ACL Awards Cooperative Agreements to Support Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services (INNU)

ACL recently awarded four community research cooperative agreements to verify the effectiveness of innovative Senior Nutrition Program practices and programs created during COVID-19. The research will positively impact senior nutrition participants by helping to transition and sustain congregate meal programs, and delivering impactful nutrition education.

Four grantees were awarded a total of $1,196,381 over a three-year project period. Research projects proposed under this grant program have the potential for broad implementation throughout the aging services network.

The organizations receiving Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services-Community Research 

(HHS-2021-ACL-AOA-INNU-0084) cooperative agreement grants and their projects include:

• East Tennessee State University will build on successful virtual nutrition education and outreach offered locally during the COVID-19 pandemic by developing a "virtual supper club" hosted by university students and youth Nutrition Ambassadors in order to decrease food insecurity and loneliness among congregate meal participants in Northeast Tennessee. The program will enhance food resource management and connection while fostering a supportive community to decrease loneliness.
• Lanakila Pacific has developed an innovative virtual congregate meal model that increases program reach by providing older adults with opportunities for social engagement and nutrition education to improve their overall health and well-being. The project goal is to show collaborative and systems level strategies, including the use of a web-based inventory of nutrition education and socialization opportunities, are effective for facilitating resource sharing that meets or exceeds program requirements, impacts policy, and creates sustainability.
• University of New England will implement and evaluate an innovative, pandemic-responsive nutrition education program that addresses food security, socialization, and perceived health and well-being of residents in low-income senior housing in rural Maine. The project goals include developing a direct education intervention to reinforce messages related to eating more fruits and vegetables, increasing physical activity, and purchasing healthy foods on a budget.
• University of Texas at San Antonio will extend existing congregate meal program services through digital education and increased access. This project will remove the digital barrier for older adults so they can receive nutrition programming online with the aim of improving overall health and well-being. The project will create a culturally-tailored digital nutrition intervention using community-based participatory research. It will also test the impact of a digital nutrition intervention on diet quality and food security.

 

Learn more about the Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services Research Grants Funding Opportunities at www.grants.gov.