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workgroup will bring together the Orange County Health Department (Ashley Mercer is a <br /> OCFC member and on staff with the health department) , the Family Success Alliance , and <br /> UNC ' s Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention ( Dr. De Marco is a OCFC member <br /> and leads the Healthy Food for All study that is piloting healthy retail programs in rural Orange <br /> County) along with interested residents and corner store owners or staff. We will develop an <br /> application ( see Appendix for the application from the state program , which we will model our ' s <br /> on ) , conduct outreach with corner stores to identify two stores willing to participate in each <br /> zone ( using the map being further developed in Goal 2 and information FSA staff gather on <br /> which stores residents frequent most often ) , assist store owners to determine needed <br /> equipment and provide technical assistance for them to accept SNAP and WIC if they do not <br /> already. We will develop and test messages to encourage healthy eating working directly with <br /> the populations who frequent the stores . The Center for Health Promotion & Disease <br /> Prevention will provide evaluation support for the success of the program . <br /> * See new goal area number 3 below* <br /> Food Council ' s goals in partnership with the Orange County Board of Health and the BOH <br /> 2016 - 2018 strategic plan include but may not be fully limited to : <br /> 1 ) Work with the Board of Health Strategic Plan Manager to research successful models and <br /> policies that address food access issues through healthy corner store programs and improve <br /> healthy food access in " food deserts " using the USDA definition . The Food Council will also <br /> help draft policies with the BOH Strategic Plan Manager and the BOH Physical Activity and <br /> Nutrition Sub - Committee if a policy proposal is considered a necessary next step . <br /> This goal area will include but not be limited to : <br /> • Research policy alternatives that seek change in food policies that provide <br /> incentives and help subsidize purchasing healthy, fresh foods . Focus on policies <br /> that are not proscriptive but empowering . <br /> • Increase potential to coordinate across sectors and with more regional food <br /> groups and organizations . <br /> • Help educate Orange County residents and community members about existing <br /> services that increase healthy food access and the barriers that limit healthy <br /> food access . <br /> 2 ) Designated OCFC members will give a presentation on the state of food access and food <br /> security in Orange County to the Board of Health on either October 25 or November 29 , <br /> 3 ) Research successful " soda tax " and healthy eating incentive programs and policies with the <br /> Board of Health Strategic Plan Manager and , if deemed appropriate , help draft a policy <br /> proposal . <br /> The Food Council will be using this Race Equity and Social Justice Toolkit for areas 1 and 3 . <br /> Goal 4 . Collaborate with other food councils in the state <br /> The council coordinator will schedule meetings with at least two other North Carolina Food Councils to <br /> share success and challenges of operating as conveners to strengthen local food systems . Over the past <br /> five years , numerous food councils have formed across the state . There are now over 30 active food <br /> councils in North Carolina . They do not all look the same in how they are structured , but they all share <br />