Young child with green backpack walking hand in hand with an adult

Community-based and government organizations in Muscatine, Iowa initiated Fueling the Future to address food and economic insecurity, and the PRC-RH is working with Fueling the Future to evaluate the project.  

Team members:

  • UIowa: Rima Afifi (lead), Heidi Haines (lead)
  • PRC-RH Students: Sarah Diner, Deidre Funk, Emily Jensen, Amanda Sursely
  • Partners: Fueling the Future Network Board, Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine

Project dates: 2020-present

Funding sources: Fueling the Future of Muscatine, UI PRC-RH

Project tags: Economic navigator, Food insecurity, Micropolitan communities, Social determinants of health

Details

 

Description

Food insecurity is a complex issue linked to poverty, education, housing, and employment.  Coaching and navigation are effective in increasing economic mobility and enhancing equity. A network of community-based and governmental organizations in Muscatine, Iowa initiated the Fueling the Future (FtF) intervention in 2019, and the PRC-RH is working with FtF to evaluate the project. This collaborative pilot project with multiple partners targets low-income families with elementary aged children who are receiving weekend “backpack” food subsidies and engages adults in the family in a six-week intensive “earn while you learn” upskill training in welding, pharmacy tech, computer numerical control or certified nursing assistant, all jobs in demand in Muscatine.  Once trained, the program links the participants with employers, thus also meeting a need for workers. Expected outcomes for families enrolled in the program include enhanced education, housing, employment, and health. The PRC-RH is providing real-time formative evaluation to identify opportunities for improving program outcomes, guiding recruitment, care coordination and services for long-term success. Summative evaluation data is also being collected to document success of the model and to position FtF for sustainable resources for future funding.

Resources, Media, & Publications 

Media:

Prevention Research Matters: Community Engagement and Impact. February 11, 2022

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, IA. American Public Health Association annual conference. October, 2022