Project Grant 20247041343028

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYCURRENT ISSUE AND IMPORTANCE:SUB-OPTIMAL DIETS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTE TO CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS SUCH AS HYPERTENSION (HTN) AND TYPE-2 DIABETES (T2D), PARTICULARLY AMONG LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS WHO FACE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING AND AFFORDING NUTRITIOUS FOODS. NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP AND WIC AIM TO MITIGATE FOOD INSECURITY, BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN IN PURCHASING NUTRIENT-DENSE PRODUCE OVER INEXPENSIVE, PROCESSED FOODS. THIS ISSUE IS CRITICAL AS IT LEADS TO HEALTH DISPARITIES, INCREASED MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS, AND HIGHER HEALTHCARE COSTS, AFFECTING BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY.IN SAN DIEGO, NEARLY ONE IN FOUR RESIDENTS EXPERIENCES NUTRITION INSECURITY. AT FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS OF SAN DIEGO (FHCSD), OVER 25,000 OF THE 159,000 PATIENTS SERVED ARE FOOD INSECURE, WITH SIGNIFICANT REPRESENTATION FROM LOW-INCOME, LATINO/A, AND BIPOC COMMUNITIES. FHCSD ALSO SERVES OVER 14,200 PATIENTS WITH T2D AND 31,700 PATIENTS WITH HTN, REFLECTING THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AFFECTING OUR LOW-INCOME POPULATION AND THE COMPLEX HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF THOSE LIVING WITH CO-OCCURRING CHRONIC CONDITIONS. ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE IS ESSENTIAL FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH, REDUCING ECONOMIC BURDENS, AND ENHANCING COMMUNITY WELL-BEING.METHODS AND APPROACHES:TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE, THE PRODUCE DELIVERY PROGRAM AND FOOD AS MEDICINE (PDP-FAM) INITIATIVE WILL DELIVER 20-POUND FRESH PRODUCE BOX SUBSCRIPTIONS DIRECTLY FROM A LOCAL FAMILY FARM TO THE HOMES OF OVER 400 LOW-INCOME, FOOD-INSECURE PATIENTS WITH HTN OR T2D. THESE DELIVERIES WILL BE PAIRED WITH CULTURALLY TAILORED NUTRITION-HEALTH EDUCATION, PROVIDING PRACTICAL SKILLS FOR INCORPORATING FRESH PRODUCE INTO THEIR DIETS AND MANAGING THEIR HEALTH CONDITIONS. FURTHERMORE, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO ENHANCE SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS IN THE FOOD AND HEALTHCARE SECTORS, INCLUDING MANAGED CARE PLANS. BY ENTERING INTO CONTRACTS WITH PROVIDERS THROUGH MEDI-CAL (CALAIM), WE WILL EXTEND ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS FOR ELIGIBLE PATIENTS FOR A MINIMUM OF 6 MONTHS, BEYOND THE 12-MONTHS OF FARM-FRESH PRODUCE BOX DELIVERIES. IN DOING SO, WE WILL DEVELOP A MODEL FOR EFFECTIVELY USING UNDERUTILIZED MEDICAL BENEFITS, SUCH AS CALAIM, TO SERVE LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. WE WILL COLLECT DATA THROUGH SURVEYS AND HEALTH METRICS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE INTERVENTION TO TRACK CHANGES IN DIET QUALITY, FOOD SECURITY, HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND HEALTHCARE USE.GOALS AND EXPECTED IMPACT:THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE PDP-FAM INITIATIVE IS TO IMPROVE DIETARY HABITS AND HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR PARTICIPANTS, REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY, AND LOWER HEALTHCARE COSTS. BY ACHIEVING THESE GOALS, THE PROJECT AIMS TO CREATE A RIPPLE EFFECT OF BENEFITS, INCLUDING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES, REDUCED STRAIN ON HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, AND STRONGER SUPPORT FOR LOCAL AGRICULTURE. THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH NOT ONLY ADDRESSES IMMEDIATE HEALTH NEEDS BUT ALSO PROMOTES LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH AN,D COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.