March, 2018
VAND 2018 Poster Presentation Abstract
Author(s):
Laura Chartrand
Student
The University of Vermont
Role: Presenting Author
Disclosure: Nothing to Disclose
No financial relationships or conflicts of interest.
Jeremy Greenhaus
Graduate Student
University of Vermont
Role: Presenting Author
Disclosure: Nothing to Disclose
No financial relationships or conflicts of interest.
Amy Nickerson, MS, RDN
Senior Lecturer & MSD Program Director
University of Vermont
Role: Co-author
Disclosure: Nothing to Disclose
No financial relationships or conflicts of interest.
Linda Berlin, PhD
Director
UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Role: Co-author
Disclosure: Nothing to Disclose
No financial relationships or conflicts of interest.
Christine Meehan
Chief Community Impact Officer
Vermont Foodbank
Role: Co-author
Disclosure: Nothing to Disclose
No financial relationships or conflicts of interest.
Track:Wellness and Public Health
Learning Need Code
4070 Food security and hunger
Learning Need Code
4080 Government-funded Food & Nutrition Programs
Learning Need Code
4010 Community intervention | Monitoring |Evaluation
Learning Objective
Evaluate perceived food security status among applicants of the 3SquaresVT food assistance program.
Title: Effectiveness of the Vermont Foodbank 3SquaresVT Outreach Program and Perceived Food Security Status
Abstract
Background: To improve access to and enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as 3SquaresVT (3SVT), the Vermont Food Bank (VFB) administers an outreach program to assist individuals with the application process.
Objective: To assess satisfaction with VFB 3SVT outreach and evaluate perceived food security among 3SVT participants through qualitative interviews.
Methods: The 24-question telephone survey, which included validated USDA food security questions, was administered to 3SVT applicants from January - August 2017. Those individuals received VFB application assistance from January 2016 – March 2017. Of the 434 individuals who applied for 3SVT through the VFB, only 341 were eligible to complete the survey. From that group, 105 3SVT applicants completed the telephone survey, resulting in a 31% response rate.
Results: Both quantitative and qualitative data were coded and analyzed using SPSS. Of the survey respondents 60% were aged 56 - 95 years, 93% had health insurance, and 91% had a high school diploma or greater. For those receiving 3SVT benefits, 27% reported eating more fruits and vegetables. Overall, individuals were satisfied with VFB outreach. Respondents who were approved for 3SVT had higher satisfaction scores than respondents who were not approved for 3SVT.
Conclusion: VFB outreach helps individuals successfully navigate the 3SVT application process and individuals currently receiving 3SVT are more likely to eat more fruits and vegetables than before they received 3SVT benefits.
Funding Source: None
Advisor Information:
Advisor Name: Amy Nickerson
Advisor Email:
Advisor Phone: 802-656-0670