Food is the Best Medicine
The Ascension Seton Food is the Best Medicine (FBM) program has been 100% philanthropically funded through the Seton Foundation since launching in May 2022. The FBM program was established by the Ascension Texas Council on Racial and Health Equity (ATCORHE) in response to the alarming rate of maternal deaths in Central Texas and the high rate of severe maternal morbidity cases, both of which are exacerbated by the barriers to healthy food access experienced by minority populations.
GOAL: To provide nutrient-rich food to postpartum mothers and their newborns, reducing food insecurity, improving diet quality, and improving rates of home cooking, breastfeeding, and postpartum depression.
Background
Prevalence of Food Insecurity: About 1 in 8 Texas households (1.4 million) face food insecurity, higher than the national average.
Impact on Healthcare Costs: In Texas, a 1% increase in food insecurity leads to a $400 million rise in annual healthcare expenses.
Consequences of Food Insecurity: Linked to poor maternal mental health, reduced breastfeeding, and higher infant hospitalization rates.
Methods
Target Audience: Postpartum women who identify as food insecure in 25 zip codes within Austin/Travis County.
Output/Activities
End of October 2024:
- 177 women enrolled in FBM 8-week intervention (since Sept 2023).
- 398 x $100 grocery store gift cards distributed (since May 2022).
- 1,396 food boxes delivered (10,688lb food).
- 50 women enrolled in FBM-In Person (access to Community Health Worker home visits). 73 home visits with 300+ resources shared.
- 50 women enrolled in FBM-Virtual (access to online educational materials). The average engagement time for visits to the online platform lasted about 1 minute.
Outcomes/Impact
- 73% of survey respondents reported eating more fruits and vegetables while enrolled in FBM.
- Rates of food security increased from 12% to 33% after 8 weeks.
- 89% of survey respondents said FBM helped them save money on their weekly grocery bills.
- 76% of respondents rated the FBM experience “very positive”, and 23% rated the experience “positive.”
- 34% of respondents rated their health as ‘very good’ after participating in FBM, compared to 29% before FBM.
- The rate of home cooking (meals from scratch 5-7 times/week) increased by 38% after participating in FBM.
- The number of mothers likely to be suffering from postnatal depression decreased after the 8-week FBM intervention, from 15% to 9% when using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
Participant Facts
- 77% Spanish speakers.
- 71% Hispanic.
- 16% White.
- 6% Black.
- 7% Other race.
- 83% of survey respondents have 2-4 adults living in the household with 65% having 2-4 children in the household.
- 56% of respondents’ household income is under $15,000.
- 77% of respondents are not receiving SNAP but 70% are currently receiving WIC.
- 37% of participants reported their highest level of education as “less than high school.”
FBM Feedback
“[FBM] has meant SO much! We are over the income limit for SNAP by less than 45$ and so we don’t qualify. Access to food is a real struggle for our family. This program has meant SO much to us. Honestly, I don’t know what we would have eaten some days without this food. It helped us be able to eat and feed our kids and it was healthy too. We are truly grateful. We are also sad the program ended! We miss it for sure. Thank you for every single thing that you do to help people like us.”
“Pues todo fue vien me ayudó bastante gracias a ustedes.” [“Well, everything went well, it helped me a lot thanks to you.”]
“Muy bien gracias por su ayuda.” [“Very good, thank you for your help.”]
“Para mi es excelente la entrega, muy amables.” [“For me, the delivery is excellent, very friendly.”]
“First of all, thank you very much for including me in the Program; it was truly helpful because it allowed me to save a bit on food expenses, especially since I’m not working yet. I believe it’s an excellent program that provides significant support, particularly for people with limited financial resources. The fruits and vegetables were all very fresh; I really enjoyed the fruits (oranges, apples, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, etc.), everything was fresh and delicious. The meals were healthy and nutritious, […] it’s a very good option and incredibly helpful. Congratulations on an excellent program, and may God bless you all. Thank you for including me in the program; every Friday, I would look forward to the fruits—they were the first thing I would eat, especially the oranges 🍊 🥰 🙏🏻 👌🏻 Many thanks!”
“Que estoy muy agradecida, que Dios bendiga esas manos que producen esos alimentos.” [“I am very grateful, may God bless those hands that provide those foods.”]
Favorite Meals and Produce Items
Los aguacates” [“The avocados”]
“The grapefruits were so flavorful!”
“Teriyaki meatball meal and apples from pantry”
“El platillo de pollo con verduras de ejotes y zanahoria fue mi favorito y las frutas también la verdad disfruté.” [“The chicken dish with green beans and carrot vegetables was my favorite and I also really enjoyed the fruits.”]
“Lara Bars are great for on the go!”
“I love the veggies that come in the food containers and I like most of the produce that come very nicely picked and fresh such as tomatoes, chilies apples etc.”
“I loved the steak tips. I made tomato sauce with the tomatoes, and the apples were really good.”
Support Our Program
FBM is a program for the community, by the community. We can’t do this without your support. Donate today to help provide food provisions to our ASMCA birthing mothers and their newborn babies. All donations will directly support FBM and our community.
Contacts
Elizabeth Polinard, PhD, RN.
FBM Program Supervisor and Co-founder/Chair of the Ascension Texas Council on Racial and Health Equity
[email protected]
Victoria Threadgould, GPC, CFRE.
Director of Grants, Ascension Seton Foundation
[email protected]
Program Partners
The Cook’s Nook is a leading developer and distributor of quality and culturally relevant nutrition solutions that address food insecurity and chronic disease and drive high engagement and satisfaction. To do this, The Cook’s Nook works with their customers to design programs that lead to improved health and economic outcomes by providing vulnerable populations access to quality nutrition with dignity and choice.
Farmshare Austin is a nonprofit organization that has a mission to grow a healthy, just and equitable local food system by increasing community food access and cultivating new farmers. Located on a 10-acre, certified organic, mixed produce farm in Eastern Travis County, Farmshare provides beginner farmer training for adults who wish to launch careers in sustainable and organic farming. Most of the produce grown at the farm goes directly to Farmshare’s food access work which provides reduced priced, nutrient-rich produce and organic grocery items to those experiencing economic and mobility challenges.
Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at UTHealth
The Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at the UTHealth School of Public Health in Austin is an integral part of UTHealth, which is one of six component institutions of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The center was founded in 2006 with a vision of ‘healthy children in a healthy world’ and a mission to advance health and healthy living for children and families through early and impactful interventions. UTHealth’s Austin campus is dedicated to building public health in Central Texas by excelling in professional development and training, conducting transdisciplinary research, and translating scientific knowledge into actionable initiatives that foster healthy habits within the community.