A Participatory Study of the Health and Social Impact of a Community Food Centre in Ottawa, Canada

Food insecurity is a pervasive and persistent issue across Canada, where a growing number of people are accessing food banks. Conventional food banks may offer relief for immediate needs but typically have limited capacity to address longer-term food insecurity. This paper focuses on the Parkdale Food Centre in Ottawa, ON, which provides food assistance alongside a range of programs and initiatives designed to address food insecurity and related needs in its community. This qualitative study aims to examine how participation in the programs at the Parkdale Food Centre influences the physical, mental, and social health of people who access the food centre. Semi-structured interviews and a participatory photovoice project were conducted with people who access the food centre. The results indicate that people who access the food centre perceived a positive influence of the programs on their food, health, and social needs, particularly with respect to improved access to fresh foods, connections to social and health resources, and reduced stigma. Incorporating additional food, health, and social programming into an existing food assistance program may help ameliorate elements of food insecurity and associated negative outcomes within communities impacted by this issue.

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Toxic Stress in a Mid-Sized Urban Community: An Initial Needs Assessment of Families with Children in Maywood, IL

Journal of Primary Care & Community Health ◽

10.1177/21501327211030136 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 215013272110301

Author(s):

Erin McCune ◽

Jennifer Wojtowicz ◽

William Adams ◽

Garry Sigman ◽

Collette Williams ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Needs Assessment ◽

Medical Center ◽

Health Resources ◽

Community Organizations ◽

Social Needs ◽

Toxic Stress ◽

Adverse Health Outcomes ◽

Point Increase ◽

Survey Responses

Background Loyola Medical Center is located in Maywood, IL, a community that faces high rates of poverty, violence, and barriers to healthcare. These factors can contribute to toxic stress, which has been shown to negatively impact children’s health. Objectives The goal of this project was to partner with community organizations to obtain a baseline needs assessment from families in Maywood regarding sources of toxic stress and to identify interventions of interest. Methods In total, 75 anonymous surveys were collected from the Loyola Outpatient Center Pediatric Clinic and a Maywood community center. Survey responses were statistically analyzed in order to determine toxic stressors most commonly impacting families in Maywood as well as interventions of most interest to the community. Results There were 78 respondents for a response rate of approximately 71%. The most common stressors were smoking in the home (33.3%), food insecurity (29.5%), and exposure to violence (26.9%). In this sample, Black respondents were 11.5 times more likely than non-Black respondents to report that their child was exposed to violence in the community – even after controlling for concern about their child’s behavior which served as a surrogate measure of the child’s exposure to toxic stress (P = 0.001). Further, those living with food insecurity were 7.40 times more likely to report that access to food and transportation vouchers were important ( P < .001). For every 1-point increase in the total toxic stress score, respondents were 1.35 times more likely to report that increasing access to mental health resources was important to them, though this was not significant ( P = .10). Conclusion The data demonstrate that toxic stressors, health risks and unmet social needs are prevalent in the Maywood community, which puts local children at risk for future adverse health outcomes. With this information, pediatricians at Loyola Medical Center can work with community organizations to allocate resources to address toxic stressors in Maywood.

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Linking SNAP to Food Security: Exploring Reinstating a Purchase Requirement and Tying Benefits to the Low-Cost Food Plan

The Economists Voice ◽

10.1515/ev-2017-0007 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Beth Osborne Daponte

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Low Cost ◽

The United States ◽

Food Assistance ◽

Food Banks ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Food Pantries ◽

Structural Risk ◽

Emergency Food Assistance ◽

Nutrition Assistance

AbstractThe United States has a food assistance structure that, by design, does not assure that households receiving food assistance will be food secure, is deeply inefficient, and is at financial and structural risk. The two most common forms of food assistance used today are Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program) and charitable food assistance in the form of groceries (provided through a network of food banks, food pantries, and other related programs). Approximately 43 million persons participate in SNAP and nearly one-third of them also rely on a food pantry for groceries. The use of charitable food assistance by persons relying on SNAP demonstrates that SNAP’s benefit level and structure does not sufficiently result in food security. The article argues that reinstating a purchase requirement for SNAP and increasing the level of benefits provided to SNAP participants would increase the food security of participants, alleviate the chronic demand for food from food banks and food pantries, and ultimately allow the charitable food assistance network to better accomplish its goal of providing emergency food assistance to the needy.

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Food banks, welfare, and food insecurity in Canada

British Food Journal ◽

10.1108/bfj-02-2014-0077 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 116 (9) ◽

pp. 1405-1417 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

Valerie Tarasuk ◽

Naomi Dachner ◽

Rachel Loopstra

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Low Income ◽

Social Assistance ◽

Food Assistance ◽

Food Banks ◽

Food Bank ◽

Content Type ◽

Assistance Programs ◽

Recent Emergence ◽

The Impact

Purpose – Similar to the recent emergence of food banks in other affluent nations, the genesis and ultimate entrenchment of food banks in Canada has been tightly intertwined with the dismantling of the welfare state. Through an examination of Canadian data, the authors elucidate the implications of entrenching voluntary, extra-governmental, charitable food assistance programs as an adjunct to publicly funded social assistance programs. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Publicly available food bank reports, population health survey data, and the results of a study of low-income families in Toronto are reviewed to examine the food security status of social assistance recipients and their use of food banks. Findings – In 2012, 70 percent of households in Canada who were reliant on social assistance were food insecure. Social assistance recipients comprise at least half of food bank clientele and have done so for as long as this information has been tracked, but the assistance provided by food banks appears insufficient to alter households’ food insecurity. Although food banks currently distribute over 200 million pounds of food annually, the scale of their operations pales in comparison to the food needs of those who seek their help. Originality/value – In the 30 years since food banks began in Canada, there has been considerable research into this response, as well as extensive population monitoring of food insecurity. Canada provides an informative case study of an affluent country's long-term dependency on charitable food assistance and the impact this has on the food insecurity of those reliant on social assistance programs.

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Food Assistance Programs and Food Security

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199838509.013.012 ◽

2014 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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.

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

Californian Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.32398/cjhp.v16i1.2126 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 73-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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.

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Prevalence of Food Insecurity and Utilization of Food Assistance Program: An Exploratory Survey of a Vermont Middle School

Journal of School Health ◽

10.1111/j.1746-1561.2010.00552.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 81 (1) ◽

pp. 15-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Shamima Khan ◽

Richard G. Pinckney ◽

Dorigen Keeney ◽

Barbara Frankowski ◽

Jan K. Carney

Keyword(s):

Middle School ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Food Assistance ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Exploratory Survey ◽

Food Assistance Program

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Examining Rural Food-Insecure Families’ Perceptions of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: A Qualitative Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17176390 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (17) ◽

pp. 6390

Author(s):

Lindsey Haynes-Maslow ◽

Annie Hardison-Moody ◽

Megan Patton-Lopez ◽

T. Elaine Prewitt ◽

Carmen Byker Shanks ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Nutrition Education ◽

Customer Service ◽

The United States ◽

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Funding Formulas ◽

Nutrition Assistance

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a critical program that helps reduce the risk of food insecurity, yet little is known about how SNAP addresses the needs of rural, food-insecure residents in the United States (U.S.). This study examines how rural, food-insecure residents perceive SNAP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 153 individuals living in six diverse rural regions of Arkansas, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and West Virginia. SNAP was described as a crucial stop-gap program, keeping families from experiencing persistent food insecurity, making food dollars stretch when the family budget is tight, and helping them purchase healthier foods. For many rural residents interviewed, SNAP was viewed in a largely positive light. In efforts to continue improving SNAP, particularly in light of its relevance during and post-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, policymakers must be aware of rural families’ perceptions of SNAP. Specific improvements may include increased transparency regarding funding formulas, budgeting and nutrition education for recipients, effective training to improve customer service, connections among social service agencies within a community, and increased availability of automation to streamline application processes.

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

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa043_079 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 228-228 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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.

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Food Access Worries, Food Assistance Use, Purchasing Behavior, and Food Insecurity Among New Yorkers During COVID-19

Frontiers in Nutrition ◽

10.3389/fnut.2021.647365 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Lauren A. Clay ◽

Stephanie Rogus

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Food Access ◽

New York State ◽

The United States ◽

Food Assistance ◽

Food Sources ◽

Health Economy ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Chi Square Analysis ◽

New Yorkers

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) disrupted health, economy, and food systems across the United States. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between food access worries, food assistance use, and purchasing behaviors and food insecurity during COVID-19 among residents of New York State. New Yorkers were recruited to complete a web-based survey through Qualtrics. The survey took place in the summer and fall of 2020 and asked respondents about food access worries, food assistance use, food insecurity, and food purchasing behaviors. Chi-square analysis examined the relationships between food concerns, food assistance use, purchasing behaviors, and demographic characteristics by reported food insecurity, and significant results were analyzed in a series of logistic regression models. Results showed that higher food worries, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) use, reported food assistance and delivery as food sources, and self-reported Hispanic ethnicity were associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing food insecurity. Future research is needed to assess the ongoing impacts of the pandemic on food access and food insecurity, particularly among underserved groups. Measures that provide additional money for food and improved food access can alleviate barriers to accessing enough healthy food at this time.

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Distribution at Emergency Food Assistance Organizations in the Southwestern United States: A Qualitative Investigation

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13124267 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 4267

Author(s):

Alexandra N. Castro ◽

Mamie A. White ◽

Ariun Ishdorj ◽

Debbe Thompson ◽

Jayna M. Dave

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Study Data ◽

Food Distribution ◽

Food Assistance ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Distribution Process ◽

Distribution Operations ◽

Emergency Food Assistance ◽

The Impact

This study aimed to identify changes in food distribution operations at emergency food assistance organizations (EFAOs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. EFAOs across the Houston metro area, TX (human service centers and food pantries) as well as the Houston Food Bank (HFB) participated in the qualitative study. Data were collected via individual semi-structured interviews and focus group (December 2020–February 2021), and coded using semi-structured thematic analysis. Categories were pre-identified based on the interview questions. Direct quotes supported subcategories. Directors from 18 EFAOs were interviewed; 8 HFB leadership staff participated in a focus group. Four major categories of change due to COVID-19 included new safety measures, changes in food distribution process, changes in volunteerism and staffing, and changes in amounts of food distributed. This study helps identify susceptibilities in EFAOs’ food distribution chain should be addressed to manage future emergency food insecurity crises more effectively. An understanding of the changes/challenges incurred by EFAOs during the COVID-19 pandemic can inform policymakers to ensure local food distribution organizations are prepared to fill the needs during future a crisis of food insecurity.

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