Volume 30, Issue 6: December, 2003

Abstract

*A Framework for Assessing the Effectiveness of Anti-Hunger Advocacy Organizations

Barbara A. Laraia, PhD, MPH, RD, Janice Dodds, EdD, RD, and Eugenia Eng, DrPH

Food insufficiency is a major public health problem that has been linked to poor nutritional intake, poor diabetes management, poor cognitive development in children, and other adverse health outcomes. Since the 1960s, antihunger advocacy organizations (AHAOs) have fought to alleviate hunger at the local, state, and federal levels. Few studies have investigated the organizational structure, programs, advocacy activities, and outcomes of these organizations, although many organizations have been instrumental in advocating for state and federal food policy, creating measurements for hunger, and conducting research. Four state-level AHAOs were studied by using multiple case study methodology and grounded theory for analysis to assess organizational effectiveness. The findings highlight a conceptual framework that identified 19 important organizational characteristics that reflect organizational capacity, performance, achievement, and effectiveness. The conceptual framework may be useful in assessing effectiveness of public health organizations and coalitions.