G-SPAN is helping to prevent chronic disease and make healthy eating accessible to all Georgians by working with statewide community partners to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables and promote adoptions of healthy eating guidelines. Focused on policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change, G-SPAN seeks to foster communities where selecting the healthy choice is the easy choice.
What is G-SPAN Currently Working On?
G-SPAN is working to make healthy eating more accessible and prevent chronic disease by partnering with communities across Georgia. Through a focus on policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes, G-SPAN aims to create environments where making healthy choices is easy and natural. By collaborating with statewide partners—including the charitable food system and out-of-school-time organizations—G-SPAN is expanding access to fresh fruits and vegetables and supporting healthier communities throughout the state.
Charitable Food Systems
G-SPAN is currently partnering with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to expand the use of food service guidelines in participating Community Food Centers (CFCs) and pantries. Together, they are supporting these organizations in working directly with community members to implement healthier food practices within the charitable food system.
Out-of-School-Time Settings
G-SPAN is also collaborating with out-of-school-time organizations—such as the YMCA—to expand the implementation of food service guidelines and improve access to voucher incentive programs like Georgia Fresh for Less and produce prescription initiatives. These organizations provide after-school services to children and families across Georgia, making them key partners in promoting healthier food environments beyond the school day.
How We Evaluate Progress
As part of G-SPAN’s community-centered evaluation approach, we will be tracking our success and challenges along the way to key milestones and performance measures, including:
Number of settings that adopt nutrition guidelines to support increased access to healthier foods
Number of people impacted by adopted FSG strategies
Number of new SNAP/WIC clients utilizing fruit and vegetable voucher programs
Number of settings utilizing fruit and vegetable voucher programs
Number of SNAP/WIC clients who redeem vouchers at farmers markets and farm stands
Number of settings utilizing produce prescription programs
Number of people impacted by produce prescription programs