scholarly journals Shining a light on food insecurity in Aotearoa New Zealand: Modification of a food security scale for use with individuals who have extreme food security needs

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 14-30
Author(s):  
Helen Robinson ◽  
Kelsey L. Deane ◽  
Allen Bartley ◽  
Mohamed Alansari ◽  
Caitlin Neuwelt-Kearns
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Assistance ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Quantitative Evidence ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Ethnic Subgroups ◽  
Demographic Subgroups

INTRODUCTION: Food insecurity in Aotearoa New Zealand is a growing concern but quantitative evidence focused on those in most need of support is scarce in the Aotearoa New Zealand context. This limits policy and practice decisions.METHODS: We modified Parnell and Gray’s (2014) Aotearoa New Zealand based food security scale to better capture the severity of food insecurity for individuals living in poverty and used a questionnaire to collect data from a sample of individuals seeking food assistance from foodbanks in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland). We used confirmatory factor analysis to assess the psychometric validity of the modified scale. We also tested group differences in food insecurity by gender and ethnicity using analysis of variance and investigated correlations between age, household size and food insecurity.FINDINGS: We found a six-item version of Parnell and Gray’s (2014) scale to be psychometrically robust for use with the study population. The sample participants reported concerning and chronic levels of food insecurity. We did not find any group differences.CONCLUSIONS: At the severe end of the food insecurity continuum, gender and ethnic subgroups appear to suffer at similar levels; however, this does not suggest that different approaches are not required to best meet the needs of different demographic subgroups. Further research is needed to ascertain how similar levels of food insecurity may produce differential effects on wellbeing outcomes for different groups. We recommend more widespread and regular use of the modified scale to assess the experience and impact of food insecurity for individuals living in poverty because it provides a more fine-grained understanding of the severity of food insecurity challenges experienced by individuals seeking food assistance. Fit for purpose measures enable accurate assessments that can better inform policymaking and practice decisions to reduce inequality and promote economic justice.

Health(y) education: A critical analysis of the role of public health regulation in and on tertiary education in Aotearoa New Zealand

2021 ◽  
pp. 147821032199501
Author(s):  
Susan Shaw ◽  
Keith Tudor
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Educational Design ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Public Health Regulation

This article offers a critical analysis of the role of public health regulation on tertiary education in Aotearoa New Zealand and, specifically, the requirements and processes of Responsible Authorities under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act for the accreditation and monitoring of educational institutions and their curricula (degrees, courses of studies, or programmes). It identifies and discusses a number of issues concerned with the requirements of such accreditation and monitoring, including, administrative requirements and costs, structural requirements, and the implications for educational design. Concerns with the processes of these procedures, namely the lack of educational expertise on the part of the Responsible Authorities, and certain manifested power dynamics are also highlighted. Finally, the article draws conclusions for changing policy and practice.

Shifts in policy and practice in early childhood curriculum priorities in Aotearoa-New Zealand: Entanglements of possibility and risk

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 739-756
Author(s):  
Maggie Haggerty ◽  
Judith Loveridge ◽  
Sophie Alcock
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Early Childhood Curriculum ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Curriculum Policy ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
National Education ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
National Education Policy ◽  
Recent Policy

Recent policy developments in the early childhood (EC) care and education sector in Aotearoa-New Zealand have seen a shift in focus from children and play to learners and learning. While few would argue against learning as priority this article raises pressing questions about the ‘intended’ and ‘(un)intended’ consequences of this turn. We analyse national education policy reforms that have served to promote the construction of child-as-learner-subject, alongside moves internationally toward the learnerfication of EC services (Biesta, 2010). As a particular focus, we examine the legacy EC curriculum policy has drawn on from indigenous Māori discourses, as a complex entanglement of both possibility and risk. We focus also on how, in this policy context, an intermix of ‘old’ and ‘new’ curriculum priorities was playing out in one EC setting and how teachers sought to navigate the complex entanglement this effected in practice. On the basis of our analyses, we argue that the problem is not with learning as priority, but with the (school-referenced) narrowing of curriculum, the prioritising of homogenised predetermined outcomes and the ways in which children (parents and teachers) are being positioned in these particular constructions of learners and learning.

Food Assistance Programs and Food Security

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Gundersen
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Food Assistance ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Food Assistance Programs ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Assistance Programs ◽  
Nutrition Assistance

Food insecurity is a leading public-health challenge in the United States today. This is primarily due to the magnitude of the problem—about 50 million persons are food insecure—and the serious negative health and other outcomes associated with being food insecure. This chapter first defines the measure used to delineate whether a household is food insecure. The measure, the Core Food Security Module (CFSM), is based on 18 questions about a household’s food situation. From the responses, a household is defined as food secure, low food secure, or very low food secure, with the latter two categories defined as “food insecure.” I next discuss the extent of food insecurity in the United States across various dimensions, the key determinants of food insecurity, and the multiple negative consequences associated with food insecurity. Two of the key policy tools used to address food insecurity are the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) and the National School Lunch Program. A brief overview and definition of the eligibility criteria for each program is provided along with a discussion of their respective impacts on food insecurity. This chapter concludes with four major current challenges pertaining to food insecurity and food assistance programs.

scholarly journals Measurement of Fruit and Vegetable Intake Using Skin Carotenoid Measures Among Individuals Receiving Aid from Food Pantries (P04-087-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Valentine ◽  
Rebecca Mount ◽  
Kathryn Wolff ◽  
Lisa Ousley ◽  
Emily Worm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Kansas City ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Food Assistance ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Food Pantries

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to understand food security and fruit/vegetable consumption among individuals receiving aid from food pantries and other food assistance agencies. Methods Across the US, 12.9% of people are affected by food insecurity1 and 5.5% of households report obtaining food from a food pantry2. Similarly, food insecurity affects 12.9% of the population in Kansas and 14.7% in Missouri1. After the Harvest is a nonprofit organization that helps address food insecurity by rescuing fruits and vegetables from going to waste and donating them to agencies that serve hungry people in the Kansas City metropolitan area. As part of a larger evaluation of the After the Harvest program, intercept surveys with individuals receiving aid from food pantries and other food assistance agencies were conducted at selected locations in the Kansas City area. In each survey, a demographic questionnaire and a Dietary Screener Questionnaire were administered. Food insecurity was screened using two items derived from the USDA's Food Security Survey Module. Additionally, skin carotenoids were measured using the Veggie Meter™ as a biomarker of fruit and vegetable intake. Results A total of 57 food agency clients participated in the study. About 67% of the clients indicated that within the past 12 months, they had worried about their food running out before having money to buy more. Additionally, 74% reported that the food they bought didn't last and they didn't have money to buy more. On average, the food agency clients reported eating 1 cup of fruit per day and 1.4 cups of vegetables per day, which fell far below recommendations set by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Similarly, they had a Veggie Meter™ score of 175 ± 77, indicating a very low level of fruit and vegetable intake. Conclusions Food agency clients were food insecure and had very low fruit and vegetable intakes. Efforts to increase the amount of fresh fruit and vegetable donations at food assistance agencies may represent an opportunity to improve the diets among clientele. Funding Sources The Hall Family Foundation.

scholarly journals Factors Associated with Food Insecurity and Food Assistance Program Participation among University Students

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Simon ◽  
Keiko Goto ◽  
Ashley Simon ◽  
Jenny Breed ◽  
Stephanie Bianco
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Food Security ◽  
University Students ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Assistance ◽  
Program Participation ◽  
Food Assistance Programs ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Assistance Programs ◽  
Factors Associated

Background and Significance: Food insecurity is an emerging issue among college students. It impacts the lives of many university students due to financial reasons. There is limited information about factors that affect food insecurity in that population. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine factors associated with food insecurity and food assistance program participation among college students. Methods: Food security status was determined using the short form of the USDA’s Food Security Survey Module. Results: Out of 116 students, 50 students (43.1%) were food insecure. Food insecurity was inversely associated with self-reported cumulative grade point averages. Only 24% of food insecure students participated in food assistance programs. Students who were involved in campus activities were significantly more likely to participate in food assistance programs. University-level policies and programs that help students combat food insecurity need to be considered. Conclusion: The inverse association between food insecurity and academic success indicates the importance of addressing food insecurity issues to foster their academic and professional success among university students. More research on strategies for promoting food assistance programs to college students is warranted. © 2018 Californian Journal of Health Promotion. All rights reserved.

scholarly journals Moving the Frontiers of Convention 1975-2003: An Overview of the Early Childhood Education Landscape

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen May
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Keynote Address ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Political Landscape ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Overview Analysis

There has been an early childhood convention every four years since 1975. In a keynote address to the Eighth Early Childhood Convention held at Palmerston North in September 2003, the author presented an overview analysis of these conventions in the pedagogical and political landscape of early childhood in Aotearoa-New Zealand. The resulting convention papers can be seen as signposts, outlining the pedagogical and political issues of the time. The convention forums have been a useful platform for: celebrating New Zealand early childhood education challenging entrenched opinion critiquing existing policy and practice signalling strategic directions forecasting new frontiers. This paper is an abbreviated and updated version of the keynote address. It summarises the debate and discourse on early childhood matters in Aotearoa-New Zealand from 1975 until 2003 through the medium of the conventions themselves.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity Is Associated with Depression Among a Vulnerable Workforce: Early Care and Education Workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 228-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivory Loh ◽  
Vanessa Oddo ◽  
Jennifer Otten
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
Food Assistance ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
King County ◽  
Early Care ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Primary Model ◽  
Hispanic White

Abstract Objectives The primary objective of this analysis was to explore the association between food insecurity and depression among early care and education (ECE) workers. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data collected from a study exploring the effects of wage on ECE centers and workers in Seattle and South King County, WA, and Austin, TX. We employed a logistic regression model to investigate the relationship between food insecurity (i.e., six-item U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module) and depression (i.e., Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised). Models controlled for age, marital status, birth country, race/ethnicity, number of children in the household, job title, average paid hours of work per week, highest level of education, total household income, and study site. In two separate models, an interaction term was used to assess whether food assistance participation and wage modified the association between food insecurity and depression. Results Our primary model included 313 ECE workers from 49 ECE centers in Seattle (40%), South King County (26%), and Austin (34%). Majority of participants were female, non-Hispanic White, born in the US, and did not have children. In our primary model, low and very low food insecurity, compared to normal food security, was associated with a 2.69 (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.29, 5.63) and 4.95 (95% CI: 2.29, 10.67) higher odds of depression, respectively. The association between food insecurity and depression did not vary by participation in food assistance program(s) or median site wage. Conclusions Results suggest a dose-response relation between food insecurity and depression among a sample of predominantly female, non-Hispanic white, and low-wage ECE workers. Policies and center-level interventions that address both food insecurity and depression warrant consideration in order to improve the health vulnerable workforce, which ultimately is vital to delivering quality childcare. Funding Sources This research study was supported by a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Evidence for Action grant, as well as a Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development research infrastructure grant awarded to the Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology at the University of Washington.

scholarly journals Bicultural Education in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Establishing a Tauiwi Side to the Partnership

1993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Educational Policy ◽  
Analytical Tool ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Primary Relationship

In this paper, the author discusses the development of ideologies about multiethnic educational policy in Aotearoa/New Zealand in terms of four successive stages: assimilation, integration, multiculturalism and biculturalism. He argues that we need to develop a form of biculturalism that fully acknowledges Maori as tangata whenua and which is centred upon a Maori/Tauiwi partnership rather than the present Maori/Pakeha primary relationship. He also suggests we need to articulate clearly what we mean by biculturalism and to understand both the ideologies and philosophies that have been developed during the four stages in order to develop useful policy and practice. The author adopts James Banks’ concept of the multiethnic paradigm as an analytical tool to assist this process.

What counts as an indigenous enterprise? Evidence from Aotearoa New Zealand

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 372-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Paul Mika ◽  
Nicolas Fahey ◽  
Joanne Bensemann
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Theory Of The Firm ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Entrepreneurship Policy ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Definition Of

PurposeThis paper aims to contribute to indigenous entrepreneurship theory by identifying what constitutes an indigenous enterprise, focussing on Aotearoa New Zealand as a case.Design/methodology/approachThis paper combines policy (quantitative survey) and academic research (qualitative interviews) to answer the same question, what is an indigenous enterprise in Aotearoa New Zealand?FindingsThe authors found a degree of consistency as to what counts as an indigenous enterprise in the literature (e.g., identity, ownership, values), yet a consensus on a definition of Maori business remains elusive. They also found that an understanding of the indigenous economy and indigenous entrepreneurial policy are impeded because of definitional uncertainties. The authors propose a definition of Maori business which accounts for indigenous ownership, identity, values and well-being.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation is that the literature and research use different definitions of indigenous enterprise, constraining comparative analysis. The next step is to evaluate our definition as a basis for quantifying the population of indigenous enterprises in Aotearoa New Zealand.Practical implicationsThe research assists indigenous entrepreneurs to identify, measure and account for their contribution to indigenous self-determination and sustainable development.Social implicationsThis research has the potential to reconceptualise indigenous enterprise as a distinct and legitimate alternative institutional theory of the firm.Originality/valueThe research challenges assumptions and knowledge of entrepreneurship policy and practice generally and the understanding of what is the nature and extent of an indigenous firm.

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