RURAL FOOD INSECURITY IN VIRGINIA Webinar June 13 and 18, 2013 Esther Thatcher, PhD(c), MSN, RN University of Virginia School of Nursing

Transcription

1 RURAL FOOD INSECURITY IN VIRGINIA Webinar June 13 and 18, 2013 Esther Thatcher, PhD(c), MSN, RN University of Virginia School of Nursing

2 Learning Objectives Describe food security terms and how to assess household food security Describe national and Virginia food security data Describe steps to conducting a community food security assessment List possible food security interventions that may be appropriate in rural Virginia

3 Definitions: What is Food Security? That all members of a household, at all times, have enough food for an active, healthy life. At a minimum: The ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods Assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways (that is, without resorting to emergency food supplies, scavenging, stealing, or other coping strategies)

4 Definitions Food Secure (High or Marginal): all household members have access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. (85% of US Population) Low Food Security: Household reduced food quality, variety, and desirability, but little change in food intake and eating patterns. (9%) Very Low Food Security: One or more household members reduced food intake or disrupted eating patterns at times during year, due to lack of resources. (6%)

5 18-Question Household Food Security Survey Website:

6 Two-Item Short Screening Respondents answer Often true, Sometimes true, or Never true : 1. Within the past 12 months we worried whether our food would run out before we got money to buy more 2. Within the past 12 months the food we bought just didn t last and we didn t have money to get more. 97% Sensitive (correctly identified positive cases) 83% Specific (correctly identified negative cases) Hager et al. (2010)

7 Data Resources for Individual and Household Food Security Measures Food Security Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual National and state level Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) Core questionnaire includes 1 question on food security VA: Health District level Feeding America County level estimates based on demographics

8 Groups at Risk of Food Insecurity Households with children (21%), especially children under 6 years old (22%) Single parent households with children: women (37%) and men (25%) Black households (25%) Hispanic households (26%) Adults living alone (16%) Children in abusive homes or foster care Non-metro (15%) and large cities (18%) South (16%) Income < 185% FPL (35%) Income < 100% FPL (41%) Disabled adults Chronically ill taking multiple medications Socially isolated individuals or families

9 Food Insecurity among Children 10% of all households with children had low food security for one or more child. Very low food security in children most prevalent in low-income, minority or single-parent households Single woman (1.8%) Black non-hispanic (1.9%) Hispanic (1.9%) < 185% FPL (2.2%)

10 Virginia Data on Food Insecurity Lower than national average: 12.7% total (Feeding America) = 1,026,730 persons Low food security: 9.1% (± 1.19) (USDA) Very low food security 3.2% (± 0.56) (USDA) Income ranges: (Feeding America) 35% below 130% FPL 15% between % FPL 50% above 185% FPL USDA report: Coleman-Jenson et al., 2011

11 Rural Counties (Isserman method)

12 Weldon-Cooper Center

13 Weldon-Cooper Center

14 2010 Poverty Rates in Virginia Poverty Level Number Percent Deep Poverty (0-49% FPL) 399, % In Poverty (0-99%) 839, % In or Near Poverty (0-149%) 1,335, % Cable & Tippett (2012a), p. 3

15 Income Disparities in Virginia Weldon-Cooper Center

16 Income Disparities in Virginia Weldon-Cooper Center

17 Income Disparities in Virginia Weldon-Cooper Center

18 Weldon-Cooper Center

19 Rural Differences Demographics and income Aging Lower education Jobs more likely to be low-wage and no health benefits Jobs with sporadic activity periods of job loss or lower pay Inconsistent eligibility for Medicaid, SNAP, etc. Fewer child care options to enable employment Higher rates of SNAP participation Social norms Less exposure to diverse ideas Strong social ties: extended family, communities, churches Gardening, raising livestock, hunting

20 Rural Differences (continued) Fewer formal social safety net programs; more reliance on informal networks Retail structure More small grocery stores may have limited selection and higher prices Distance from large supermarkets, supercenters Travel barriers to participate in senior centers, summer feeding programs, etc. Lack of public transportation Commuting and time constraints

21 COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT Cohen, B., Andrews, M., & Scott, L. (2002). Community food security assessment toolkit. Report for U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from

22 Community Food Security Assessments Help to: Understand local food systems Inform goals to improve local food systems Inform decision-making about policies and actions to improve community food security Establish a long-term monitoring system with a clear set of indicators, that can be compared across communities. Cohen et al., 2002

23 Community Food Security Assessments Can help guide decision-making, such as: Whether there is a need for local schools to increase or change nutrition programs such as School Breakfast or Backpack programs Whether the hours and sites of food assistance programs (i.e. SNAP, WIC, food banks) are adequate for the clients Whether and where to zone and allocate space for community gardens Developing local policies to encourage local food production Cohen et al., 2002

24 Components of a Community Food Security Assessment Profile of community socioeconomic and demographic characteristics Profile of community food resources Assessment of household food security Assessment of food resource accessibility Assessment of food availability and affordability Assessment of community food production Cohen et al., 2002

25 Build a Team to Get This Done! Regional planning commissions Local departments of health Local extension offices Social services offices Land grant and other universities Faith-based organizations Local hospital systems Citizens Farmers markets Partnerships for a healthier (fill in the blank) Farmers/producers Schools Non-profits Feeding America Virginia Food Summit Report, 2011

26 Profile of community socioeconomic and demographic characteristics Age Sex Race / ethnicity Household composition Poverty Income Labor force participation Occupation Car ownership U.S. Census County Health Rankings Virginia Department of Health USDA Economic Research Service Which level? County, census tract, zip, census block group? Cohen et al., 2002

27 Profile of community food resources Federal food assistance programs SNAP WIC School Lunch and Breakfast Federal food assistance program participation Retail resources for food Emergency food resources Local food production Cohen et al., 2002

28 Assessment of household food security Individuals: Bickel et al. (2000). USDA guide to measuring household food security Representative sample of community Focus groups: Community members with selected criteria Key informants Clergy Political / community officials Food assistance providers Nutritionists Social services / case workers Advocates Low-income household members Cohen et al., 2002

29 Assessment of food availability and affordability Key Questions: Is a variety of food available in retail stores? Are the available foods affordable to low income households? Is the price and availability of healthy food different than less healthy food? A commonly used survey instrument to compare food stores is the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey Stores (NEMS) ( Cohen et al., 2002

30 Assessment of community food production Local farms, dairies, fisheries Community gardens School gardens Community supported agriculture Local food distribution facility Meat processing facility Cohen et al., 2002 Local food purchasing by schools, hospitals, prisons, and other institutions Sales of local food through stores or farm stands Zoning and regulations to allow food production Affordability of local food by low-income residents

31 Presenting the Results Compile into reports and presentations Graphs Maps (i.e. Obtain feedback from diverse stakeholders Identify priority areas of need Plan, implement, and evaluate interventions Cohen et al., 2002

32 Assessment process in review 1. Form a team to conduct local community food security assessments 2. Compile existing data 3. Gather data in the community through observations and interviews 4. Use results to build community consensus towards priority responses 5. Write grants, implement programs 6. Evaluate results

33 INTERVENTIONS Ideas from rural and urban areas

34 Possible goals of food security programs Develop just, sustainable, and diverse food systems Meet the food needs of everyone, including people with low incomes Promote good nutrition and health Revitalize local communities and build self-reliance and collaboration Foster community economic development and strengthen local and regional food systems Link farmers and consumers, and support sustainable and family-scale farming Promote good working conditions and sustainable livelihoods for farmers and food system workers Change policies and institutions to support community food security goals Honor and celebrate diverse cultures and traditions Enhance the dignity and joy of growing, preparing, and eating food Build capacity for people to create change through education and empowerment Community Food Security Coalition

35 Increase agency capacity SNAP WIC Social Services Heating / Cooling assistance Job training and support Accessibility of services Hours, sites Education services Collaboration with food security organizations

36 Enhance Personal / Household Assets Vehicle Chest freezer Working appliances Safe and adequate housing for size of household Home garden Hunting equipment

37 Emergency Food Services 1,360 emergency food distribution sites in Virginia (Feeding America) Feeding America distributes low cost foods and other products Food banks operated by many different agencies Clients may also serve as volunteers

38 Mobile Food Pantries Mobile food distribution system: dry or refrigerated storage Expands service area Focused outreach to unserved / underserved areas and populations Flexible fast delivery method, minimizes embarrassment

39 Farmers Markets Stationary or Mobile Builds community around healthy food Combine with other healthy activities EBT cards Kids gift tokens

40 Household food production Teach gardening skills Provide gardening space Provide gardening equipment Teach cooking, canning, preserving Co-op Extension Master Gardeners K-12 Schools Colleges Farmers Parks and Rec Department Town Maintenance Department

41 Youth Programs Federally funded School Lunch and Breakfast programs Summer nutrition programs Backpack programs for weekends and school breaks Day care food programs Community building activities to help youth build social connections Health education Nutrition and food choices Gardening / growing food Cooking, canning Job / apprenticeship programs Youth leadership

42 Senior Programs Senior centers Meals on Wheels Adult Care Food Program Increase social connections Parish nursing / health model

43 Teach Food Skills Nutrition Reading labels Menu planning Shopping Growing food Cooking Preserving and storing food VA Cooperative Extension Community kitchens Community gardens School systems SNAP / WIC

44 Build Social Capital and Community Resiliency Develop new youth programs Attractive community spaces Community centers Faith-based outreach Community-based volunteer organizations Master Food Volunteers Local economic development

45 Food Policy Councils Group of stakeholders who advise policymakers on issues related to agriculture, food distribution, hunger, and nutrition. Collaborative decision making process Diverse membership Integrates food into other local issues Addresses needs of low-income and marginalized communities Statewide: Virginia Food System Council

46 Cook Talk Eat ( Healthy meal Socializing Community organizing

47 Retail Food Stores Opening more supermarkets might NOT be effective Work with small and large food stores to improve ratio of healthy vs. unhealthy foods in availability and price Advocate for WIC certification at small stores

48 Take-Away Messages Rural communities have some unique resources and obstacles to food security. You can assess food security at an individual, household, and community level. Food security assessments are important to guide strategies and programs There are many food security interventions that may be feasible in rural Virginia You are not alone! Build a diverse team!

49 Questions? Thank you for your participation! me questions, or for links / PDF s of any of the resources! Esther Thatcher ejm4p@virginia.edu

50 Resources for Additional Information Bickel, G., Nord, M., Price, C., Hamilton, W., & Cook, J. (2000). Guide to measuring household food security. Report to U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from Cable, D. A., & Tippett, R. M. (2012a). Poverty and the social safety net part I: Who are Virginia s poor? Report for Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. Cable, D. A., & Tippett, R. M. (2012b). Poverty and the social safety net part II: The role of the social safety net in Virginia. Report for Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. Cohen, B., Andrews, M., & Scott, L. (2002). Community food security assessment toolkit. Report for U.S. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from Coleman-Jensen, A., Nord, M., Andrews, M., & Carlson, S. (2012). Household food security in the United States in Report of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Community Food Security Coalition. (nd). Community food security programs: What do they look like? Retrieved from

51 Resources for Additional Information Feeding America. (2013). Map the meal gap 2013: Virginia food insecurity by county in Retrieved from Hager, E. R., Quigg, A. M., Black, M. M., Coleman, S. M., Heeren, T., Cook, J. T. Frank, D. A. (2010). Development and validity of a 2-item screen to identify families at risk for food insecurity. Pediatrics, 126, e26. Isserman, A. M. (2005). In the national interest: Defining rural and urban correctly in research and public policy. International Regional Science Review, 28(4), Seligman, H. K., Laraia, B. A., & Kushel, M. B. (2010). Food insecurity is associated with chronic disease among lowincome NHANES participants. Journal of Nutrition, 140, Swanson, J. A., Olson, C. M., Miller, E. O., & Lawrence, F. C. (2008). Rural mothers use of formal programs and informal social supports to meet family food needs: A mixed methods study. Journal of Family Economic Issues, 29, USDA Economic Research Service (2013). Food security in the U.S. (webpage). Virginia Food Summit. (2011). Food summit report. Retrieved from