Center for Nutrition & Health Impact

01/28/2026

We’re a Technology Solutions Manager to join our team!

This role will support CNHI’s evaluation and research efforts by leading the design and management of secure digital platforms, data dashboards, and technology systems that enable partners and grantees to collect, analyze, and use data to strengthen food access programs nationwide.

Click the link to learn more and apply!
https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=cd6c50b9-502d-48d6-a5f5-f92a0723ff1f&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=570092&lang=en_US&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_pox3d4ff6u

01/26/2026

Protein is one of the most requested food types at food pantries. Yet, providing these options remains a challenge for food banks and pantries across the U.S.

HATCH for Hunger is working to close that gap by sourcing affordable, nutritious proteins like fresh chicken and eggs for food banks and pantries so that families can access the protein they want and need.

In a new partnership, CNHI will collaborate with HATCH to evaluate how this work supports food banks and improves access to high-quality protein for families experiencing food insecurity. Read the full feature below, also available in our 2025 End-of-Year publication. Be sure to stay tuned for more!

Families who visit food pantries consistently report a desire for fresh and healthy proteins. Due to the high cost of these foods, food banks and pantries face ongoing challenges in meeting families’ needs with existing procurement strategies.

01/23/2026

📣 REMINDER! See a survey opportunity below that will help researchers understand how food security is being measured across the U.S.

An interdisciplinary team of public health and nutrition researchers affiliated with the Healthy Eating Research (HER) Strategic Research Collaborative is working to understand how food security is being measured at the state and local levels across the country. We are hoping to learn about any existing data collection or survey efforts in your state.

If you know of any statewide initiatives—past or present—please take a moment to complete this short survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdfIzBYsUWOFF8l5o-1sMk-IkWEZE1BYsrdLYA8-YcmNRoZ_A/viewform?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_wh2ayc68cn

We encourage you to share this message with colleagues and collaborators! Your input will help build a clearer picture of how food security is measured nationwide and where important gaps remain.

Please direct any comments and questions to Dr. Kaitlyn Harper (kharpe14@jhu.edu).

01/21/2026

Most Americans do not meet physical activity guidelines. In a new publication, scientists introduced Physical Activity Research Opportunities (PARO), a conceptual framework to advance physical activity research in a cohesive and efficient manner.

The PARO framework synthesizes and organizes research opportunities to help strategically advance physical activity research. Drawing from national reports and expert input, the framework highlights gaps in current evidence and identifies opportunities across translational research phases and social ecological levels.

Read the full study here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12659305/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_8g3jggp4q1

Authors include: E. Balis, Daniel P. Hatfield, Meher Din, Sueny Paloma Lima-dos-Santos, Stott, Amanda Sharfman, and David R. Brown.

01/16/2026

Today, we’re highlighting a publication from November that builds on a decade of research.

This new publication revisits the original 2015 Call to Action to assess progress over the past decade and identify priorities for advancing active living research and practice in rural communities, which face higher rates of physical inactivity and related chronic conditions. Drawing on expertise from researchers and practitioners across the country, the review summarizes advances within the original recommendations and highlights emerging areas, including implementation science, collaboration, and rural-specific surveillance data.

Read the full article in the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice: https://journals.lww.com/jphmp/fulltext/9900/rural_active_living__a_call_to_action_2_0,_10_year.614.aspx?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_mrjbzjeqsc

Authors include: Umstattd Meyer MR, Wende ME, Stroope J, Kellstedt DK, Johnson, AM, Gamble A, Edwards MB, Beck AM, Moore JB, Abshire DA, Anderson RE, Aytur SA; Balis L, Davis K, Gabbert KD, Gustat J, John D, Maruca DL, King KA, Needham-Arnold BD, Orzech KM, Pickett AC, Rhoades RR, Riveron N, Slater SJ, Smock CR, Villwock-Witte NM, Wilson K, Baskin ML, Perry CK, Abildso CG.

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Umstattd Meyer MR, Wende ME, Stroope J, Kellstedt DK, Johnson, AM, Gamble A, Edwards MB, Beck AM, Moore JB, Abshire DA, Anderson RE; Aytur SA, Balis LE, Davis K, Gabbert KD, Gustat J, John D, Maruca DL, King KA, Needham-Arnold BD, Orzech KM, Pickett AC, Rhoades RR, Riveron N, Slater SJ, Smock CR, Villwock-Witte NM, Wilson K, Baskin ML, Perry CK, Abildso CG. Rural Active Living: A Call to Action 2.0, 10-Year Review and Recommendations to Advance the Field. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice. 26 November 2025. DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000002281

01/14/2026

Back in December, Senior Research Scientist Dr. Laura Balis attended the 18th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health. She presented a poster titled “Rapid deductive qualitative analysis in implementation science: a practical training protocol.”

Authors of this work include Dr. Laura Balis, Senior Research Associate Emily Shaw, and Senior Project Manager Shelly Palmer. Did you attend? Drop us a comment!

01/13/2026

Join us for an upcoming webinar! Tuesday, Jan 27 (3–4 PM ET)

National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research will be hosting a new Connect & Explore webinar: “Advancing Physical Activity Research and Practice with the PARO Framework.”

CNHI Senior Research Scientist Dr. Laura Balis, joined by Health Scientist Bramaramba Kowtha, will share how the PARO framework was developed, key findings, and how researchers and practitioners can apply it in real-world settings.

Register now to attend live—or sign up to receive the recording after.
https://fhi360-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3tyoSSjvQui_qogtwzDSSQ?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_jcwkynbooz #/registration

01/12/2026

We just released our 2025 Year in Review and we've got so much to share with you!

We kicked off this year's review with a letter from our CEO, Dr. Amy Yaroch, who shared strategic insights into the challenges and opportunities that guided the Center's movement through 2025. We also highlighted a few key projects from both new and existing partnerships that we are excited to harness in the new year.

Click the link below to dive in!
https://www.centerfornutrition.org/newsroom/2026/1/9/2025-year-end-review?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_ppumz0zgs6

12/22/2025

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Center for Nutrition & Health Impact!

We wish you a great holiday season and extend a deep gratitude to the funders, partners, and grantees that make our work and impact possible.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

12/19/2025

How is food security being measured in your state?

This is the question an interdisciplinary team of public health and nutrition researchers affiliated with the Healthy Eating Research (HER) Strategic Research Collaborative is working to answer: how food security is being measured at the state and local levels across the country, and what data collection or survey efforts currently exist in each state?

If you know of any statewide food security measurement initiatives—recent or present—please take a moment to complete this short survey: https://forms.gle/WCbLBJKdNuXunLys8

We encourage you to share this message with colleagues and collaborators! Your input will help build a clearer picture of how food security is measured nationwide and where important gaps remain.

Please direct any comments and questions to Dr. Kaitlyn Harper (kharpe14@jhu.edu).

12/18/2025

As 2025 nears an end, we are celebrating our great partners and programs that help bring greater access to nutrition and healthy living to the public. The Nutrition Incentive Hub Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program is doing just that by offering grantees technical assistance, evaluation support, and resources so that GusNIP programs make the most impact in communities on the ground level.

This month, The GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Program Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Information Center (NTAE) released the collaborative GusNIP Year 5 Impact Findings Report. The results are incredible!

🥕 $54.4M in fruit and vegetable incentives redeemed
💰 $112M in local economic impact
📈 5,292 food retail and clinic sites nationwide—7X growth since Year 1

GusNIP’s nutrition incentive (NI) and produce prescription (PPR) projects are making a real difference—helping families increase their fruit and vegetable intake, improving food security, and supporting local economies.

For PPR participants, pilot findings point to major healthcare savings due to significant improvement in managing blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Check out the Year 5 Impact Findings! https://www.nutritionincentivehub.org/gusnip-ntae-impact-findings?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_fot9slvref

This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture .

12/11/2025

Last month, CNHI attended the American Evaluation Association (AEA)'s Evaluation25 Conference in Kansas City, MO!

Check out a picture from CNHI Senior Research and Compliance Manager Beth Kerling with Phil from VIRB, our new independent review board (IRB) partner! VIRB will help us ensure our research is always conducted ethically and in compliance with regulation, including protocol review and participant protection.

We were happy to attend and see many friendly faces at the conference. If you attended, what was your favorite talk? Feel free to share with us!