Arlee

This research aims to evaluate a new Produce Prescription Program (PPP) called Food for Health (F4H), designed specifically for rural Native American older adults living on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana. The study addresses challenges such as food insecurity and higher risk of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in this community. The program builds on existing tribal health and food support services, using a community-based participatory research approach to ensure the intervention reflects tribal priorities like food sovereignty and culturally relevant nutrition education. The F4H intervention connects healthcare providers from the tribal health department with a local Food Resource Center, where participants receive vouchers to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods. The study will be conducted in two phases: Phase 1 will pilot test the program's acceptability with 10 older adults and key community informants, while Phase 2 will assess the feasibility and impact with a larger group of 33 older adults, measuring changes in food insecurity and T2D risk factors such as blood sugar and weight. Participants will be involved in receiving the food prescriptions, redeeming vouchers at the Food Resource Center, and engaging in nutrition education grounded in Native culture. Researchers will monitor outcomes before, during, and after the intervention at specified intervals (week 0, week 8, and week 17). They will also study how well the program fits within community settings, the factors supporting its success, and any barriers, with the goal of empowering Native American communities to improve nutrition, reduce health disparities, and strengthen local food systems over the long term.