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Objectives
To provide SNAP with: mobile-friendly education to assist with obtaining and preparing healthy, budget-friendly foods; information on free health events; and access to RDs to answer their nutrition questions.
Use of Theory or Research
Low-income residents use cell phones for internet access. The SNAP4CT.org mobile-friendly, web-based platform for participants to access nutrition resources. Best-practices for e-marketing support Search Engine Optimization (SEO), marketing, and paid ads/boosts as strategies for reaching target populations. We utilize these strategies to reach SNAP eligibles in CT municipalities with the most SNAP participants.
Target Audience
SNAP4CT.org targets SNAP eligible 18- to 59-year-olds.
Program Description
SNAP4CT.org is a mobile-friendly resource including a website and associated social media providing CT SNAP eligibles with information on accessing and preparing healthy, budget-friendly foods. This platform serves as a point of collaboration for CT SNAP-Ed contractors, and as a vehicle to share resources with community partners who serve SNAP eligibles. We use SEO and promote content on social media using paid ads and boosting to reach and engage persons eligible for SNAP-Ed.
Evaluation Methods
Process evaluation uses Google Analytics, social media metrics, and administrative data to examine usage and growth over time. We track pageviews, form submissions, newsletter opens, video views, direct likes, and follows. In addition, we conducted surveys in FY 2018 and FY 2019 to ensure that SNAP4CT.org reaches our target population.
Results
Process evaluation data shows substantial growth in utilization. In 2019, visitors from 161 of CT's 169 cities/towns engaged with the platform, accounting for 683,276 online interactions. Surveys validate the approach taken to reach our audience - see: https://www.snap4ct.org/toolkit.html
Conclusions
Process evaluation data shows a nearly 20-fold increase in usage of SNAP4CT.org from 2015 to 2019. Survey results suggest that the use of the website and social media is a relevant strategy to reach our target population.
Funding
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education.
Article info
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Published by Elsevier Inc.
