Using a Systems Approach to Achieve Impact and Sustain Results.

Successful implementation of the Food & Fitness Initiative depended on community partners transforming complex systems to support healthy eating and active living, while addressing health equity. To apply systems thinking in diverse communities and in partnership with stakeholders who had differing levels of education and experience, we assembled a clear conceptual framework, an effective toolkit, and multiple opportunities to build capacity. This article describes the ways that we deployed systems thinking within the initiative, both collectively and at individual sites, and what we learned.

Food & Fitness: Lessons Learned for Funders.

Communities face issues that are complex, affect diverse stakeholders who hold conflicting perspectives, involve historical systems, and have long delays between the time action is taken and results of the actions become obvious. In order to improve outcomes some funders have begun to shift their priorities to support systems change, rather than activities or programs that address discrete short-term needs and problems. In 2007, W.