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R6: Food Security

Framework Component

Population Results - Trends and Reductions in Disparities

Indicator Description

This indicator represents changes in food security status, when SNAP-Ed eligible persons The target audience for SNAP-Ed, specifically SNAP participants and low-income individuals who qualify to receive SNAP benefits or other means-tested federal assistance programs, such as Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Background and Context

" Food security A condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Household food security is the application of this concept to the family level, with individuals within households as the focus of concern."1 Food security A condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. status (or change therein) is both an outcome of, and a confounding factor in, other framework behavioral outcomes-e.g., individuals who participate in direct nutrition education or food budgeting may exhibit a positive change in food security status as a result. However, they may also be less likely than other participants to exhibit a positive change in other indicators such as fruit or vegetable consumption because they are food insecure. Lastly, please note that persons (e.g., children) may live in a food insecure household but may or may not be food insecure themselves.

Detailed backgrounders, implementation guides, and contact information for further assistance may be obtained at the USDA Economic Research Service website.2

Outcome The desired benefit, improvement, or achievement of a specific program or goal. Measures

R6a. Number or percentage of SNAP-Ed eligible persons The target audience for SNAP-Ed, specifically SNAP participants and low-income individuals who qualify to receive SNAP benefits or other means-tested federal assistance programs, such as Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. whose food security status improved over baseline from Very Low Food Security, Low Food Security, or Marginal Food Security.3

(Each food security status is defined in the glossary.)

What to Measure

At the program level, it is important to consider pre-post changes in SNAP-Ed participants' food security across all of its ranges (i.e., high, marginal, low, or very low) to demonstrate an effect. At the population level, a potential impact of SNAP-Ed programming would be an overall reduction in the household food insecurity rate (or an overall improvement in the household food security rate).

Pre-Intervention Food Security Status:

  • Standard EARS demographic data
  • Unique, anonymous identifier to facilitate matching of pre-post pairs (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY birthdate)
  • Date of survey administration
  • Baseline food security status of program participants (a composite/index indicator created by tabulating responses to individual module questions)

Post-Intervention Food Security Status (30-day or 12-month reference period):

  • Unique, anonymous identifier to facilitate matching of pre-post pairs (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY birthdate)
  • Date of survey administration
  • Number of completed interventions (where applicable)
  • Post-intervention food security status of program participants (a composite/index indicator created by tabulating responses to individual module questions):

Food Security Status of Non-Participant Comparison Group(s):

  • Pre-Intervention Comparison Group (OPTIONAL): If program participants are known at least 30 days (or 1 year) in advance of program participation, consider administering the pre-post surveys in the same manner to these future participants who are, in effect, a "delayed intervention comparison group."
  • Cross-sectional Data/De-Identified Public Data (OPTIONAL): Consider comparing the pre-post percentage of food secure participants or households within an at-risk population category to the overall percentage of food secure participants or households within the total at-risk population in a given community. Due to the time "lag" in availability of population-based data, such comparisons between food security status of program participants and the general population do not align. Even though these data will therefore not be as relevant or sensitive as within-group pre-post comparisons for actual program participants, the comparison may still be worthwhile.

Population

English-speaking adults ages 18+ (or heads of household less than 18 years of age), Spanish-speaking adults ages 18+ (or heads of household less than 18 years of age), English-speaking children ages 12-17, Spanish-speaking children ages 12-17

Surveys and Data Collection Tools

ADULTS

CHILDREN & YOUTH

Key Glossary Terms

Food security A condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. , Food insecurity A household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. , High food security No reported indications of food-access problems or limitations. , Hunger An individual-level physiological condition that may result from food insecurity that, because of prolonged, involuntary lack of food, results in discomfort, illness, weakness, or pain that goes beyond the usual uneasy sensation. , Low food security In a given household, report of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet, but the quantity of food intake and normal eating patterns are not substantially disrupted. , Marginal food security One or two reported indications of food insecurity-typically of anxiety over food sufficiency or shortage of food in the house. , SNAP-Ed eligible persons The target audience for SNAP-Ed, specifically SNAP participants and low-income individuals who qualify to receive SNAP benefits or other means-tested federal assistance programs, such as Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. , Very low food security Reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.

Additional Resources or Supporting Citations

Cross-sectional Data/De-identified Public Data Examples:

References:

1 FAO Economic and Social Development Department. Chapter 2. Food security A condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. : concepts and measurement Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization An entity consisting of multiple people, such as an institution or an association, that has a collective goal and is linked to an external environment. of the United Nations; 2003. Available from https://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y4671e/y4671e06.htm.

2United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Food Security in the U.S.-Overview [webpage]. 2016, May 4. Available from https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us.aspx.

3United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Definitions of Food Security [webpage]. 2015, September 8. Available from https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/definitions-of-food-security.aspx

4United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Food Security in the U.S.-Survey Tools [webpage]. 2015, September 8. Available from https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/survey-tools.aspx