Understanding targeting from the perspective of program providers in the elderly nutrition program

Providers' perspectives on need, strategies, and challenges are critical in targeting of programs. This study was undertaken to understand the meanings and challenges of targeting from the perspectives of program providers in the Elderly Nutrition Program (ENP). Qualitative in-depth interviews were done with a sample of 36 local ENP providers from six counties in upstate New York. Each interview was tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. Qualitative analysis revealed four distinct meanings of targeting including maximum outreach, reaching out to the most needy, serving only the most needy, and evaluating coverage. Regardless of the meaning or type of targeting, local providers reported universal challenges for outreach, need assessment, and resources in implementing targeting. Understanding these different meanings about targeting could contribute to crafting better targeting policies and program procedures to deliver adequate nutrition service to elders in need in the community.