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Nutrition and PHysical Activity Branch

A man at a produce market picks up a bunch of flat-leaf parsley. A woman stands next to him and packs produce in a box. ​​

Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Toolkit 

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​The PSE Strategy Guide 

The PSE Strategy Guide is a practical guide to planning and implementing policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change strategies. It features an overview of strategies to improve farmers markets, implement best practices at food pantries, engage in land use planning, and collaborate with parks and recreation departments, among others. 

 
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​​​Chapter 1: The PSE Strategy Guide 

Explains the benefits and challenges of PSE changes and offers advice for getting started. 
Chapter 1. The PSE Strategy Guide (PDF)

A seller at a farmers' market hands a basket of tomatoes to a woman. She has a canvas bag full of leafy greens on her shoulder.

​Chapter 2: Farmer’s Markets  

Provides strategies for improving market accessibility and supporting communities of practice. 
Chapter 2. Farmer’s Markets (PDF)

A woman gives a food box to a seated man.

​Chapter 3: Food Waste Prevention, Recovery, and Redistribution  

Lists strategies for working with food pantries to adopt best practices, helping partners source surplus food, and assisting in the activities or creation of food councils. 
Chapter 3. Food Waste Prevention, Recovery, and Redistribution (PDF)

Five colleagues have a meeting in an open area. A man is talking and gesturing.

​Chapter 4: Supporting Jurisdiction Level Policy  

Explains policy types and how public health programs can learn the landscape and supports jurisdiction level policy. 
Chapter 4. Supporting Jurisdiction Level Policy (PDF)

Children run on a wet trail in a park, and a woman in a safety vest cheers them on. She gives the front-running girl a high five

Chapter 5: Parks and Recreation  

Provides strategies to support parks programming that increase access to healthy activities. 
Chapter 5. Parks and Recreation (PDF)

Two young children ride bikes in a crosswalk. Both are wearing backpacks and helmets.

​Chapter 6: Addressing Common Challenges  

Lists strategies to overcome challenges with implementing PSE changes.​ 
Chapter 6. Addressing Common Challenges (PDF)

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Policy Packet 


The Policy Packet showcases effective policies that promote healthy eating and active living across multiple settings, including early care and education, food systems, parks and recreation, land use, and retail environments. Each section includes recommended model policies. 


Project Tools ​

PSE Action Plan  

A practical tool to organize long-, medium-, and short-term goals, identify actions, and assign roles to support successful project planning. 

Implementation Timeline Template  ​

An Excel tool for building a functional timeline to plan, track, and coordinate key project activities. 

Presentation Template​​

A customizable slide deck designed to help communicate unmet needs, policy or project goals, research results, and recommendations to stakeholders and decision-makers. Instructions for using the file are in the notes section of each slide. 

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