Food Insecurity & Hunger

in Philadelphia and U.S.

Mariana Chilton, PhD, MPHMariana Chilton, PhD, MPH High Impact PhilanthropyHigh Impact Philanthropy

Addressing the Needs of Vulnerable FamiliesAddressing the Needs of Vulnerable Families

November 8, 2010November 8, 2010

OverviewOverview

Food Insecurity in USFood Insecurity in US Hunger in PhiladelphiaHunger in Philadelphia Policy Relevant SciencePolicy Relevant Science Witnesses to HungerWitnesses to Hunger Solutions to PovertySolutions to Poverty

Food Insecurity DefinitionFood Insecurity Definition Lack of access to enough food Lack of access to enough food

for an active and healthy lifefor an active and healthy life

Rates of Food InsecurityRates of Food Insecurity

General populationGeneral population 49 Million (14%)49 Million (14%)

Children (under age 18)Children (under age 18) 17 Million (21%)17 Million (21%)

Young Children (under 6)Young Children (under 6) 9 Million (24.9%)9 Million (24.9%)

Health & Social Impacts Health & Social Impacts of Food Insecurityof Food Insecurity

Food Insecure children suffer more psychosocial and behavioral problems

Aggression, hyperactivity, anxiety Greater need for mental health services

Food Insecure children have more trouble with learning and academic performance

Food Insecure children suffer more health problems compared to food secure children

Poor development Stomach aches, head aches, colds, ear infections High hospitalization rates

36.1 %

1st congressional district 2d-hungriest in U.S.

22.5 %

National rate: Food Hardship

18 %

US Census: Living in PovertyUS Census: Living in Poverty44,000 Children Under Age 644,000 Children Under Age 6

Household Food Insecurity for Household Food Insecurity for Young children in PhiladelphiaYoung children in Philadelphia

11.2

14.515.8

19.4

0

5

10

15

20

25

2006 2007 2008 2009

% Prevalence

HH w/ Youung Children

Philadelphia HH with Children < 3

Informing Evidence-Based Policy Decisions to Prevent Child Hunger

State Costs of Growing Up Poor in the U.S.

42,000 children & families42,000 children & families(~4,500 in Philadelphia)(~4,500 in Philadelphia)

Drexel University

St. Christopher’s Hospital

Federal Assistance Programs--Federal Assistance Programs--monitored by monitored by

Food Stamps (SNAP)Food Stamps (SNAP) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Women, Infants and Children (WIC)Women, Infants and Children (WIC) MedicaidMedicaid Federal Housing SubsidiesFederal Housing Subsidies Energy AssistanceEnergy Assistance

HealthHealth

Food InsecurityFood Insecurity HospitalizationsHospitalizations Child WellbeingChild Wellbeing Maternal DepressionMaternal Depression Child GrowthChild Growth Child DevelopmentChild Development

Food Insecurity & Health OutcomesFood Insecurity & Health OutcomesAdjusted Odds Ratios*Adjusted Odds Ratios*

1 1 1 1

1.74

1.22

2.79

1.73

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Fair/Poor ChildHealth

Hospitalizations MaternalDepressiveSymptoms

Child DevelopmentConcerns

AOR

Food secureFood Insecure

* All differences p value < .0001

Controlled for site, race, child age, caregiver age, marital status, education, birth weight, child breastfed73% Increased risk for

developmental concerns

Developmental effects of Food InsecurityDevelopmental effects of Food Insecurity happen happen beforebefore school school

Economic Economic HardshipHardship

Food Insecurity

Housing Insecurity

Energy Insecurity

Hardship and Health for Hardship and Health for Children < 3Children < 3

April 12, 2010

Evidence for Policy Solutions

Food Stamps (SNAP)Food Stamps (SNAP) improve child health and prevent food improve child health and prevent food

insecurityinsecurity

WIC WIC protects against underweight, and promotes protects against underweight, and promotes

child health and developmentchild health and development

Energy Assistance Energy Assistance protects against food insecurity and poor child protects against food insecurity and poor child

healthhealth

Housing subsidies Housing subsidies protect against underweight and promote child protect against underweight and promote child

health and developmenthealth and development

““Expert” WitnessesExpert” Witnesses

Conceptual Conceptual ConfusionConfusion

Categories of Food Insecurity Categories of Food Insecurity 1995-20051995-2005 2006-?2006-?

Food SecureFood Secure

Food InsecureFood Insecure Without hungerWithout hunger With hungerWith hunger

Food SecureFood Secure

Food InsecureFood Insecure Low Food Low Food SecuritySecurity Very Low Food Very Low Food SecuritySecurity

USDA tried to clarify the definition of “food insecurity” with this photo(found at http://www.ers.usda.gov/multimedia/FoodSecurity/)

Digging Digging DeeperDeeper

Mothers Taking Action Mothers Taking Action to Change Health Policyto Change Health Policy

www.witnessestohunger.org

“…Being in a situation like this, your kids can stay hungry.”

Informing The Press Informing The Press

Informing Policy Makers Informing Policy Makers

SHOW MOVIE

What to do?What to do?

SolutionsSolutions

OpportunityOpportunityEconomic SecurityEconomic Security

Health & WellbeingHealth & Wellbeing

Nutrition

++Housing

++Energy

++Health

Jobs & Skills

++

Financial Services Technology

++

Education

AccountabilityAccountability

Government, Corporate & Non Profit

Civic EngagementCivic Engagement

Volunteerism, Communication w/ leaders

Health & WellbeingHealth & Wellbeing

Economic SecurityEconomic Security

OpportunityOpportunity

City-Wide CollaborationCity-Wide Collaboration--Comprehensive Plan----Comprehensive Plan--

Monitoring and sharing information

1. Health & Nutrition

2. Housing & Energy

3. Jobs & Skills Training

4. Banking & Financial Services

5. Internet & Cell Technology

6. Education & Child Development

Systems ChangeSystems Change

Six IndicatorsSix IndicatorsReport CardReport Card

Thank Thank YouYou