Community-based and government organizations in Muscatine, Iowa initiated Fueling the Future to address food and economic insecurity, and the PRC-RH helped evaluate the project.
Team members:
- UIowa: Rima Afifi (lead), Heidi Haines (lead)
- PRC-RH Students: Sarah Diner (MPH, graduates), Deidre Funk (MPH), Emily Jensen (BS, graduated), Amanda Sursely (PhD, graduated)
- Partners: Fueling the Future Network Board, Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine
Project dates: 2020-2024
Funding sources: Fueling the Future of Muscatine, UI PRC-RH
Project tags: Economic Navigator, Food Insecurity, Micropolitan Communities, Health Equity, Implementation Evaluation, Poverty, Public Health Practice, Outcomes and Process Assessment, Community Networks
Details
Description
Food insecurity is a complex issue tied to poverty, education, housing, and employment. Coaching and navigation are approaches that have shown promise in improving economic mobility and enhancing equity. In Muscatine, Iowa, a network of community-based and governmental organizations initiated the Fueling the Future (FtF) intervention in 2019. The PRC-RH partnered with FtF to help evaluate the project.
This collaborative pilot project focused on low-income families with elementary aged children who were receiving weekend “backpack” food assistance. Adults in the families were invited to take part in a six-week intensive “earn while you learn” training program in high demand fields like welding, pharmacy tech, computer numerical control or certified nursing assistant. Once trained, the program linked the participants with employers, helping meet workforce needs while supporting families.
The goals for families enrolled in the program included enhanced education, housing, employment, and health. The PRC-RH provided real-time feedback to identify opportunities for improving program outcomes, guiding recruitment, care coordination and services for long-term success. Data was also collected to show how well the model worked and to help position FtF for sustainable resources of future funding.
Throughout the program, participants were provided wrap-around supports from the Economic Navigators (Ens), which was critical to their success. Interviews and network board meetings revealed how deeply the program impacted those who completed it—not just financially, but also emotionally. Many described the program as life changing, giving them a renewed sense of dignity and inspiration.
Several key factors contributed to the program’s success, including the multisectoral nature of the network board, strong relationships and trust within the community, implementation of outreach activities, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Resources, Media, & Publications
Media:
Prevention Research Matters: Community Engagement and Impact. February 11, 2022
Muscatine Access Channel Nine. Fueling the Future Testimonial Ashley. You Tube. December 2022.
Lewis, R. Business Leadership Network Helping Iowa Communities. November 14, 2023.
Presentation:
- Haines H, Sursely A, Diner S, Jensen E, Fueling the Future Coalition Board, Afifi R. Implementing and evaluating ‘Fueling the Future’: An innovative poverty reduction program in Muscatine, Iowa. Poster presented at the Public Health Conference of Iowa; March 27, 2024; Des Moines, IA.
- Haines, H., Sursely, A., Diner, S., Jensen, E., Fueling the Future Coalition Board, Afifi, R. Implementing and evaluating “Fueling the Future”, an innovative poverty reduction program in Muscatine, IA. American Public Health Association annual conference; November, 2022; Boston, MA.