GRANT PLANNING GUIDANCE

In addition to addressing the required elements listed in the judging criteria above, proposals that succinctly describe how the program will positively impact nutrition and physical activity behaviors will receive greater consideration. This section offers specific information and ideas to support the development of a high quality program that addresses the key components that will be judged as part of the Champions Grant program:

Community Needs Assessment:

Though the grant monies offered through the Champions Grants program are not intended to conduct a needs assessment of the community, it is necessary to have a basic understanding of the target population’s nutritional and physical activity problem, its needs, and the resources available to address those needs. Most likely the agency you are working for has already conducted a needs assessment. Identify the gap in the needs assessment you would like your program to address.

Define Program Goals and Objectives:

Program goals and objectives should provide the overarching framework for the development of a program plan. Goals are broad statements of desired changes or outcomes, whereas objectives are specific, measurable action statements that state what the program will accomplish in the set timeframe. Objectives should be specific in terms of what they are measuring, such as behavior change, increased knowledge, etc. A goal might be, “To increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables,” while an objective would be, “Increase the number of 5 year olds in WIC by 25% over one year, who consume 2 servings of vegetables/day.”

Develop a Program Plan:

It is not necessary to report in detail the program plan in the Champions Grant application. However, those developing programs should consider several relevant factors prior to completing the application such as the target audience and number of participants expected to participate; staffing needs like training, space, and number; facility needs, material resources, and budget allocation; the nutrition and physical activity education component; the marketing plan; and most importantly, the sustainability of the program.

Target Audience

The target audience is the specific group of people that the program is focused on. Target audiences can be defined in many ways including age, gender, race, geographic location, current health behaviors or beliefs, settings, education level, or other variables.

A primary target audience should be determined before you decide on your program. The most effective programs tailor the intervention to the specific target audience instead of trying to reach and influence everyone. Examples of specific target audiences could include: preschool, elementary, middle, or high school students; participants in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program; females in a specific age range, or teens in a specific racial/ethnic group.

In addition to the primary target audience, the secondary target audience includes others who would be impacted by the program. For example, if the program targets elementary age children, their families or teachers may also be impacted.

Program Reach

Reach refers to how many young people or families will be involved in the program. Identify whether all young people in a given neighborhood, class at school, or out-of-school group will be involved or only certain targeted groups. As more young people are involved there are increasing opportunities for social support, more healthy role models, and the chance that healthy eating and physical activity can become the "norm."

Program Duration

The program duration is the length of time the program is available to participants. Successful programs often have a series of events or opportunities that take place over a period of months so that participants can be involved for a longer period of time.

Program Intensity

Intensity refers to how often the program makes contact with participants. Programs that make multiple contacts with participants through education, reminders, events, and other methods are often more effective. When planning your program, create multiple opportunities to make contact with the target audience over a period of time.

Sustainability

Sustainability refers to the ability of the organization to keep all or parts of the program alive after the grant period has expired. Champions Grants are intended to provide seed money to initiate new programs or expand existing programs. The organization receiving the grant, however, must demonstrate how they will maintain and sustain the program, even after the grant monies have been used. Community partners, collaborations, sponsors, and other funding sources can be sought to sustain the program.

Program Setting

Program setting is where the program reaches the target audience, whether that is in a classroom, a clinic, a restaurant, a playground, a community center, a school, or any other location where the target audience can be found. When planning your program consider where you could best reach the audience and influence behavior.

Cost Effective use of Budget

Budget refers to how the $10,000 grant will be specifically spent. This includes how much will be spent on materials, equipment, or staff. The interest of the General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids grants program is in serving youth and therefore cost effective proposals that keep administrative costs and overhead low in relation to the number of youth served will be more favorably evaluated.

Recommended Practices

Recommended practice are the practices and concepts recommended by recognized health authorities. Proposed programs should reflect the practices and concepts recommended by:

• 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including a focus on helping participants eat an overall balanced diet rather than avoiding specific foods ( http://www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines/)
• The American Dietetic Association, including a focus on positive behaviors and messages rather than negative ones as presented in the "Total Diet Approach to Communicating Food and Nutrition Information" position paper (http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/
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• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Community Guide to Preventive Services, Physical Activity ( http://www.thecommunityguide.org/pa/ )
• The President’s Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Award program ( http://www.presidentschallenge.org/)

Model and Packaged Programs in Nutrition and Physical Activity

Model Programs
Model Programs are those that have been demonstrated by research to be successful in the behavior of youth. Building on the successes of these existing programs increases the likelihood that your program will also be successful. Through the General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids initiative, the General Mills Foundation, the American Dietetic Association Foundation, and the President’s Challenge, with help from the University of Minnesota’s Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, have collaborated resources to develop a list of “model” nutrition and physical activity programs. This list offers grant applicants the ability to access and replicate components of these programs to fit your program needs. The following is a list of selected model programs (22-24):

• Hearts N’ Parks
• Pathways
• President's Challenge
• SPARK
• Team Nutrition
• TEENS
• The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH)

Packaged Programs
A number of credible health and food organizations offer high quality educational resources and materials that could be used with or adapted to your target audience.

• Body Works
• Dairy Council
• Dole 5-A-Day
• Fitness Gram
• Go With the Whole Grain
• Kidnetic
• Take 10 Dairy
• USDA Team Nutrition

Reviewing the past Champions grants recipients can also provide ideas for effective programs. In addition, other innovative programs have not yet been evaluated or have had only limited evaluation, but may also be appropriate for the grants program.

More details about these model and packaged programs can be found in the Resource Guide(link)