Healthy families produce RX (hfprx) program is designed to improve the dietary health and food security of households with children who experience significant health disparities in rural regions of…

Healthy families produce RX (hfprx) program is designed to improve the dietary health and food security of households with children who experience significant health disparities in rural regions of louisiana through increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. Given the correlation between food insecurity and diet-related disease, investing in preventative measures that address food insecurity and childhood overweight are critical to ensuring that children achieve levels of health that allow them to fulfill their potential and avoid chronic disease. Share our strength's no KID hungry campaign (NKH) and aetna better health of louisiana join with vouchers 4 veggies, medical providers, food retailers, and LSU agriculture extension services to implement hfprx. The project will reach 1,250 households whose medicaid-insured youth are screened for elevated BMI scores and are enrolled in a preventative weight management program. Eligible households receive $40 vouchers, renewablefor 6 months, to purchase produce at participating local farmers markets and grocers. Households participate in online or in-person evidence-based nutrition programs. Hfprx operates in northshore and acadiana regions, largely considered opportunity zones. NKH will use multiple strategies to evaluate key indicators and outcomes, including using gusnip participant and firm core metrics. A stepped approach will be used to implement hfprx in two regions to indicate that the model can be scaled, as desired impacts include state agencies and health plans making future investment in produce RX.additional intended outcomes also include reduced health care costs associated with increased engagement in preventative services and behaviors.