Source: CORBIN HILL FOOD PROJECT, INC., THE submitted to NRP
PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION IN THE BRONX AND UPPER MANHATTAN
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1027347
Grant No.
2021-70030-35872
Cumulative Award Amt.
$466,500.00
Proposal No.
2021-06499
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2021
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2025
Grant Year
2021
Program Code
[PPR]- Produce Prescription
Recipient Organization
CORBIN HILL FOOD PROJECT, INC., THE
475 RIVERSIDE DR
NEW YORK,NY 101150002
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The result of a partnership between Corbin Hill Food Project, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Hospital, and Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH (BHR), the Food as Medicine (FAM) Project will provide financial incentives for 280 low-income and food insecure households/individuals in the South Bronx and Harlem to purchase locally sourced fresh fruits andvegetables under the GusNIP Produce Prescription Program. FAM will faciliate the purchase of "farm share" boxes at four sites: The BHR Walton and Stevenson Family Health Centers in the Bronx and two Mount Sinai partner sites, the DreamSchool and the Pediatric Associates Clinic in Harlem. Participants will be enrolled through referrals from health care professionals and care givers as well as the identification of food insecure individuals in health data systems, among other sources. The overararching goal to of the project is to develop an effective model for increasing access to affordable fruits and vegetables for low-income African American and Latinx communities that will reduce food insecurity and improve health. The project will have a strong evaluation component measuring the impact of increased availability of healthy food on the well-being of participants and make a case that ongoing and sustainable health systeminvestment addressing food insecurity can improve health disparities in low income communities.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
100%
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
72462201010100%
Knowledge Area
724 - Healthy Lifestyle;

Subject Of Investigation
6220 - Marketing, processing, and supply firms other than cooperatives;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;
Goals / Objectives
The overararching goal to of the project is to develop aneffective model for increasing access to affordable fruits and vegetables for low-income AfricanAmerican and Latinx communities that will reduce food insecurity and improve health.
Project Methods
Study participants and setting: We will recruit participants from several sites including: two Institute for Family Health (IFH) health centers in the Bronx, Mount Sinai's Pediatric Associates clinic in East Harlem, and the DREAM School in East Harlem. Eligible participants will be those identified as being food insecure, or receiving Medicaid/Medicare, SNAP or WIC benefits. We will have multiple pathways for participants to enroll in the program, and will modify these as needed in response to feedback from key partners. Pathways will include:1) Provider referral: medical providers (MDs, DOs, NPs, Certified Diabetes Educators, or others) who regularly screen in their practice for food insecurity will refer eligible patients to the program.2) Care manager/social worker/care coordinator referral: members of care management teams reaching out to patients regarding their overall care and services who also screen for food insecurity will refer eligible patients to the program.3) Health system generated lists: As both IFH and Mount Sinai have mechanisms to screen patients for food insecurity, eligible patients will be identified through data queries. A Project Coordinator will then reach out to potential participants to alert them to the program and gauge interest.4) DREAM School: in collaboration with Mount Sinai, embedded community health workers and other staff will refer families who are food insecure to join the program.All enrolled participants will be offered food prescriptions and will be asked to complete baseline and follow up surveys.Data collection/survey design:We will administer a brief survey at baseline and at program completion. The survey will include items to assess food security, fruit and vegetable intake, stress, and efficacy. Surveys will be collected in a number of ways, including using electronic portals and paper surveys collected by project coordinators. We will also measure multiple process measures including:1) Number of participants recruited2) Number of food prescriptions distributed3) Number of food prescriptions redeemed4) Catalog of food items included (e.g., apples, cauliflower)5) Distribution process/mechanism6) Participant satisfaction

Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience is theBronx and Upper Manhattan. Because of the change in the partner relationship with Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Hospital prior to the start of the program,our target audience was the Bronx; focusing on Black and Latinx communities that are food insecure. This includes those who qualify for EBT benefits and those who do not qualify for benefits. Distribution of the produce boxes began in February 2023. Total number of produce boxes distributed since February 2023 is 1,720 allocated between three (3) community health center locations: Stevenson Family Health Center, Urban Horizons Family Health Center, and Walton Family Health Center. The produce box pickup percentagefor each location is Stevenson Family Health Center (67%), Urban Horizon Family Health Center (61%), and Walton Family Health Center (77%). Changes/Problems:Major changes/problems in approach include: 1. Change in partner relationship with Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. Three (3) locations included in the initial program proposal were removed. 2 Clinic Locations and 1 School Location; both in Upper Manhattan where not immediately replaced. One new location has been added for the remaining program period. 2. Participants felt theydid not have agency in the produce selection. We introduced Swap Items;participants can exchange produce items they donot completely recognize or enjoy (Example: Butternut Squash swapped for Collard Greens). 3. Participants' knowledge on how to prepare/cook produce. Receipes are distributed to participants at the distribution site. Food demonstrations are conducted at the distribution site. 4. Delivery issues with vendor occur sparingly and change distribution start times. Maintain open communications with vendor regarding delivery delays. Delivery systems have improved but still occur depending on traffic and weather. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Food demonstrations by Chef Yadi Garcia helped maintain interests as the produce changed seasonly. Participants reported increased knowledge of new recipes, new produce items, and how to prepare produce received. Participants have reported a positive change in health conditions including weight loss, decreased blood pressure and cholesterol. Team members have attended seminars and other Food as Medicine programs for training and knowledge. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Program results have beendisseminated to communities of interests through newsletters, community meetings, and social media. Every effort is made to promote positive results and to share potential challenges. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?To accomplish the goals in the next reporting period, we plan to identify additional locations in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan, connect with new food producers to offer more variety, increase community communications,andshare technology that allows participants to make healthier choices based on their personal preferences.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Under the program, 135 Families or 540 Individuals in the Bronx received access to fresh produce and fruit at a health center in their community on a regular basis (every other week). Participants were provided recipes with each produce box received. The receipes maintained the participants' interest in the program,educated participants on healthy food prepartation options, and introduced participants to healthy food choices. The frequency of the produce box deliveries provided a repeative process to encourage participants to consistently select healthier food choices. Overall, participants' reported heavy reliance on the bi-weekly produce delivery and have stated the price for theproduce received is significantly more affordable than store prices.

Publications


    Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

    Outputs
    Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?IRB Approval received on December 1, 2022. Program to launch in January 2023.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Start of program delayed due to IRB Approval; nothing to report for this program period.

    Publications