Food insecurity is a public health issue our nation faces. Decline in food quality and production, coupled with increased costs related to the production and food distribution systems continue to contribute to the food insecurity crisis (CDC, n.d.). Food security challenges requires public health professionals to intervene to help reduce the associated health-related risks (CDC, n.d.). This public health issue can present multiple adverse health outcomes for individuals experiencing food insecurity, including serious health issues from malnutrition, lack of access to healthcare and medicine, poor academic outcomes and growth for children and adolescents, and having to make difficult decisions like choosing between food and housing, transportation and other lifestyle behaviors (Feeding America, 2023). According to Feeding America, 34 million Americans are food insecure (Feeding America, 2023).
Considering that food insecurities often challenge vulnerable populations that are of ethnic backgrounds or low-income communities, the target population of my intervention would focus on children and seniors of Florida. In Florida, 2,314,370 people are facing hunger (Feeding America, 2023). This means 1 out of 9 people are experiencing food insecurity (Feeding America, 2023). 8.5% of the elderly population in Florida face food insecurity (Feeding America, 2023). Furthermore, Feeding America reports that 14.3% of the children in Florida face hunger, which is 613,180 children, or 1 in every 7 children (Feeding American, 2023). According to a recent article, there are gaps within food assistance programs in Florida, and families of color are more likely to need food assistance (Curran & Armenia, 2021). According the Feeding America, food insecurity is statistically greater among African American (19%) and Latino (10%) families in Florida (Feeding America, 2023). Additionally, Native American and women face higher rates of food insecurity (Feeding America, 2023).
The intervention will be named "Mending the Meal Gap," and will focus on each level of CDC’s socioecological model (CDC, n.d.). On the individual level, the intervention workshops will be tailored to help educate low-income families and people of different ages, genders, races/ethnicities, education levels and marital status. Additionally, the intervention can help individuals dealing with unhealthy BMI and those that are homeless. The intervention will help all individuals of all backgrounds experiencing food insecurity by providing access to food through food banks and pantries/kitchens, grocery distribution, sharing knowledge and education of nutrition, promoting healthy behaviors, and providing resources for help.
At the relationship level, friends, partners and family members that experience food insecurity or help influence health behaviors related to food, will be included and encouraged to build connections and participate in the community interventions. Peer support groups and family-based therapy/nutrition counseling can offer a way to build connections with close social ties.
At the community level, the intervention will be shared with schools, workplaces, churches, health clinics/departments and local recreational centers. Partnerships will be made with these organizations, as well as with local grocery stores and other food suppliers. Community gardens and farmer’s markets will help provide access to healthy and fresh foods to local neighborhoods.
At the societal level, this intervention will aim to positively influence factors that affect food insecurities, such as cultural and social norms, as well as increasing access to resources and improving built environments of populations facing food insecurities. Cultural and social norms can be changed by shifting the mentality to reduce food waste. According to Feeding Tampa Bay, food waste contributes to food insecurity and by reducing food waste, we are able to save money, help the environment and move closer to creating a hunger-free community (Feeding Tampa Bay, 2023). Additionally, this intervention will help advocate for economic and national policy changes that will help lessen the inequalities and food insecurities experienced by this target population (CDC & ATSDR, n.d.).
Marketing materials will include a radio PSA and an infographic, and participants will be recruited through the distribution of these materials throughout the community.
References
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) & Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). (n.d.). Chapter 1: Models and Frameworks | Principles of Community Engagement | ATSDR. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/comm...ment/pce_models.html
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). Food Security | CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/climateand...ts/food_security.htm
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). The Social-Ecological Model: A Framework for Prevention |Violence Prevention|Injury Center|CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/violencepr...ecologicalmodel.html
Curran, E., & Armenia, A. (2021). Food Assistance Deserts in Central Florida: Identifying Service Gaps Using Spatial Analysis. Journal of Applied Social Science, 15(1), 95–106. https://doi.org/10.1177/1936724420984401
Feeding America. (2023). Child (<18 years) Hunger & Poverty in Feeding Tampa Bay | Map the Meal Gap. https://map.feedingamerica.org...on/feeding-tampa-bay
Feeding America. (2023). Hunger in America | Feeding America. https://www.feedingamerica.org...wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Feeding America. (2023). Overall (all ages) Hunger & Poverty in Florida | Map the Meal Gap. https://map.feedingamerica.org...2021/overall/florida
Feeding America. (2023). What is Food Insecurity? | Feeding America. https://www.feedingamerica.org...rica/food-insecurity
Feeding Florida. (n.d.). Hunger & Food Access. https://www.feedingflorida.org...nger-food-insecurity
Feeding Tampa Bay. (2023, April 14). How to Reduce Food Waste in Your Life. https://feedingtampabay.org/st..._VvP7bgaAuVMEALw_wcB
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