Loiter East Cleveland will be responsible for implementing a locally rooted produce prescription program titled “Heart, Home & Harvest.” This 14-week program addresses health outcomes and social determinants simultaneously by integrating clinic-based prescribing through The Centers in East Cleveland with community-based education, movement, and produce access to address chronic disease risk factors. This model functions as both a food-as-medicine intervention and a behavior change pilot, with a defined pathway to health system integration.
The program will serve 50 participants and their households (estimated reach: 120–160 individuals). Participants are enrolled through The Centers (East Cleveland clinic) and receive produce prescriptions that are redeemed through twice weekly distributions. A choice-based model allows participants to select their own fruits and vegetables, increasing adherence while enabling detailed tracking of utilization patterns. Wearable devices enhance participant engagement and provide measurable indicators of cardiovascular health improvement.
Program Aims:
- Bring awareness to behaviors that increase risk factors for elevated A1C, blood pressure, weight, and obesity among East Cleveland residents.
- Educate residents about healthy methods to reduce those risks.
- Encourage participation in at least one, but potentially all three modalities.
Program Activities:
- Activity 1: Clinic partners identify and refer eligible patients with risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome/diabetes, elevated blood pressure, and other chronic conditions.
- Activity 2: Enrolled participants receive produce prescriptions redeemable at Loiter East Cleveland and Maroon Square, where they can access fresh, culturally relevant produce sourced from neighborhood gardens and regional growers. Distribution is designed to be convenient and dignified, including drive-through pickup and pull-behind totes for those who walk to and from the produce distribution site.
- Activity 3: Participants attend hands-on cooking sessions using limited-kitchen and budget-friendly approaches (e.g., Vitamix demonstrations, simple meal preparation). They also receive guided corner store and pantry navigation training so they can apply healthy purchasing strategies in real-world food environments.
- Activity 4: Participants and their family members participate together in movement activities that reduce stress, strengthen self-regulation, and build positive associations with healthy routines.
- Activity 5: Staff monitor prescriptions written and redeemed, attendance at education and movement sessions, blood pressure and weight at baseline and follow-up, and self-reported produce use.
Together, these coordinated activities move beyond produce distribution alone to support lasting behavior change, improve food security, and reduce chronic disease risk.