ST8: Multi-Sector Partnerships and Planning*

Framework Component

Indicator Description

This indicator measures community capacity by assessing the readiness of multi-sector partnerships or coalitions to plan and achieve the changes in nutrition, physical activity, food security, and/or obesity prevention policies and practices that are evaluated as subsequent indicators in the Sectors Areas of the economy in which businesses share the same or a related product or service. of Influence level of the framework.

*SNAP-Ed Priority Outcome The desired benefit, improvement, or achievement of a specific program or goal. Indicator

Background and Context

ST8 identifies specific, quantifiable measures for evaluating multi-sector partnerships or coalitions that are planning for community-level changes in policies and/or practices for nutrition, physical activity, food security, and or/obesity prevention.

While ST7 measures readiness and capacity for changes at the organizational level within SNAP-Ed sites and organizations (e.g., school building, public housing office, park, or food bank), ST8 assesses partnerships and coalitions at the local, state, territorial, or tribal level composed of at least five diverse sector representatives. See glossary for a definition of sectors.

Multi-sector partnerships or coalitions at the jurisdiction level include those operating and/or seeking to make changes at the local (e.g., community, district, parish, city, town, county, borough, and region), state, territorial/commonwealth, or tribal levels. Those operating at a local or community level may be defined by geographic, demographic, and/or civic/political boundaries. For example, a multi-sector coalition within a "community" could consist of the residents of a neighborhood, the members of a particular demographic group within a geographic region, or all individuals served by a group of community-based and/or governmental institutions.

A SNAP-Ed State Nutrition Action Council (SNAC) or relevant collective impact initiative can also be evaluated using ST8 measures.

Outcome The desired benefit, improvement, or achievement of a specific program or goal. Measures

ST8. Number of state SNAP-Ed programs or local communities with multi-sector partnerships or coalitions that include at least five diverse sector representatives (who reach low-income audiences through their services) that address nutrition or physical activity-related community changes, such as policies, practices, or other elements of the framework.

For each multi-sector partnership or coalition being evaluated, the following should be measured:

• ST8a. Types and number of organizations or individuals per sector represented
• ST8b. Documented level of multi-sector representation of the partnership (as documented by partners)
• ST8c. Documented level of active engagement of the partnership
• ST8d. Level of influence of SNAP-Ed in the partnership (as documented by partners)

What to Measure

1. Types and number of sectors represented in the partnership or coalition (ST8a)
2. Number of partner agencies within each sector, and the roles and resources contained within the partnership or coalition (ST8b)
3. Stage of coalition or partnership maturity, as measured by the documented level of active engagement (ST8c).
4. Partners Organizational entities that offer site(s) or services for conducting SNAP-Ed activities with or without SNAP-Ed funding. ' assessment of the state or local SNAP-Ed Agency's level of influence in the state, local, territorial, or tribal nutrition or obesity prevention partnership (ST8d)
5. Network A formalized group of individuals and organizations characterized by ongoing dialogue and information sharing. analytics documenting the overall level of integration and active participation of the partnership (ST8a-d), as measured by:
   • Degree of communication within the partnership (communication network density)
   • Degree of collaboration within the partnership (collaboration network density)
   • Extent to which communication within the partnership is focused around one sector or one lead agency (communication network centralization)
   • Extent to which collaboration within the partnership is focused around one sector or one lead agency (collaboration network centralization)
   • Agencies with the strongest and weakest connections within the partnership (centrality)
   • Level of influence of SNAP-Ed within the partnership, as measured by the centrality of the SNAP-Ed agency in the partnership (the degree to which the SNAP-Ed agency serves as an important link within the partnership)

Population

Surveys and Data Collection Tools

For this measure, surveys and/or interviews are conducted with members of the partnership(s) or coalition(s).

Key Glossary Terms

Centralization A network analytics term that measures the extent to which communication and collaboration within the partnership is focused around one sector or one lead agency. , Collaboration Two or more organizations contributing to joint activities, each with identified personnel who help advise and make decisions about effective strategies and interventions. , Collective impact The commitment of a group of important actors from different sectors to a common agenda for solving a specific social problem. , Community A group of people defined by geographic, demographic, and/or civic/political boundaries. , Network analysis The process of investigating social structures through the use of network and graph theories. , Sectors Areas of the economy in which businesses share the same or a related product or service.

Additional Resources or Supporting Citations

More information on how to evaluate partnerships, including formative measures to assist in the strategic planning and development of a partnership initiative, may be found on the following sites:

• CDC Fundamentals of Evaluating Partnerships https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/11579
• CoalitionsWork - Additional Resources: https://elearn.sophe.org/coalition-building-resources