Healthy Corner Stores in Jackson County, Missouri

1. Healthy Corner Stores in Jackson County, Missouri Presentation for the 2014 Missouri Annual Public Health Conference Ashley A. Ray, CHES

2. Context of Healthy Corner Stores Initiative Fall 2011 — Community Transformation Grant work began • Healthy eating/active living. • Tobacco-free living. • Healthy and safe built environment. • Increase clinical preventive services.

3. Initial Healthy Corner Store Work 2011–2012 • Implementation and evaluation processes being developed. • Targeting stores in underserved areas. • Health departments recruiting stores — unsuccessfully. • “Field trip” to St. Louis.

4. Phase 1 • Spring 2013 — Neighborhoods invited to nominate stores. • Four stores were selected: two in Independence, two in Kansas City, Missouri. • Next steps • MOU. • Owner/manager interview. • Store assessment. • Intercept surveys. • Neighborhood surveys. • Action plan development.

5. Highlights from Phase 1 surveys • 36 percent of the intercept survey respondents said that they purchase food at the corner store every day. • Although most of the customers only bought snacks (i.e., chips) and drinks (i.e., regular soda), almost 17 percent reported that they bought at least some of their groceries at the corner store. • 49 percent of the respondents are interested in healthier options at the store. • About 72 percent of the neighbors reported eating two servings or less of fruit per day; 62 percent reported eating two servings or less of vegetables per day. • 32 percent of the neighborhood survey respondents said that they purchase fresh fruits and vegetables less frequently than weekly.

6. Phase 2 • February 2014 — Phase 2 nominations sought. • Six stores nominated, four selected. • More ethnically diverse. • Neighborhood groups were more active in recruitment. • Phase 2 stores were assessed and surveyed in the summer. • Phase 1 stores were reassessed and surveyed July–August.

7. Community Events, Recipes, Input Cards • For both the Phase 1 and 2 stores, we provided the store owners with information about managing fresh produce. We also assisted with signage in the stores, labeling, recipes, neighborhood input cards and community events.

8. Lessons Learned • The more involved the neighborhoods or other organizations are with the stores, the more likely there will be a change in the stores. • CAVEAT: In some areas we have had a difficult time identifying neighborhoods or groups that are organized enough and interested in this program. We have had the most success with neighborhoods in the urban core.

9. Lessons Learned (cont.) • Although our CTG efforts have been cut short, we have observed that the following elements are needed for a successful healthy corner store program: • Willingness and interest (on the part of the store owner/manager and the surrounding neighborhood). • Education/mentoring of store owners/managers. • Marketing. • Customer education: • What “healthy” means. • What to do with healthy items (recipes).

10. Questions? Contact information for Jackson CountyHealthy Corner Stores