Funded Research

Stephanie and David Spina Family Foundation
01/01/2026 to 12/31/2026
Flint Kids Cook
As Flint Kids Cook enters its ninth year of programming, this grant supports implementation and evaluation of all in-person Flint Kids Cook and virtual Flint Families Cook classes.

Stephanie and David Spina Family Foundation
01/01/2025 to 12/31/2025
Flint Kids Cook
Flint Kids Cook is a hands-on healthy cooking and nutrition program for youth that has shown to improve cooking self-efficacy and psychosocial health. Community interest for the program remains high, with over 100 youth currently on the class wait list. This grant supports continued implementation and evaluation of in-person Flint Kids Cook and virtual Flint Families Cook classes.

Community Foundation of Greater Flint
05/01/2024 to 04/30/2025
Fresh Produce Prescriptions for Women and Children in Need
Although research has suggested that exposure to this FVPP among youth 8-18 years leads to improvements in dietary patterns, food security, and shopping behaviors, we have also documented challenges with program engagement — including limited redemption sites — that have worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic. The current proposal supports the cost of fruit and vegetable prescriptions at participating pediatric and OB/GYN clinics as the PPHI Nutrition Team partners with one major chain grocery store to expand redemption sites across Genesee County. Researchers will monitor trends in prescription distribution and redemption rates through 2024.

Hurley Foundation
01/01/2024 to 12/31/2024
Hurley Children’s Center Produce Prescription Program 
With increasing evidence to support the benefits of the FVPP on dietary patterns, food security, food access, and shopping behaviors, the grant supports the cost of fresh produce prescriptions at Hurley Children’s Center as the program is expanded to include full-service grocery stores.

Stephanie and David Spina Family Foundation
01/01/2024 to 12/31/2024
Flint Kids Cook
Grounded in social cognitive theory, Flint Kids Cook focuses on improving self-efficacy for healthy cooking through interactive nutrition and food preparation activities. In January 2021, a virtual version of the program, entitled Flint Families Cook, was introduced. This grant supports continued implementation and evaluation of in-person Flint Kids Cook and Flint Kids Bake classes and virtual Flint Families Cook classes. Additionally, funds will be used to support the cost of fresh produce prescriptions at five medical clinics in Flint.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
09/01/2023 to 08/31/2028
Greater Flint Area REACH Project
The Greater Flint Area REACH Project is an implementation-ready project that leverages existing and emerging food system, breastfeeding continuum of care, and physical activity efforts to maximize REACH funding and close the gap to improve African American and Hispanic health in the Greater Flint Area. The pediatric fruit and vegetable prescription program is one key component of the REACH Project with resources supporting increased staffing to address challenges with program engagement as well as development and testing of digital prescriptions for ease of use among prescription program participants and vendors.

Michigan Health Endowment Fund
09/01/2023 to 08/31/2025
Improving Engagement in Produce Prescription Programs
To address important gaps in information and challenges with program engagement, the proposed project will: (1) examine the effectiveness of a prenatal fresh produce prescription programs with and without participation in Rx Kids (an unconditional cash incentive program from pregnant mothers in Flint); and (2) address prescription program engagement through redemption site expansion to full-service grocery stores.

Community Foundation of Greater Flint
06/01/2022 to 05/31/2024
Pediatric Produce Prescriptions for Health
With previous research demonstrating the effectiveness of pediatric fresh fruit and vegetable prescriptions among youth, the current proposal is a specific request for funding to support the cost of prescriptions through the Pediatric Public Health Initiative. Funding will support prescriptions at three pediatric clinics and two OB/GYN clinics that currently offer the program.

Michigan Health Endowment Fund
09/01/2021 to 06/30/2024
Expansion of Produce Prescriptions: A Prenatal Pilot
This project expands our evidence-based pediatric fruit and vegetable prescription program to the prenatal patients. This prenatal pilot program will start in one large Flint obstetric clinic, the Hurley Women’s Health Center, with the long-term goal of widespread adoption in Flint and beyond. The current grant also supports a study to assess program feasibility and preliminary effectiveness.

NIH-NICHD
09/01/2020 to 08/31/2024
R01 HD102527-01
Innovative Nutrition Practices in Pediatric Health Care: Assessment of a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program for Children in Need
The goal of the project is to assess the influence of pediatric fruit and vegetable prescription programs (FVPP) on food security, child dietary patterns, and weight status. We will compare demographically similar pediatric patient groups from three large urban clinics based on their exposure to a FVPP: high exposure (>24 months), moderate exposure (12-24 months), and no previous exposure. We will then introduce the FVPP to never exposed patients and compare changes in dietary intake, food security, and weight status. Results will provide novel knowledge regarding the role of FVPPs in addressing barriers to access and affordability of fresh produce.