Applicants for this cost reimbursement grant must demonstrate organizational and fiscal capacity to meet the scope of service and requirements described in the RFGA. This is a cost reimbursement grant and all payments will require an appropriate documentation and invoices.
3.2. Funding shall only be used for SNAP-Ed program purposes and with eligible communities.
3.2.1. Entities eligible to apply include:
3.2.1.1. Units of Arizona government (local, county, and state entities).
3.2.1.2. Federally and state-recognized tribal governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and tribal organizations.
3.2.1.3. Arizona institutions of higher learning (colleges, universities).
3.2.1.4. Community-based organizations in Arizona (including private, NGO, both secular and faithbased).
3.2.2. Other eligibility requirements:
3.2.2.1. Organizational structure capable of partnering with and convening other organizations to implement policy, system, and environmental changes to improve nutrition and physical activity outcomes within SNAP-Ed eligible communities.
3.2.2.2. Ability to integrate equity, trauma-informed, and community engagement practices into organization structures and program implementation.
3.2.2.3. Demonstrates commitment to depth of programming in communities, with the goal of creating sustainable programs, policies and practices for all projects.
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity (BNPA), in partnership with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES) provides a program called the AZ Health Zone. The AZ Health Zone is funded by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) program through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
1. Awardees funded by this program will implement community-level interventions that address health inequity among those with limited access to nutrition, physical activity, and/or other resources. This is done through Policy, System, and Environmental (PSE) changes with complementary direct nutrition education (DE) to youth and/or adults and
supportive marketing approaches.
1.1.1. The AZ Health Zone is a community health program that supports greater access to physical activity, nutritious food, and nutrition education to improve health equity among those with limited access to these resources.
1.1.2. The ADHS will contract with local public and non-profit organizations to implement community-level initiatives that build resilient communities and increase health equity with an emphasis on the program’s foundational principles:
1.1.2.1. Engagement with residents in SNAP-Ed communities to consult, involve, collaborate, and empower on program planning and implementation in order to meet their needs and desires.
1.1.2.2. Implementation of trauma-aware approaches at each level of the program to ensure that interventions are meeting participants where they are at (i.e. interventions are relatable, relevant, created with community for community) and avoiding harm.
2.2. Awardees will use the above-mentioned approaches to meet one or more of the following statewide program
objectives:
2.2.1. September 30, 2030, reduce household food insecurity and hunger through policy, system, and environmental changes in Arizona SNAP-eligible communities.
2.2.2. By September 30, 2030, increase neighborhood facilitators for physical activity in underserved populations through policy, system, and environmental changes in Arizona SNAP-eligible communities.
2.2.3. By September 30, 2030, improve outreach and engagement efforts to underserved populations to ensure demographics for participants reached aligns with the demographics of SNAP participants in that county.
2.2.4. By September 30, 2030, statewide professional development in equity and trauma-informed approaches will be offered annually and integrated into organizational systems to support staff and administer the program to and from diverse communities.
2.2.5. By September 30, 2030, community residents in SNAP-eligible communities will be involved in planning and collaborating in local policy, system, and environmental change projects.
2.3. The AZ Health Zone program interventions are called strategies and projects, which are topically organized by focus areas, including Active Living, Early Care and Education (ECE) Systems, Food Systems, and Youth and Adolescent Systems.