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Browsing by Author "Misyak, Sarah"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    The 2023 Virginia Tech Student Food Access and Wellbeing Survey
    Holmes, Chanita; Misyak, Sarah; Hall, Ralph (Virginia Cooperative Extension, Eat Smart, Move More, 2024-06-10)
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    A Multicomponent Initiative to Increase Nutrition Outreach in the East End Neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia
    Yancey, Grace; Misyak, Sarah; Myers, Emily; Papillon, Carol (Virginia Tech, 2024-07-22)
    Access to healthy food is imperative to support the health of individuals and communities. However, structural inequities have resulted in reduced food access and higher rates of chronic disease in low-income communities. In the East End of Richmond, Virginia, a historically redlined area of the city, residents have reduced healthy food access and experience consequent health disparities. Multiple organizations, food pantries, and urban agriculture initiatives are working to mitigate these food access issues. Bon Secours Community Outreach is aiming to implement nutrition programming in the East End that complements these assets and promotes healthy food access. This project aimed to pilot various nutrition outreach approaches, initiate community engagement, and collect feedback from community members to inform future programming. Nutrition outreach initiatives were adapted to three food access sites including a food pantry, grocery store, and a mobile market to engage with East End residents. Feedback was collected to assess residents’ perceptions on healthy eating behaviors and their preferences around nutrition programming. Engagement levels and feedback collection were highest at the grocery store. Participants indicated preferences for receiving nutrition education from media sources, within community-based spaces, and from medical professionals. A pilot nutrition workshop was implemented that included nutrition education and a cooking demonstration. A Bon Secours dietitian and community health worker provided feedback to revise the workshop for future implementation. This project initiated the first step in community engagement and trialing outreach approaches to inform future nutrition programming.
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    Contextual Factors Influencing the Adoption of Physical Activity Direct Education and Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Initiatives by Virginia EFNEP and SNAP-Ed Staff
    Brooks, Austin; Young, Gabrielle; Misyak, Sarah; Johnson, Meredith Ledlie; Serrano, Elena L. (Elsevier, 2023-11-28)
    Objective: To explore factors influencing the adoption of direct education programs and policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change initiatives focused on physical activity for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-eligible audiences by Virginia Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) staff. Methods: Online survey with Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and SNAP-Ed peer (paraprofessional) educators (n = 28) and SNAP-Ed agents (master of science level) (n = 9) in Virginia. Descriptive statistics were computed for sociodemographic characteristics and responses to questions on the basis of Likert-type scales. Exploratory factor analyses were run to identify the underlying structures of the different variables. Results: The main factors for peer educators were related to substituting nutrition programs or content for physical activity programs. Other factors included staff qualifications and expectations about leading vs teaching physical activities. For PSEs, the top factors were the capacity to reach many community members, attract new partners and stakeholders, and personal interest in the PSE. Conclusions and Implications: The results provide insight into potential barriers and motivators for adopting physical activity education and PSEs within community-based initiatives and can be used to inform program planning and staff training. Additional research is warranted to examine other factors influencing the adoption and implementation of physical activity programs and PSEs.
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    Expansion of SNAP participation at Petersburg Public Library Market
    Amand, Reagen (Virginia Tech, 2024-07-24)
    Accessing healthy foods is a basic right for each individual, but in low-income neighborhoods, access and affordability create a barrier to achieving these needs. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides financial assistance for qualifying, low-income individuals and families when purchasing groceries. Providing financial assistance alone is not enough to reduce the food access gap for low-income households and neighborhoods. Farmers markets are a source of fresh fruits and vegetables and oftentimes provide incentives for purchasing these products using SNAP benefits such as discounts on fresh produce. This type of program, along with increased community involvement and outreach, has been effective in increasing SNAP participation amongst these markets. Despite the potential that SNAP has on farmers markets participation rates, levels still remain low. Through a comprehensive literature review, research showed financial incentives such as discounts and promotional methods increase the participation of SNAP customers amongst farmers markets. The purpose of this program was to test the efficacy of promotional materials in increasing the awareness of farmers markets and the benefits they provide to SNAP customers in Petersburg, VA. Findings showed no substantial success in overall SNAP redemption as SNAP sales and transactions between May 2023 and 2024 had a -9% change and a +9% change between June 2023 and 2024. This initial investigation provides helpful insight to community organizations looking to collaborate with farmer's markets to increase SNAP participation rates. Moving forward, continued collaboration between stakeholders will be essential to sustain motivation and determination when aiming to increase accessibility and affordability of healthy behaviors, such as purchasing and consuming fruits and vegetables.
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    Maximizing Food Budgets and Diet Quality: An Education Program for Parents and Caregivers of Head Start Children with the Northern Virginia Family Service
    Vogt, Ainsley; Misyak, Sarah; Myers, Emily; LaFalce, Amy (Virginia Tech, 2024-07-23)
    Given the rising costs of food and groceries from 2023 to 2024, knowledge on food resource management strategies is crucial, especially for low-income families. Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) offers essential resources aimed at fostering stability and self-sufficiency among low-income families through various critical services. This project aims to investigate behavioral intentions related to food purchasing among NVFS parents and caregivers, identifying effective educational resources to encourage healthier food choices while optimizing budgets. An educational session was conducted with five NVFS families in Arlington, Virginia. The session covered topics in food resource management and implementing SNAP recommendations, such as shopping essentials, money-saving strategies, shopping by food group, and nutrition label interpretation. Following the session, participants completed a survey using a Likert scale to gauge their readiness to modify food shopping habits. Results indicated a strong inclination among participants to prioritize certain cost-saving strategies but showed less intent to prioritize other cost-saving strategies and less intent to prioritize nutritional quality. Future educational efforts should build on these cost-saving strategies and emphasize nutritional awareness during grocery shopping to promote the health and well-being of NVFS families and individuals.
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    Student Food Security Status at Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech Food Access and Wellbeing Survey
    Holmes, Chanita; Hall, Ralph; Misyak, Sarah; Olayemi, Victor (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2024-10-02)
    There has been a growing acknowledgment and concern about college students experiencing food insecurity at institutions of higher education [1]. Experiencing food insecurity can impact educational attainment and performance as well as student quality of life [2]. This report describes the findings of the 2023 Virginia Tech Student Food Access and Wellbeing Survey, which was administered online during the Spring of 2023. The survey aimed to examine the level of food security among Virginia Tech undergraduate and graduate students.