Strengthening Cross-Sector Collaborations in Hunger-Relief Efforts to Address Structural Racism

Hunger is a pervasive problem that affects more than 35 million Americans.1Food Research and Action Center. poverty in America.https://frac.org/hunger-poverty-america. Accessed December 9, 2020.Google Scholar This public health issue primarily attributed to food insecurity, both of which have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.1Food Scholar,2Wolfson JA Leung CW. Food insecurity during COVID-19: an acute crisis with long-term implications.Am J Public Health. 2020; 110: 1763-1765Crossref PubMed Scopus (27) Google Individuals experiencing hunger are at greater risk for adverse outcomes (e.g., chronic diseases, depression, nutritional deficiencies).3Gundersen C Ziliak JP. outcomes.Health Aff. 2015; 34: 1830-1839Crossref (533) Unfortunately, communities color, particularly Black communities, disproportionately higher rates – largely because structural racism.4Odoms-Young AM. Examining impact racism on insecurity: implications addressing racial/ethnic disparities.Fam Community 2018; 41: S3-S6Crossref (67) ScholarWhitney Fung UyView Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT) Structural refers how societies foster racial discrimination reinforcing inequitable systems.4Odoms-Young Historical (and current) policies practices shape systems negatively affect color: housing segregation, redlining, employment discrimination, healthcare mass incarceration, over-policing. The wealth gap explains, part, why minorities non-minorities. Furthermore, disinvestment color key reason people lower access healthy foods hunger-relief programs.4Odoms-Young To alleviate United States, community organizations must prioritize innovative comprehensive efforts end all settings. Hunger-relief strengthen their collaborative across political economic sectors society address root causes hunger. means working government officials, policymakers, businesses, likeminded outside space nutrition fight pay equity, anti-racist work practices, equal education, housing, transportation, healthcare, food.4Odoms-Young Scholar,5Mattessich PW Rausch EJ. Cross-sector collaboration improve health: view current landscape.Health 2014; 33: 1968-1974Crossref (34) Communities break up historical silos focus developing transdisciplinary, collective initiatives upstream these root, systemic causes.5Mattessich These encompass perspectives transcend beyond traditional methods used combat In addition, would benefit greatly from directly involving who experience apply equity proposed solutions.6Gamblin MD, Brooks C, Bassam Abu Khalaf N, Learner M, Puller D. Applying U.S. federal assistance programs: SNAP, WIC child nutrition.http://files.bread.org/institute/report/racial-equity/special-report-applying-racial-equity-august-2019.pdf. 8, lens will enable increase understanding detrimental effects design targeted approaches needs color.6Gamblin can assess disparities related deficiencies accessibility programs. They also evaluate barriers utilization resources, such as social services pantries, ensure data be disaggregated identify specific cultural groups. By examining important factors, contribute inequities. summary, consequences racist generations. Nutrition educators practitioners acknowledge has hindered, many cases, completely prohibited opportunities maintaining healthy, hunger-free life. As collaboratively implement equitable hunger, they significance keep it forefront future endeavors.