This document summarizes food insecurity and hunger in the United States and Philadelphia. It finds that 14% of Americans and 21% of American children experience food insecurity. Rates are even higher for young children and in Philadelphia. Food insecurity is associated with negative health, social, and academic impacts on children. Federal assistance programs help address the problem but many vulnerable families still suffer. The document calls for policy solutions like SNAP and WIC to prevent child hunger and promote health and development.

1. Food Insecurity & Hunger
in Philadelphia and U.S.
Mariana Chilton, PhD, MPHMariana Chilton, PhD, MPH
High Impact PhilanthropyHigh Impact Philanthropy
Addressing the Needs of Vulnerable FamiliesAddressing the Needs of Vulnerable Families
November 8, 2010November 8, 2010

2. OverviewOverview
 Food Insecurity in USFood Insecurity in US
 Hunger in PhiladelphiaHunger in Philadelphia
 Policy Relevant SciencePolicy Relevant Science
 Witnesses to HungerWitnesses to Hunger
 Solutions to PovertySolutions to Poverty

3. Food Insecurity DefinitionFood Insecurity Definition
 Lack of access to enough foodLack of access to enough food
for an active and healthy lifefor an active and healthy life

4. Rates of Food InsecurityRates of Food Insecurity
 General populationGeneral population

49 Million (14%)49 Million (14%)
 Children (under age 18)Children (under age 18)

17 Million (21%)17 Million (21%)
 Young Children (under 6)Young Children (under 6)

9 Million (24.9%)9 Million (24.9%)

6. Health & Social ImpactsHealth & Social Impacts
of Food Insecurityof Food Insecurity
 Food Insecure children suffer more psychosocial and
behavioral problems

Aggression, hyperactivity, anxiety

Greater need for mental health services
 Food Insecure children have more trouble with learning
and academic performance
 Food Insecure children suffer more health problems
compared to food secure children

Poor development

Stomach aches, head aches, colds, ear infections

High hospitalization rates

7. 36.1 %
1st congressional district 2d-hungriest in U.S.
22.5 %
National rate: Food Hardship
18 %

8. US Census: Living in PovertyUS Census: Living in Poverty
44,000 Children Under Age 644,000 Children Under Age 6

9. Household Food Insecurity forHousehold Food Insecurity for
Young children in PhiladelphiaYoung children in Philadelphia
11.2
14.5
15.8
19.4
0
5
10
15
20
25
2006 2007 2008 2009
% Prevalence
HH w/ Youung Children
Philadelphia HH with Children < 3

10. Informing Evidence-Based Policy Decisions to
Prevent Child Hunger
State Costs of Growing Up Poor in the U.S.
42,000 children & families42,000 children & families
(~4,500 in Philadelphia)(~4,500 in Philadelphia)
Drexel University
St. Christopher’s
Hospital

11. Federal Assistance Programs--Federal Assistance Programs--
monitored bymonitored by
 Food Stamps (SNAP)Food Stamps (SNAP)
 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
 Women, Infants and Children (WIC)Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
 MedicaidMedicaid
 Federal Housing SubsidiesFederal Housing Subsidies
 Energy AssistanceEnergy Assistance
HealthHealth
 Food InsecurityFood Insecurity
 HospitalizationsHospitalizations
 Child WellbeingChild Wellbeing
 Maternal DepressionMaternal Depression
 Child GrowthChild Growth
 Child DevelopmentChild Development

12. Food Insecurity & Health OutcomesFood Insecurity & Health Outcomes
Adjusted Odds Ratios*Adjusted Odds Ratios*
1 1 1 1
1.74
1.22
2.79
1.73
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
Fair/Poor Child
Health
Hospitalizations Maternal
Depressive
Symptoms
Child Development
Concerns
AOR
Food secure
Food Insecure
* All differences p value < .0001
Controlled for site, race, child age, caregiver age, marital status,
education, birth weight, child breastfed
73% Increased risk for
developmental concerns

13. Developmental effects of Food InsecurityDevelopmental effects of Food Insecurity
happenhappen beforebefore schoolschool

14. EconomicEconomic
HardshipHardship
Food Insecurity
Housing Insecurity
Energy Insecurity

15. Hardship and Health forHardship and Health for
Children < 3Children < 3April 12, 2010

16. Evidence for Policy Solutions
 Food Stamps (SNAP)Food Stamps (SNAP)
 improve child health and prevent foodimprove child health and prevent food
insecurityinsecurity
 WICWIC
 protects against underweight, and promotesprotects against underweight, and promotes
child health and developmentchild health and development
 Energy AssistanceEnergy Assistance
 protects against food insecurity and poor childprotects against food insecurity and poor child
healthhealth
 Housing subsidiesHousing subsidies
 protect against underweight and promote childprotect against underweight and promote child
health and developmenthealth and development

17. ““Expert” WitnessesExpert” Witnesses

18. ConceptualConceptual
ConfusionConfusion

19. Categories of Food InsecurityCategories of Food Insecurity
1995-20051995-2005 2006-?2006-?
 Food SecureFood Secure
 Food InsecureFood Insecure

Without hungerWithout hunger

With hungerWith hunger
 Food SecureFood Secure
 Food InsecureFood Insecure

Low FoodLow Food SecuritySecurity

Very Low FoodVery Low Food SecuritySecurity

21. USDA tried to clarify the definition of
“food insecurity” with this photo
(found at
http://www.ers.usda.gov/multimedia/FoodSecurity/)

22. DiggingDigging
DeeperDeeper

24. Mothers Taking ActionMothers Taking Action
to Change Health Policyto Change Health Policy
www.witnessestohunger.org

25. “…Being in a situation like this, your kids can stay hungry.”

27. Informing The PressInforming The Press

28. Informing Policy MakersInforming Policy Makers

31. SHOW MOVIE

32. What to do?What to do?

33. SolutionsSolutions

34. OpportunityOpportunityEconomic SecurityEconomic Security
Health & WellbeingHealth & Wellbeing
Nutrition
++
Housing
++
Energy
++
Health
Jobs & Skills
++
Financial Services Technology
++
Education

35. AccountabilityAccountability
Government, Corporate
& Non Profit
Civic EngagementCivic Engagement
Volunteerism,
Communication w/ leaders
Health & WellbeingHealth & Wellbeing
Economic SecurityEconomic Security
OpportunityOpportunity
City-Wide CollaborationCity-Wide Collaboration
--Comprehensive Plan----Comprehensive Plan--
Monitoring and sharing information
1. Health & Nutrition
2. Housing & Energy
3. Jobs & Skills Training
4. Banking & Financial Services
5. Internet & Cell Technology
6. Education & Child Development
Systems ChangeSystems Change
Six IndicatorsSix Indicators
Report CardReport Card

36. ThankThank
YouYou