkansas Delta Endowment for Building Community Grant Program Fact Sheet

About the Grants - This grant program supports projects that improve the social and economic conditions for children and families in 26 counties in the Arkansas Delta region. Projects must focus on:

• Improving the conditions of people and families in the Arkansas Delta
• Building local capacity and infrastructure in the Arkansas Delta
• Fostering networks and connections across the region

Grants requests can begin at $5,000 and go up to $20,000, depending on the comprehensiveness of the project. While larger grant requests will be accepted, we encourage you to request only an amount that your project warrants. Larger requests can be considered if the applicant provides evidence that receiving a grant from the Arkansas Delta Endowment for Building Community will enable match funding from other sources.

Who’s Eligible - Any IRS 501(c)(3) public charity, public school, government agency or hospital in the 26 Arkansas Delta counties is eligible to apply. Applicants that do not have nonprofit status may also be considered if the proposed project has a clear charitable purpose. Eligible counties:

• Arkansas
• Ashley
• Chicot
• Clay
• Craighead
• Crittenden
• Cross
• Desha
• Drew
• Greene
• Independence
• Jackson
• Jefferson
• Lawrence
• Lee
• Lincoln
• Lonoke
• Mississippi
• Monroe
• Phillips
• Poinsett
• Prairie
• Randolph
• St. Francis
• White
• Woodruff

What They’re Looking For - The endowment is especially interested in supporting projects that involve collaboration among multiple organizations, have a clear plan for evaluating/demonstrating success, can be replicated or expanded to serve multiple communities and/or serve a broad range of people.

How to Apply - Submit your Letter of Inquiry between May 1 and May 22, 2013. LOI’s selected to submit full proposal will be notified by May 31. Download the Letter of Inquiry form at www.arcf.org.

More Information - Learn more at www.arcf.org or contact Program Director Chris Love, clove@arcf.org.

The Department of Health has received funds from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to operate the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) for FFY 2013. The mission of the WIC FMNP is to provide Arkansas locally grown, fresh, unprepared fruits, vegetables and herbs directly to WIC participants and to increase awareness and sales at local farmers’ markets.

The FMNP check issuance will take place during a four (4) month period, beginning May 1, 2013 and ending August 31, 2013.  Each eligible participant will be asked if they want to participate in the FMNP.  If they do, they will be issued one $15 booklet containing five $3 checks.  These checks may be redeemed at the booths of authorized farmers selling fruits, vegetables and herbs at authorized farmers’ markets.  FMNP checks and issuance materials will be shipped to each participating local health unit (LHU), prior to the beginning date of May 1, 2013.  

Each LHU in the designated counties will receive a supply of FMNP checks based on a percentage of the current caseload of women and children. FMNP Issuance Record forms, numbered to match the checks in the booklet, are attached to each booklet. FMNP check security and accountability must be maintained at all times.

Participation in FMNP is voluntary. All women and children WIC participants, eligible for WIC during the approved four (4) month issuance period, are given the option to participate in the program. Participants receive only one issuance of FMNP checks.  Infants are not eligible for the program.  No checks will be replaced for any reason. No checks will be mailed.

ADH-38 (R 4/11)

Inssuance Procedures

Issuance Inquiry

• Ask eligible participants if they would like FMNP checks prior to completing issuance records.

Issuance

• Check the General Notes in the participant’s record to ensure they have not already received FMNP checks this year.
• Issue the check booklets numerically.
• Complete the entire attached FMNP Issuance Record form on each check booklet issued.
• Enter the participant State WIC ID number (not Household ID).
• Enter the participant type, using C for Child, P for Pregnant, NBF for Postpartum and BF for Breastfeeding.
• Document the WIC clinic number in the space provided.
• Print the participant name (last name, first name).
• Print the initials of issuance personnel.
• Observe while the participant or responsible adult signs the Issuance Record.
• Date the Issuance Record.
• Send the original issuance records (white) to WIC State Office (Slot 43) daily by courier.   Maintain the copy of the issuance record (yellow) in the LHU and file numerically.
• Review and issue the “FMNP Food List and Instructions”.
• Issue the “List of Authorized Farmers’ Markets”. Tell participants that checks may be used at any WIC authorized farmers’ market in the state.
• Checks may not be issued after August 31, 2013.

Documentation

• List the date of issuance and check numbers issued to participants in the General Notes of their SPIRIT record.

Security/Accountability

• FMNP checks should never be left unattended and are to be kept locked up when not in use.  Only dedicated ADH staff should have access to FMNP checks. (See Policy Manual WIC-78)
• All excess check booklets which were not issued to participants must be sent back to the WIC State Office (by UPS only) using WIC’s account #718-018.  Do not use the ADH courier.  These unissued check booklets must be returned to WIC State Office by September 6, 2013.

Checks Voided May 1 through August 31, 2013

• Stamp the white original issuance record, the yellow copy and all checks “void.”
• Send the original white issuance record along with the voided check booklet to the WIC State Office by courier Slot 43).
• File the voided yellow issuance copy numerically with your other yellow issuance copies.

After August 31, 2013

• After August 31, 2013, any FMNP checks which were issued, but not used by the participant must be destroyed by shredding at the LHU.  If FMNP checks are found in a participant folder after the FMNP season (May 1-August 31), do not return them to the WIC State Office.  Shred them.

Training

• LHU issuance staff must have training on FMNP check issuance.
• Document the training on a sign-in sheet with “FMNP Training” and the date of training at the top.  Send the sign-in sheet to Susan Pfeifer at the State Office and keep a copy on file at the LHU.

Nutrition education is a core service of the WIC Program and is made available to all WIC participants receiving WIC FMNP checks. Existing WIC nutrition educators will be providing nutrition education. If an appropriate lesson plan for Farmers’ Market is needed, contact Cristy Sellers or RuthAnn Looney at the WIC State Office at 501-661-2508.

If there are any questions regarding WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, please contact Susan Pfeifer at the WIC State Office at 501-661-2206.

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