Leveraging Community Leaders to Address Social Determinants of Health
Nutritional deficiency and malnutrition are major determinants of health. While 19 million people — or 6.2% of the US total population — live within a food desert that has limited access to fresh produce, there can still be barriers for other Americans who do have access. Limited transportation options, lack of knowledge of community resources, household finances, and inflation-related price increases are common, even in resource-rich environments. This article discusses how resident leaders in one such community exchange resources to educate residents to address yet another barrier - annual enrollment in supplemental nutrition programs.
Washington, DC began a food voucher program in 1992 for WIC recipients. In 2001, it began piloting the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, which became permenant in 2007. The program is now open to vulnerable populations that rely on government assistance - eligible for SNAP (food stamps), WIC or WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, Grocery Plus (Commodity Supplemental Food and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program), Medicaid, SSI Disability, or TANF.
The District has several rounds of enrollment starting in May. Residents are able to select the site where they will use their voucher. If they enroll after the deadline, they may be limited to a farmer’s market outside of their neighborhood or, worse, they are placed on a waitlist. Tenant association presidents who represent public housing properties, Section 8, and low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) communities in the same neighborhood are members of a group email in which they can share communication templates to residents. Leaders are then able to modify text to meet their needs. They have also trained each other in the use of free mass emailing and texting services (i.e. Google Voice and Google Groups). Here is a template on enrolling in a supplemental food voucher program. Public Health Liberation encourages public health to shift toward leveraging and supporting local resources to improve coordination and knowledge-sharing. A praxis of liberation philosophy is vital to our work.
Dear Tenant Association Members,
The enrollment deadline for Produce Plus is May 31. This program is intended to provide food vouchers for vulnerable resident populations - $40/month to spend on local produce. It is for District residents who are eligible for SNAP (food stamps), WIC or WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, Grocery Plus (Commodity Supplemental Food and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program), Medicaid, SSI Disability, or TANF. To enroll, call (202) 888-4834, attend an enrollment event, or complete online application here - https://www.freshfarm.org/produceplus/signup. The tenant association leadership works with seniors in our community on food challenges, so we know that supplemental nutrition is a pressing need. Please encourage your neighbors to enroll if they qualify.
The SW locations accepting Produce Plus include: Ochoa Produce, 4th St & M St SW and The Farm at Kelly Miller. 80 M St SW.
Sincerely,
Chris Williams
President, Capitol Park Plaza and Twins Tenant Association
