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Pacific Islands Pono Produce Prescription Program1031566National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2023-70413-410612023PACIFIC HEALTH RESEARCH & EDUCATION INSTITUTE09/15/202309/14/20262023ACTIVE$483,569.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription HAWAIIThis program will increase intake of fresh produce, reduce food insecurity and reduce healthcare costs. Women veterans in the Pacific Islands will have increased nutrition and food related knowledge through educational cook-along demonstration series and access to fresh produce. As a result of increased produce consumption, diet-related conditions like HgA1c, blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels will be reduced.
Norton Sound Health Corporation Produce Prescription Program1031535National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2023-70413-410602023NORTON SOUND HEALTH CORP09/15/202309/14/20262023ACTIVE$483,612.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription ALASKAThe Norton Sound Health Corporation (NSHC) is comprised of 16 Federally Qualified Health Centers in Western Alasak, which provides healthcare to predominantly Alaska Native populations, with poor nutritious food access and a high burden of chronic diseases. NSHC plans to have a prescription produce program (PPR) that incentivizes the purchase of fruits and vegetables for low-income individualswho have, or are at risk for, a diet related health condition; such as diabetes, heart disease or obesity. The PPR plans to use hemoglobin A1C, blood pressure or weight to determine eligibility.NSHC has a Chronic Care Active Management Program (CAMP), which currently provides medical nutrition education, physical activity promotion and wellness challenges and is experienced with delivering other food programs with a variety of other partners.Healthcare providers will referpatients to the CAMP Department,who will manage delivery of produce, evaluate changes in fruit and vegetable intake, food security and biometric indicators, and partnerships formed. Each participant will receive fresh fruits and vegetables once per month. The prescriptions may be filled through a local vendor or through the shipment of a produce box, if a local vendor is not available due to the remote, rural location.The anticipated impact of this project is increased access to produce and, in turn, improve healthcare outcomesas evaluated by the number of refills used, nutrition related knowledgeand the individuals' follow up A1C, blood pressure and weight values, respectively.
Más Verduras1031471National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2023-70413-410572023FUND FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IN NEW YORK, INC.09/15/202309/14/20262023ACTIVE$479,785.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription NEW YORKThe Más Verduras (More Vegetables) Program will take place in the South Bronx. Patients at our Healthcare Partner, Urban Health Plan, who have uncontrolled diabetes, receive Medicare, and screen positive for food insecurity will be referred into the program. Participants will get $100 per month for 12 months if their household is 1-2 people and $150 per month for 12 months if their household is 3 plus people. Once enrolled in the program, participants will receive a card, supplied and programmed by a USDA-recommended vendor, to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at local grocery stores in NYC. Participants will also meet with an assigned community coordinator monthly to discuss any issues they are having with their benefits. Participants will also have the chance to participate in Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) classes. Effectiveness will be measured through pre/post participation surveys, clinical data, and medical claims data.
Mana Ku Produce Prescription Program1031465National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2023-70413-410582023ELEPAIO SOCIAL SERVICES09/01/202308/31/20262023ACTIVE$483,612.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription HAWAIIThe Mana Ku Produce Prescription program aims to address the significant challenge of food insecurity and the associated health issues prevalent in the Waianae Coast region of Hawaii. This issue extends beyond the direct impact on the local population, influencing the broader economic aspect, community well-being, and environmental sustainability. Addressing food insecurity and promoting healthier diets not only contributes to improved public health but also encourages local agriculture, fostering economic growth, and reducing environmental impact by decreasing reliance on imported food products.This program adds to Elepaio Social Service's currently established Food as Medicine programs, which connect good food to positive health outcomes. A total of 210 householdsidentified as food insecureby healthcare providers may qualify to receive $100 loaded onto an electronic card each month over the 12 month program ($1200 total)to purchase local fruits, vegetables and poi from the health center's farmers market.In collaboration with a localeducational farm, we will offerfourmonthly educational workshopsfocused around nutrition, food production and preparation using indigenous crops.Participants will complete surveys and health check-ups before, during and after the program to allow for tracking ofimprovements in health indicators. We will also track patient's health and encounters with providersat the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and calculate healthcare savings costs. Through this program, we hope to enhance food security, improve health outcomes, and stimulate local agriculture. The anticipated societal benefits include a healthier community, economic growth through the promotion of local produce, and a projectedreduction in healthcare costs due to improved community health.
A Produce Prescription Program with Tiered Incentive Amounts for Patients with Diabetes and Prediabetes in Los Angeles County1031464National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2023-70413-410552023COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES09/15/202309/14/20262023ACTIVE$483,612.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription CALIFORNIAThe Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) will partner with Northeast Valley Health Corporation (NEVHC) and the University of California, San Francisco, Vouchers 4 Veggies - EatSF Voucher Program (V4V) to implement and expand a Produce Prescription Program (PPR) at four health center clinic sites in Los Angeles County. The activities of the proposed project support the overall goals of PPR, which are to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, improve household food security, reduce the risk of developing diet-related chronic diseases and associated complications, and improve healthcare utilization and associated costs. PPR eligibility criteria include patient enrollment in Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), screening positive for food insecurity, and a type 2 diabetes or prediabetes diagnosis. NEVHC will train healthcare staff on the screening and referral protocols. After enrollment, these clinic settings will provide PPR participants (patients) with electronic debit cards that account for the participants' household size ($40 for 1 person, $80 for 2 people, and $110 for 3 or more people); each card will be refreshed monthly over the course of 6 months. The electronic debit cards can be redeemed for fresh produce at most large chain grocery stores in areas surrounding each clinic site. Program participants will also be referred to nutrition education classes and other food resources (e.g., SNAP, local food pantries). V4V will manage the relationship with a partnering firm that administers the incentives. DPH will use multiple strategies to evaluate key program indicators and outcomes, including using data from the GusNIP participant-level core metric survey and NEVHC's Electronic Health Records.
NY Fresh Rx: Examining the Impact of a Produce Prescription Program on Fruit and Vegetable Intake, Food Security, and Health Outcomes Among Low-Income Individuals in Nassau County1031462National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2023-70413-410652023CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OF NASSAU COUNTY09/15/202309/14/20262023ACTIVE$483,589.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription NEW YORKNY Fresh Rx is a collaborative project between Cornell Cooperative Extension of NassauCounty (CCE Nassau), Harmony Healthcare Long Island (HHLI), a Federally Qualified HealthCenter, and Hofstra University. Over the course of this multi-year project, NY Fresh Rx willprovide a six-month home delivered CSA box style produce prescription to 350 low-income,food-insecure households who access care at HHLI's Hempstead and/or Roosevelt locations andhave one or more documented, diet-related chronic conditions: T2DM, CVD, and/or Obesity.Fresh produce will be supplied by CCE Nassau's local farm and other Long Island basedfarmers, thereby supporting sustainable food production and local economies. Additionally,nutrition education programming will be offered to all NY Fresh Rx participants.This program model was designed to reduce and/or remove two identified barriers tohealth - affordability and transportation. NY Fresh Rx will evaluate the effectiveness of thismodel for improving food security, dietary behaviors, and health outcomes for low-incomeindividuals in the ethnically and racially diverse communities of Hempstead and Roosevelt (inNassau County, NY). Research partners from Hofstra University will provide leadership for arobust evaluation process that will not only examine participant outcomes but will also examinethe impact on healthcare use and associated costs.
Healthy Food for Healthy Communities: Food and food preparation education for underserved communities and measuring the effects prescription produce has in reducing health disparities.1031460National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2023-70413-410622023COMMUNITY ACTION DULUTH09/15/202309/14/20262023ACTIVE$454,662.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription MINNESOTADuluth, Minnesota has several neighborhoods that deal with high barriers to access healthy food. This iscaused, in part, by lack of transportation and an absence of grocery stores. Without access to fresh produce,peopleare more likely to suffer from diet-related health conditions and have higher healthcare costs.Essentia Health and Community Action Duluth (CAD) seek primarily to improve dietary health by facilitating increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, reduce foodinsecurity, and collect data to measure the effects of the program.Essentia will identify 180 participants who will receive $80 a month for nine months. Thisstipend will be used to purchase fresh produce at CAD's existing Mobile Market and farmers'markets. The Mobile Market brings a variety of produce to low-income, high-barrier communities. CAD will add programming to the Mobile Market that teaches people how to prepare fresh food at home andgive them free cooking utensils. Thesemarkets will serve not only as a source of food, but as safe gathering spaces, which fosters community interaction.
Culturally Appropriate Prescribed Produce To Reduce Food Insecurity In Minnesota Underserved Communities1031459National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2023-70413-410592023FAIRVIEW HEALTH SERVICES09/15/202309/14/20262023ACTIVE$483,612.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription MINNESOTAFairview Health Services proposes to open two new VeggieRx sites at low-income communities in Minneapolis and Saint Paul that have high cultural and racial diversity and individuals with food insecurity and diet-related chronic conditions. The two healthcare sites will each enroll 18 participants per season, for a total of 108 participants over three years. Targeted participants experience food insecurity and diet-related disease and are members of underrepresented populations. VeggieRx will provide them with community-supported agriculture (CSA) boxes weekly for ~24 weeks (growing season in Minnesota). The growers will be local Somali/East African, Hmong, and Latino farmers who will provide culturally appropriate produce to the participants. The objectives are to show that participants (1) find the food to be culturally appropriate and sufficient to prevent hunger, (2) increase their fruit and vegetable consumption, (3) improve their health, and (4) reduce their utilization of health care. To further reduce food insecurity, a Food Resource Navigator will assist participants in applying for government food programs and will connect them to community resources as appropriate. The program will provide virtual cooking demonstrations, a weekly newsletter with recipes, educational handouts, and a farm tour and community meal. VeggieRx addresses the GusNIP goals of improving dietary health through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, reducing food insecurity, and reducing healthcare costs. The project team will evaluate impact with special attention to the benefits of providing culturally appropriate foods and coupling the food distribution with resource navigation and nutrition education.
Brighter Bites GusNIP Produce Prescription1031458National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2023-70413-410642023BRIGHTER BITES09/01/202308/31/20252023ACTIVE$477,523.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription TEXASThe Brighter Bites Produce Prescription program has a mission to tackle the underlying issues and behaviors affecting the health of residents in Galena Park, Texas. By teaming up with healthcare providers (Legacy Community Health), corporate partners (DoorDash), and institutional collaborators (Galena Park ISD), this initiative aims to offer a targeted health solution for children who are at higher risk of dietary-related health problems. The program focuses on increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables, providing personalized nutrition education, and offering tailored healthcare.The project's goal is to reach 300 individuals in the early stages of developing eating habits, before serious dietary health problems develop. This effort concentrates on pediatric patients aged 3 to 18 who visit the Legacy Health School-Based Health Clinics in Galena Park. The program comprises three main phases: planning and recruitment, direct services, and a wrap-up and evaluation period.The process starts with clinicians prescribing the produce prescription program during routine well-child visits or through outreach based on patients' medical history. Once patients give consent and complete required lab work, they become part of the study. Lab work is standard for patients with a BMI in the 85th percentile or higher. Initial health measurements are taken, and parents or guardians fill out a survey to gather behavioral and dietary information.Enrolled families receive bi-weekly deliveries of produce bags via DoorDash for a total of 32 weeks. During this time, participants are offered monthly virtual nutrition education sessions covering food preparation, recipes, and cooking skills. These sessions use evidence-based materials and follow CATCH and Virtual Culinary Medicine lesson plans led by trained staff.At the end of the 32 weeks, parents complete a post-program survey, and health data is collected during follow-up wellness visits. The program's aim is to boost fruit and vegetable consumption, improve nutrition security, and decrease the risk factors for dietary diseases. By doing so, the reliance on healthcare services and associated costs among low-income families can be reduced. The program's effectiveness is evaluated in terms of food security, behavior changes, health improvements, and decreased health care reliance.Based on the evaluation's outcomes, the Produce Prescription Program could become a permanent part of Brighter Bites' services in line with their strategic plan. Brighter Bites aims to expand its ability to enhance the long-term health of children and families in underserved communities. Their goals include becoming a recognized provider of Food as Medicine initiatives and extending these programs from Houston to all cities they serve nationwide.
Prescription Produce Program1031443National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2023-70413-410632023YUKON-KUSKOKWIM HEALTH CORP09/15/202309/14/20262023ACTIVE$483,612.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription ALASKAThe prescription produce program (PPR) will incentivize the purchase of fruits and vegetables for low-income persons who receive medical assistance under a state plan. Medical providers will propose referrals for produce prescriptions to the Diabetes Prevention and Control (DP&C) department for patients who screen positive and have a documented diagnosis of food insecurity. Providers will propose a prescription to DP&C for eligibilty verification and review. DP&C will verify eligibility and, when appropriate, write prescriptions for produce that can be redeemed at participating local stores or may elect to receive curated produce boxes from a local farm.. Each prescription will allow for the purchase of $45-$90 of f/v per month depending upon household . Participants will receive 3 months of vouchers at a time that can be redeemed once per month. Additional refills (vouchers) will be distributed quarterly. In order to renew the prescription, patients will a follow up appointment with their provider for 6 months after their initial visit for a chronic care/preventative care appointment. The anticipated impact of this project is an increase in healthcare utilization for the purpose of preventative care rather than treatment of acute issues. Improvements in food security are anticipated as well and reported increases in consumption of fruits and vegetables.
The Ascension FoodRx-Social Systems Initiative (AFRx-SSI): Mixed Methods Design for Poverty Disruption Among Our Most Vulnerable Pregnant Persons and Babies1031415National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2023-70413-410562023ASCENSION SETON09/15/202309/14/20262023ACTIVE$483,612.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription TEXASThe Ascension FoodRx-Social Systems Initiative (AFRx-SSI): Mixed Methods Design for Poverty Disruption Among Our Most Vulnerable Pregnant Persons and Babies will focus on patients receiving maternal health services at an Ascension Medical Group (AMG) site, and who ultimately deliver at an Ascension Seton Hospital location in central Texas. In central Texas from 2020 through present day (May, 2023), nearly 1 in 5 (18.2%) of Medicaid and Self-pay persons screened positive for an SDoH related need. Within this group, more than half indicated food insecurity and transportation were primary barriers to improving their health. Prenatal healthcare offers a unique opportunity to influence long term health outcomes of pregnant persons and their babies, providing frequent touch points to offer education and low cost interventions. Compared with infants born to pregnant persons who received prenatal care, infants whose pregnant persons did not receive prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight and are five times more likely to die in infancy. Additionally, pregnant persons who do not receive prenatal care are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than those who do receive care.Pregnant Persons enrolling in AFRx - SSI will be offered a range of pre-built produce boxes to select from, and will include general FFV, condition-specific FFV identified by the provider, and culturally appropriate FFV over the course of the intervention period. AFRx will be filled utilizing the Athena EMR referral function, and delivered to the patient's home, at no cost to participants. Refills will be provided during attendance at prenatal visits or navigator engagement. In person education and nutrition counseling will be provided as part of the Navigator activities. Navigators will capture and track participants fulfilling an AFRx within the EHR (Athena) to establish incentive eligibility, assist participants in completing pre- and post- enrollment surveys as required for grant reporting and evaluation, and also track additional social barriers the participant experiences in accessing healthcare services. Relevant healthcare outcomes and metrics will be tracked over the course of the healthcare encounter to evaluate efficacy of the intervention.Ultimately, this project aims to achieve the following:Improve the dietary health of a cohort of pregnant participants at risk for developing SMM through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables;Reduce the impact of household food insecurity among participants;Increase the percentage of pregnancies reaching term and being born at ideal birth weight; andCompile qualitative and quantitative data to support scale and spread of PPR through AFRx-SSI model to other care settings within the Ascension network
Springfield Community Gardens Hospital Farm Pilot1029643National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2023-70424-388262023SPRINGFIELD COMMUNITY GARDENS11/01/202210/31/20232023COMPLETE$190,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription MISSOURIThe Springfield Community Gardens (SCG) Health Script (Healt Script) pilot is a result of the longstanding partnership between SCG and CoxHealth (CoxH) that builds on the experience, input, and organizational commitments of both organizations--to empower neighbors to reduce food insecurity and poverty with increased access to locally grown fruits and vegetables (F&Vs) and social connectedness. CoxHealth Physicians will referr patients at risk for, or who have a chronic health condition to enroll in HEALTH SCRIPT. Participants will receive a weekly Community Shared Agriculture box, weekly interactions with physicians, medical students, dieticians, and other members of the healthcare team. In addition, patients will be offered group visits that will include opportunities to learn about food, shopping, and other topics related to their health.
FLiPRx: a home-delivery produce prescription program for families with children1029617National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-384772022CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER09/15/202209/14/20252022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription DISTRICT OF COLUMBIAAlmost 15% of US households with children reported experiencing food insecurity (FI) in 2020 and certain households are hit harder than others, including those led by a single parent, low-income, and racial/ethnic minoritized. This is a public health problem because FI is associated with poor diet quality and health and social outcomes across the lifespan. Produce prescription programs (PPP) targeting adults aim to address FI and diet quality but there are fewer programs reaching families with children. It remains unclear to what extent PPP interventions impact FI and healthy eating in families living in communities with limited access to healthy food and the best way to deliver these interventions. The Children's National Hospital Produce Prescription Initiative (FLiPRx) aims to address FI and diet-related disease risk in families with children living in under-resourced settings in Washington, DC. We have conducted formative work to show preliminary feasibility and promising behavioral outcomes to suggest the FLiPRx can potentially improve severity of household FI and fruit and vegetable intake in adults and children. However, we have made adjustments to our delivery and curriculum to address identified barriers to participant engagement. Our current aim is to evaluate FLiPRx feasibility and the effectiveness of the program on diet quality, FI, health and healthcare utilization and cost. Results from this work can help guide clinical care and policy decisions around how to effectively address social stressors that impact health in historically and economically marginalized populations.
Produce prescription and nutritional education to improve health outcomes of patients with type-2 diabetes living in a rural and medically underserved county in South Carolina1029573National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-385542022CLEMSON UNIVERSITY09/15/202209/14/20262022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription SOUTH CAROLINAEvidence continues to mount about the health benefits of consuming fresh, minimally processed fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy balanced diet. A healthy diet is linked with improved immune function, improved mental health, and decreased incidence and risk for chronic diseases, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Rural, underserved, and disadvantaged communities have limited access to fresh foods due to lack of availability (food deserts) and affordability. Moreover, people in these communities often lack the knowledge and training about the relationships between food and health, and how to prepare and select foods for optimal health. Not surprisingly, these communities suffer higher incidence of diet-related chronic health conditions, including Type-2 diabetes.The proposed work uses a produce box, prescription produce strategy combined with intensive nutritional training and food preparation demonstration to 1) improve A1c and other clinical measures for people living with Type-2 diabetes, 2) increase access to healthy food options, 3) increase understanding of how foods impact health and mitigate Type-2 diabetes and other diet-related chronic conditions, and 4) educate participants on how to prepare vegetables and fruits and how to maximize SNAP benefits. Our work will take place in Abbeville County, South Carolina, a rural county with high poverty (15.3%, Census 2020), and a higher incidence of Type-2 diabetes (13%) and obesity (38%) compared to the mean percentage for SC. Working with our clinical partners, we will identify people at risk or currently suffering from Type-2 diabetes, especially in the minority and elderly communities which disproportionally suffer from this condition.We hypothesize that a combined strategy of prescribing healthy produce and delivering comprehensive nutritional education targeted to increase knowledge about the benefits of healthy diets and to optimize healthy food use (cooking demonstrations) and healthy food access (optimizing SNAP benefits) will: 1) improve A1C and other clinical measures in people with Type-2 diabetes, 2) improve food and nutrition security, and 3) increase medical savings associated with management and treatment of Type-2 diabetes and related chronic conditions. Our project is unique because it uses a produce box approach with culturally tailored recipes. The produce box exposes participants to a variety of vegetables and fruits they may not have considered before and that are optimal for managing Type-2 diabetes. We also measure if the effect of the intervention is sustained through a 9-12 month follow-up with each participant. We believe this study will:Demonstrate the effectiveness of prescription produce/nutritional education programs in Type-2 diabetes prevention and management,Inform best policy and practices for the management and prevention of Type-2 diabetes and related chronic illnesses in rural, underserved, and disadvantaged communities,Decrease health disparities in rural, underserved, and disadvantaged communities, andIncrease medical cost savings associated with Type-2 diabetes management.
Thai Community Development Center and Asian Pacific Healthcare Venture Produce Prescription Program1029510National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-385422022THAI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC09/15/202209/14/20252022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription CALIFORNIAFood insecurity, defined as experiencing multiple disruptions in eating patterns and reduced food intake, has steadily been rising across the U.S. since the COVID-19 pandemic began. In 2019, the California Food Policy Advocates, a policy advocacy and research organization working to end hunger in California, reported that 44% of low-income household adults in Los Angeles face food insecurity. This problem disproportionately affects historically-marginalized, low-income communities of color that have a long history of battling chronic illnesses, such as Type 2 diabetes. As a result, low-income populations, such as East Hollywood, continue to struggle with managing their illness due in part to having limited access to reliable and affordable food. Our Produce Box Program is a response to the rising number of individuals suffering from food insecurity. It acts as a catalyst for a healthier lifestyle by offering free produce boxes to those most vulnerable in our East Hollywood community-- those who are low-income, undocumented, and suffer from either food insecurity and/or are diagnosed with pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes. The produce boxes contain fresh ingredients, nutrition literature and simple recipes that promote healthy behavior and healthy diets. We hope that our produce box program can help build the foundation for healthier lifestyle habits in our communities, food security and diet-related disease mitigation and prevention, may allow for better performance in schools and at work, and can help alleviate financial strain that would have otherwise been worsened by diet-related healthcare expenses.Participant surveys and lab tests will be used to collect data that we hope will show a correlation between the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables and an overall improvement in health outcomes, food security and reduced healthcare costs. We intend to publish our needs assessment as well as the results of the produce prescription program to inform the wider public of the ongoing battle for food equity in East Hollywood. Ultimately, we are aiming to reduce the number of individuals suffering from food insecurity through providing free produce boxes to low-income and undocumented individuals. This program links community members to the local food system and immediately supports the financial stability of our small farmers and program participants. By providing consistent nutrition education and increased access to fresh foods, we aim to eventually replace any negative health patterns with healthier lifestyle habits that lead to a decrease in diet-related chronic illnesses. Last year Richard, an East Hollywood resident who has been living with HIV for the past 40 years, stopped by the EHCFM malnourished and seeking Cal Fresh enrollment. Ever since he was approved to receive benefits, Richard continues to shop at the market and has looked much healthier than before. He always comes with a smile and a thank you to EHCFM staff for helping alleviate his food insecurity.Consistent access to fresh and nutritious food can lead to thriving, more vibrant communities and an overall healthier society pursuing their dreams instead of fighting for mere survival. We know that global change begins at the local level. We hope that the success of our project ripples out into our community, into our County and beyond and inspires others to create projects that center, feed and care for their most vulnerable community members.
Project Open Hand Medically Tailored Meal Nutrition Intervention with Prescription Produce1029509National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-384612022PROJECT OPEN HAND09/15/202209/14/20252022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription CALIFORNIAThere is a clear relationship between food insecurity and chronic disease. Yet, as cross-sector efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area have worked to make significant progress in supporting food security for all its residents, the economic conditions that contribute to food insecurity have intensified. Moreover, in addressing food insecurity defined as "the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life", we recognize that we must not only provide categories of food that contribute to active, healthy lives but also consider the dimensions of "access" that encourage the selection and intake of these foods. Specifically, beyond affordability, the availability of culturally appropriate, acceptable foods may contribute to improved dietary intake. Additionally, improvements in referral infrastructure can deepenengagement with individuals eligible for food prescriptions to manage chronic disease, and strengthen community networks that support these individuals. Thus, the major goals of the POH PPP are to build upon POH's and UCSF Medical Center's existing infrastructure of partner programming to(a) increase access to and intake of high-quality, California grown culturally appropriate fruit and vegetables among low-income individuals living with diet-modifiable chronic conditions, and (b) strengthen community linkages between healthcare and community organizations providing food as medicine by streamlining produce prescription referral processes via electronic health records systems. The POH PPP willreach 1,500 clients during this two-year project period -- POH's existing clients receiving medically tailored meals and groceries,and a cohort of 200 newfood insecure individuals via a produce prescription generated by UCSF providers and filled at the POH Grocery Center and mobile units or through home delivery.Evaluation of this project will be conducted in partnership with UCSF Medical Center and will assess changes in knowledge and efficacy in the selection, preparation and storage of fresh produce; satisfaction with produce selection; changes in behavior as related to fruit and vegetable intake and accessing community resources for healthy food intake; and changes in metrics related to disease management and health care utilization. Economic benefit for local farms will also be assessed.
Top Box Foods Produce Prescription Program1029507National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-385362022TOP BOX FOODS09/15/202209/14/20252022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription ILLINOISFood insecurity-particularly lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables-has been shown to increase the likelihood of developing a diet related health condition. Produce Prescription Programs have been offered as a potential solution to this issue. Top Box Foods, Medical Home Network, and Alivio Medical Center have partnered to launch a Produce Prescription Program targeting individuals with hypertension, and to study the effectiveness of such interventions at impacting diet-related health and nutritional knowledge. Medical Home Network and Alivio Medical Center will collaborate to identify qualifying patients in the Alivio healthcare system. Top Box Foods will make weekly deliveries of boxes of fruits and vegetables to participants' homes, while trained staff provides regular nutrition coaching. Medical Home Network will be responsible for tracking data across the intervention and evaluating the program's effectiveness during the grant term. The program's impact on participants' blood pressure, consumption of fruits and vegetables, food security status, healthcare use and associated costs, and health knowledge will be tracked throughout, ultimately providing strong metrics that quantify the effectiveness of produce prescription programs. We expect such metrics to impact future policy-making related to the accessibility of healthy food and support the wide-spread implementation of produce prescription programs through public and/or private funding. ?
Northeast Winston Fresh Food Prescription Program1029506National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-385412022YMCA OF NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA09/15/202209/14/20252022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription NORTH CAROLINAAs it is often the case, food insecurity has rippling effects through high poverty communities. Couple food insecurity with a food desert and it becomes nearly impossible for individuals to have access to fresh, healthy foods. Food which is essential when managing chronic diseases and conditions. This leads to higher healthcare utilization for residents who live in food insecure communities compared to those who do not.The YMCA of Northwest North Carolina, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and the Produce Box intend to operate a Fresh Food Prescription (FFRx) initiative serving vulnerable communities in northeast Winston-Salem. This FFRx initiative will deliver curated fresh produce boxes on a semi-monthly schedule to 250 SNAP eligible individuals and families experiencing food insecurity and a metabolic health condition. This project will address cost, transportation and education barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption in a culturally and household-centric program and will include educational components, health coaching, wellness calls, and resource navigation to help participants use access to fresh produce to make sustainable, healthy lifestyle habit changes. FFRx will use the Capabilities, Opportunities, Motivations, and Behaviors (COM-B), a framework for designing and evaluating programs, to design effective FFRx intervention strategies, supporting positive targets that include: (1) enhanced education for participants, and (2) restructuring of physical environment through provision of access to healthy foods each week. Additionally, the project will extend the RE-AIM framework to guide the planning and evaluation of FFRx strategies as a blueprint of best practices for implementation of a responsive FFRx model is developed.The goal of this project is to develop a sustainable framework for community-health partnerships to implement fresh food prescription programs in high poverty communities. First, we expect to improve the health outcomes and decrease healthcare utilization from program participants through a combination of improving access to fresh produce, and improving understanding around the importance of fresh fruits and vegetable consumption for disease prevention andmanagement. Second, we hope to establish a system that will address access to fresh produce in communities that are food insecure, in a sustainable and reliable way. Third, we plan to learn how health care providers can better partner with community based organizations (CBOs) to address food insecurity for individuals who are experiencing health disparities.
Produce for Health in Hampshire County`s Food Desert Communities1029498National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-385392022COLLABORATIVE FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC.09/15/202209/14/20262022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription MASSACHUSETTSAcross Hampshire County residents struggle with health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, which impacts their ability to live high quality lives. The Hilltown Community Health Center serves many of these clients in its clinics across 14 rural hilltowns, as well as Easthampton, Amherst, and Westfield. Within this service area, 49% of people live in communities called "food deserts" where there are few stores that sell fresh fruits and vegetables at an affordable price. Among those living in these food desert communities, 15,300 people are also low-income and 9% of households don't have a car. For many, these experiences make it extremely difficult to eat a healthy diet and maintain good quality of life.This project called Produce for Health in Hampshire County's Food Desert Communities addresses these issues by helping people get access to more fresh fruits and vegetables through a "produce prescription program." Over three years, the produce prescription program will support the Hilltown Community Health Center to provide 200 clients with a prescription for fresh fruits and vegetables. Eligible clients include those who are enrolled in both SNAP and MassHealth, and are experiencing or are at-risk for a chronic health condition. The produce prescription will come in the form of a debit card provided by the non-profit organization About Fresh, pre-loaded with $40/month that can only be spent on fresh produce at participating retail stores. The produce prescription debit cards will be accepted at large supermarkets including Stop & Shop and Wal-Mart, as well as small retailers that sell locally grown produce, such as the Amherst Mobile Market, the Hilltown Mobile Market, and others. In order to support the local food economy, clients will get a 20% discount at small, direct-to-consumer retailers. People receiving the produce prescriptions will also have the chance to attend three workshops about growing, shopping for, and cooking with fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as receive educational pamphlets and other resources on similar topics.In addition to providing people with more fresh produce in their diets, this program will help us understand how produce prescription programs effect people's health, including their weight, HbA1C and blood pressure. It will also help us understand how produce prescription programs impact the number of doctor or hospital visits clients make each year, their confidence in their own ability to keep a healthy diet, and their overall food security. In order to understand these connections, faculty and students at the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst will collect and analyze data, then develop reports and presentations from their findings. Their reports and presentations will be shared with decision-makers, healthcare systems representatives, legislators, and the public to bring awareness to the impact of increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables through produce prescription programs. While this project will help over 200 people across Hampshire County access more fresh produce and eat a healthier diet, it will also help strengthen the collaboration between healthcare providers and healthy food retailers and generate evidence for the important connection between food and health.
Springfield Prescription Produce Collaborative1029496National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-385432022WELLSPRING COOPERATIVE CORPORATION09/15/202209/14/20252022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription MASSACHUSETTSPROJECTSUMMARY Wellspring Cooperative Corporation, Baystate Health and the Center for Research on Families at the University of Massachusetts have joined to form the Springfield Prescription Produce Collaborative, to establish a sustainable prescription produce program in Springfield, Massachusetts. The program's goals, which are consistent with GusNIP grant goals, are to increase participant consumption of fruits and vegetables leading to improvements in dietary health, reduction in food insecurity, and reduction in use of emergency health services and healthcare costs. A total of 150 low-income participants will be selected from Baystate's Brightwood, Mason Square and High Street Adult health centers, and they will receive fresh fruits and vegetables delivered weekly by the Go Fresh Mobile Market. Through the Massachusetts Healthy Incentive Program, SNAP recipients automatically receive monthly allocations of funds, which enables families to purchase produce from farmers markets essentially free. Participants will receive produce for eighteen months and visit their doctors for extensive health screenings every six months to observe health improvements in nutrition-related conditions such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Greater engagement and reduced food insecurity are expected to also result in less anxiety and greater participation in primary healthcare over emergency care. This is expected to reduce healthcare costs and improve the quality of life for patients. The Collaborative will analyze health data collected through this project and draw lessons from the project process to form the basis for integrating a sustainable prescription produce program into patient care going forward.
Evaluating Produce Rx and Partnerships in Two Rural MN Counties: The Time is Ripe to Build Evidence for Statewide Strategies1029495National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-385512022MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH09/15/202203/31/20262022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription MINNESOTAThe MN Department of Health (MDH) proposes to work collaboratively with Riverwood Healthcare Center (Aitkin County) and Sanford Worthington Medical Center (Nobles County) to establish produce prescription programs at their facilities, in partnership with local public health, farmers markets, SNAP-Ed and other partners. Both sites will use a community participatory approach in program design, implementation and evaluation. The produce prescription will be offered to patients based on a screening for food insecurity and will cover $50/month for four months for each participant, to be used for fresh fruits and vegetables.The goal for this proposal is to demonstrate the impact of produce prescription programs related to improvement of dietary health through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables; reduction in nutrition insecurity; and changes in healthcare utilization, and aligns with the GusNIP Produce Prescription Program goals. The objectives associated with the goal stated above are:Objective 1: Design produce prescription programs tailored to community needs and resources in two rural counties in MN using a community participatory approach.Objective 2: Implement produce prescription programs via a healthcare partner in two rural counties in MN.Objective 3: Evaluate the impact of each produce prescription program on dietary consumption of fruits and vegetables, nutrition security, clinical outcomes and healthcare utilization.This project will support nutrition security and local food economies in two rural MN communities.
Prescription for Healthy Oakland1029494National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-385402022OAKLAND, COUNTY OF09/15/202209/14/20252022ACTIVE$453,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription MICHIGANThe vision of Prescription for Healthy Oakland to empower residents in Oakland County to achieve healthy lifestyles through community engagement. Prescription for Healthy Oakland provides low-income participants with vouchers to purchase fruits and vegetables, health education sessions, and coaching and support to encourage participants to make healthier choices. The goals of the program are to increase participants' fruit and vegetable consumption and knowledge and skills to engage in healthy behaviors. The program also aims to create and foster partnerships with local clinics and health care providers and food retailers to support participant health improvement.Participants will enroll in a 6-month program and receive $40 vouchers per month to spend at certain area grocery stores and farmers markets in Oakland County. In order to receive their monthly vouchers, participants will have to complete virtual health education sessions and complete program surveys. Potential participants will be referred to the program by federally qualified health centers; free clinics; Women, Infants and Children (WIC); and other healthcare partners. Initial results from previous rounds of this program have shown improvements in reduced food insecurity, increased vegetable consumption, and improved self-reported eating habits among program participants.
UMLA VeggieRx Program1029493National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-385472022REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA09/15/202209/14/20252022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription MINNESOTAUMLA's VeggieRx Program will deepen partnerships between UMLA, River Valley HealthServices, Health Matters Clinic, Carver and Scott County Public Health, and UMN ExtensionSNAP-Ed to collaborate and connect identified, eligible patients with farm fresh fruits andvegetables grown at the UMLA's apprenticeship-led farm, reducing food insecurity forunderrepresented populations. Nutrition education will also be provided to eligible patients toimprove their long-term dietary habits associated with reduced chronic disease risk.Activities include: intake screenings at health clinics, offering nutrition information to eligiblepatients, health provider-prescribed produce, weekly produce offerings to reduce food insecurity, andtracking patient health improvements over a three-year period. This project aligns with the USDA's Strategic Goal 4: Make Safe, Nutritious Food Availableto All Americans . The UMLA VeggieRx Program does what is anticipated - brings togetherstakeholders from distinct parts of the food and healthcare systems and fosters understanding of howto improve the nutrition and health status of participating households prescribed fresh fruits andvegetables. This program offers nutrition education opportunities to participants. It will address theprimary goal and objective of the GusNIP PPP - to demonstrate and evaluate the impact of UMLA'sVeggieRx Program on (1) the improvement of dietary health through increased consumption of fruitsand vegetables; and (2) the reduction of individual and household food insecurity. Health firms willalso strive to track the reduction in healthcare use and associated costs.
Fresh Takes!: Addressing health outcomes for patients with diabetes and prediabetes by combating food insecurity1029491National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-384992022MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER09/15/202209/14/20262022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription NEW YORKFresh Takes!, aims to improve health outcomes for those with prediabetes or overt diabetes by increasing consistent access to high quality fruits and vegetables, thereby reducing food insecurity, and providing on-going nutrition support and education. Leveraging our existing partnership with Westside Campaign Against Hunger, Fresh Takes! will enhance BHC's food distribution services, promote systematic data collection and analysis of patient health outcome data, and provide on-going nutrition support to help individuals with diabetes and prediabetes improve their health outcomes.Once deemed eligible by our team based on age, diabetes-specific criteria and eligibility for food assistance or Medicaid, patient participation in Fresh Takes! includes individual assessments with a Registered Dietitian, bimonthly food box distributions for 6 months, and an education session and food demonstration at each food pick-up. We predict that participation in Fresh Takes! will be associated with increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and consistent use of strategies that result in healthier eating practices and lifestyle change. The potential impact of Fresh Takes! extends beyond meaningful improvement in health outcomes for diabetic control, ultimately working towards combatting health disparities that exist in some of the most under resourced communities of the South Bronx, as well as potential cost-savings for patients with diabetes and prediabetes more generally.
Fight Against Diabetes: A South Dakota Produce Prescription Program1029489National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-384982022SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES & TECHNOLOGY09/15/202209/14/20252022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription SOUTH DAKOTAFight Against Diabetes: A South Dakota Produce Prescription Program(For the Great Plains Area American Indian/Alaska Native adults with Diabetes)Non-Technical Summary:American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults from the Great Plains Area (North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska) carry a disproportionately higher risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetes-related complications. The overarching goal of the Fight Against Diabetes: A South Dakota Produce Prescription Program (SD-PPP) is to evaluate the impact of fresh produce intervention on food security, diabetes management, and mental health among the low-income and food-insecure Great Plains Area American Indian/Alaska Native (GPA AI/AN) adults newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The proposed project between the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT) and the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board (GPTLHB) will leverage the Diabetes care provided to the GPA AI/AN at the Oyate Health Center (OHC).The specific objectives of the SD-PPP are to 1) reduce food insecurity, 2) delay Diabetes-related complications, 3) reduce hospitalizations and ER visits, and 4) improve quality of life. The SD-PPP participants will be recruited from the ongoing Special Diabetes Program for Indians at the OHC. The SD-PPP participants will receive locally grown fresh prescribed produce from Breadroot Natural Food Co-operative store delivered with assistance from the Fork Real not-for-profit Community Cafe to participants' homes. Approximately 80 SD-PPP participants will receive dietician-prescribed free produce for 52 weeks, followed by 24 weeks of no produce supply. We will monitor participants for changes in BMI, blood pressure, HbA1c, food security, Healthy Eating Index, and Diabetes Distress scores during the "ON-produce and OFF-produce" periods. We will supplement these efforts with two workshops, surveys, brochures, and one-on-one consultations emphasizing the "let food be thy medicine" concept; to enhance program sustainability.
Kahuku Medical Center (KMC) Produce Rx Program1029488National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-385452022KAHUKU MEDICAL CENTER09/15/202208/02/20242022COMPLETE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription HAWAIIKahuku Medical Center (KMC) is located in the heart of North Shore, Oahu. KMC services a patient population that spans the North Shore and Ko'olauloa regions, home to approximately 35,000 residents and destination to over a million visitors annually. As the only hospital for more than 30 miles in either direction, KMC is the emergency safety net during a health crisis and the leading provider of primary care services in the area. Community members have described KMC as a medical hale (home), relating the facility's comfortable atmosphere to that of a loved one's home. The mottoFriends and Family Taking Care of Friends and Familywas chosen to celebrate this sentiment, along with the many community members on staff who often find themselves providing medical care for those they know and love. The KMC ohana (family) is a true reflection of the surrounding communities: culturally diverse, refreshingly personal, and the embodiment of the aloha spirit.KMC's patient catchment area ranks among the most beautiful regions in the world. Sadly, beneath the lush and beautiful surface lies disturbing disparities in health and socioeconomic status. The rates of poverty, food insecurity, poor health outcomes, and insufficient housing are all rising at an alarming rate. The current trajectory of chronic disease poses a genuine threat to the future generations of our community.The high cost of food coupled with the high cost of living has led to an increasing number of displaced community members who are unable to adequately feed their families. Consuming enough fruits and vegetables is crucial to improving health outcomes and preventing chronic disease, yet only 17% of local adults currently meet intake goals. Equitable access to healthy food is a critical need that remains unmet in Hawai'i. Programs like Produce Rx are vital to achieving a healthier, more resilient population. Not only do they alleviate food insecurity, they also stimulate the local economy and support the growth of agricultural infrastructure. The call to action for Kahuku Medical Center is undeniable. In joining other community stakeholders engaging in innovative systems of change, KMC can participate in efforts to alleviate the dual burden of food insecurity and chronic disease.
Leveraging Produce Prescriptions to Increase Access to Fresh Produce in the MS Delta: Investing in Historically Marginalized Communities1029474National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-384632022UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI09/15/202209/14/20252022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription MISSISSIPPIThis proposed food prescription program will increase access to fruits and vegetables 35 housholds in a rural, historically margianlized community. Simultaneously the program will integrategrocery retailers, local decision-makers, andthe school district into community-wide nutrition and health programming. The community is well poised to take advantage of the benefits of this program as part of a constellation of community development activities they are currently engaged in. This program, in partnership with this community willserve as a model for other rural communities facing similar challenges. Long-term (36-month) recording of biometrics, nutrition self-efficacy, and healthcare costs for enrolled participantswillcontribute to the growing, but limited evidence-base on effectiveness of food prescirption programs as a long-term healthcare strategy for nutritionally vulnerable households. Importantly this program will generate a community generated toolkit designed to lower the threshold of entry for other rural spaces, as well as tailored policy commentary to help decision-makers things about the future of foor prescription programs.
Food = Health1029466National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-384622022COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER OF SOUTHEAST KANSAS INC09/15/202209/27/20232022COMPLETE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription KANSASThe overall vision of Food = Health is to provide compelling evidenceto key internal, local, state, and national stakeholders demonstrating that produce prescriptions are a cost-effective treatment plan option to create better health outcomes and a potentially better life for families in rural, underserved areas. This vital research is needed to demonstrate to stakeholders such as health systems, payers, and funders that a practical and executable intervention in a rural areais better access to fresh produce and nutrition education, especially when paired with a clinical treatment plan. The major goals of this program are to increase dietary health through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, decrease household food insecurity, and reducehealthcare system utilization and costs through an equitable, sustainable, and community-oriented program.The program will accomplish these goals by providing fresh produce, nutrition education, and by working with clinical care teams to integrate these resources into a comprehensive treatment plan for patients with, or at risk for, diet-impacted chronic disease.Food = Health is designed for and by community members of Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma- an area known as the least healthy and poorest of their respective states. Congruent with the health, social, and economic state of the region, the food systems and resulting effects on hunger are equally poor. Despite these troubling trends, the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK)--the region's largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), which has clinics in seven rural counties in southeastern Kansas, and one rural county in northeastern Oklahoma--has grown to be a major regional asset and a leader in realizing their vision, "healthcare the way it should be." CHC/SEK will partner with Building Health, Inc. (BHI) to incorporate successful partnerships, clinical expertise, and patient care experience into thisnew program to address food insecurity and poor health outcomes.Food = Healthwas developed over many months of engaging patients, clinicians, community partners, and researchers to design an equitable, and sustainable produce prescription program. Enrollment into the program will provide a comprehensive look at the strengths and opportunities of the participant and their household's health while integrating a prescription for high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables as a treatment option for diet-impacted chronic diseases. In the 12-month program, participants will be given prescriptions for $25 of produce every other week. Produce prescriptions will be provided in two ways--prescription vouchers to be used at local farmers markets or prescriptions for produce boxes prepared by Martinous Produce Co., a local produce distributor.As part of the intake process, CHC/SEK community health workers (CHWs) will assess unique barriers a household may have, such as inadequate kitchen supplies or dietary restrictions and work to address those on an individual level. While enrolled in Food=Health, participants will have access to nutrition education, cooking skills education, and clinical services. CHWs will work closely with participants throughout the program and will help with enrollment for food assistance programs, and for other social service programs, including rent, utility, and prescription assistance and SNAP-Ed classes with Kansas State Research and Extension.Data will be collected throughout the project utilizing CHC/SEK's electronic health record; CHC/SEK's Accountable Care Organization (ACO) claims database; a secure, electronic survey vendor called Alchemer; SNAP-Ed course attendance records; and Martinous Produce Co. Receipt data for participants. As these data are collected, they will be analyzed by members of the project team, including the Learning Tree Institute (LTI), the evaluation partner of Food = Health. The final project evaluation and results will be summarized and prepared for presentation to key stakeholders in order to contribute to best practices for produce prescription programs integrated with primary care teams in rural areas.
Hudson County Produce Prescription and Food Pharmacies Initiative1029463National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-384822022BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF HUDSON09/15/202209/14/20262022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription NEW JERSEYAn estimated 12.2% of Hudson County residents live in food insecure homes and lack access to nutritious food needed to support good health (Feeding America, 2022). The reduced access to healthy food puts these individuals at an increased risk for developing or worsening symptoms of chronic conditions including prediabetes, diabetes and hypertension which are linked to higher healthcare costs. The Hudson County Produce Prescription and Food Pharmacies Initiative will utilize USDA funds to operate a produce prescription and food pharmacy model in partnership with three local federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) serving low-income patients in the Hudson County area: Alliance Community Healthcare, Metropolitan Family Health Network, and North Hudson Community Action. Through the proposed project, Hudson County and partnering health clinics will develop on-site food pharmacies, where patients receiving produce prescriptions can redeem vouchers on a regular basis for free fruits and vegetables. Vouchers will be distributed via a referral system in which a healthcare provider has provided a diagnosis for prediabetes, diabetes and hypertension. Project evaluation will include monitoring of blood pressure, blood sugar levels, blood lipid levels, and weight over time. Further, the proposed program will provide participating patients with comprehensive nutrition education and other non-financial incentives for healthier eating via partnership with the Rutgers University Cooperative Extension to build sustainable, healthy habits among patients. Additional health and quality of life metrics that will be tracked and measured among participants include increased food and nutrition security, improved understanding of healthy eating, intention to continue eating more fruits and vegetables, and adherence to and utilization of healthcare plans. Hudson County will also partner with the Rutgers University Department of Family and Community Health Sciences to conduct rigorous project evaluation which will be supported by consistent, thorough data collection and reporting by healthcare providers. The research and evaluation completed by Rutgers will yield new evidence of the effectiveness of produce prescription programs and demonstrate the value of community-driven incentives to increase fruit and vegetable intake among undeserved, food insecure groups.
Expanding Fresh Rx Produce Prescriptions in Monterey County1029461National Institute of Food and AgricultureNIFA Non Formula2022-70424-385532022EVERYONE'S HARVEST09/15/202209/14/20252022ACTIVE$500,000.00[FINI] Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program[PPR] Produce Prescription CALIFORNIAThe CDC estimates that nearly one in five children and nearly two in five adults in the U.S. are obese. Being obese or overweight increases an individual's risk for diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Obesity can also contribute to poor mental health (anxiety, depression, low self-esteem), stigma, and social isolation. Among children and youth, obesity can also increase the likelihood of bullying. In Monterey County, California, home to Salinas Valley, the "Salad Bowl of the World," 67% of residents are reported to be obese or overweight, obesity rates are higher among children and adults countywide than state averages, and 45% of residents are prediabetic or have type 2 diabetes. The high rates of diabetes and food insecurity throughout the county are exacerbated in the farmworker community in East Salinas by the poverty rate, which is more than 1.5 times the state average and 29% of children live in poverty. Furthermore, fast-food outlets and convenience stores outnumber healthy food sources including supermarkets or large grocery stores and farmers' markets nearly six to one in East Salinas where 94% of the community are Latinx. More than 50% of residents report eating fewer than five servings of fruit and vegetables daily, and food insecurity among children, and the portion of students eligible for federal free- or reduced-price lunch, are substantially higher than the state benchmarks. The project by Everyone's Harvest (EH) is to expand and quantify the impact of an existing produce prescription program, Fresh Rx, on improving the health outcomes of low-income families impacted by nutrition insecurity and diet-related chronic health conditions in East Salinas and other historically underserved Monterey County. Through Fresh Rx, families are prescribed $35 worth of fresh produce by their physicians and access its benefits by receiving fresh produce vouchers, nutrition education and information about affordable food resources/access points throughout the county from EH staff at the weekly farmers' markets we operate at five locations. Fresh Rx participants can immediately purchase culturally valued produce directly from the limited-resource, predominantly Latinx farmers who sell at the markets. EH's additional community food programs that Fresh Rx participants will access include Edible Education-cooking demonstrations, workshops and nutritional tastings-that teach nutrition and cooking skills using produce from the markets, and Market Match, which doubles the spending power, up to $10, of families buying produce at farmers' markets using CalFresh (SNAP) benefits. The project goals are to quantify and evaluate the impact of its Fresh Rx produce prescription program on (1) improving dietary health through increased fruit and vegetable consumption, (2) reducing food insecurity, (3) reducing healthcare use and associated costs, and 4) increasing Fresh Rx's long-term efficacy and sustainability. The project will enable EH to expand, institutionalize, and more effectively quantify the effectiveness of Fresh Rx's partnerships with healthcare providers to improve health outcomes of low-income patients with nutrition insecurity and chronic diet-related health conditions. Project objectives include 1) expanding enrollment and retention of current Fresh Rx patients from 250 to 300, 2) completing baseline and post-program surveys with 144 patients, 3) submitting participant-level and firm-level data to the GusNip NTAE Center, 4) providing nutrition education, and 5) establishing the long-term sustainability of Fresh Rx. The project's results tracked by the patients' physicians and program evaluation will add to the body of knowledge supporting the positive impact of produce prescription programs on patient health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs to strengthen the argument for including produce prescription programs in preventive medicine associated with the burgeoning "Food is Medicine'' movement in healthcare.