Growing food access initiative offers help for M Health Fairview patients experiencing food insecurity

Niah, 27, has faced some challenges in her life, but now getting connected to resources for food is not one she has to navigate on her own.

When Niah experienced domestic violence last summer, she had to move to a new home for her safety. The situation affected her both mentally and physically.

She went to M Health Fairview Clinic – Rice Street, where her healthcare provider asked if she had access to enough food. She didn’t.

Niah, who works as an education specialist and lives in Saint Paul, said she often had to choose between paying her bills and buying food. Niah said she frequently ate pasta because it is inexpensive, yet filling. She could make it last for several days.

“Food insecurity affects people of all ages whether people work or don’t work,” said Mang Vang, a food resources navigator with Fairview Health Services who supports patients at M Health Fairview clinics in the East Metro. “Food insecurity is very real for people like Niah.”

Addressing food insecurity across our health system.

Food insecurity usually defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active and healthy life. It’s one of the social determinants of health, factors of daily life that can have a larger effect on a person’s health than medications or regular doctors' visits. Other examples include access to transportation, economic stability, or immigration status.

Food insecurity poses a major health risk. Consistent access to nutritious meals is necessary for preventing and managing chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Fairview has dedicated food resource navigators to help connect patients experiencing food insecurity to food resources. Since the program started one year ago, the food resource navigators have helped more than 700 patients and their families.

These food resource navigators are one part of a growing effort by Fairview to address food insecurity. Called Fair Table, the initiative includes:

• A fresh food prescription program that distributes healthy food to those in need.
• A monthly food voucher program.
• Shelf-stable food bags stocked at clinics for immediate help.
• Food resource packets that include recipes and food gift cards.

In addition to these four key programs, Fairview collaborates with community partners through East Side Table. Together with The Sanneh Foundation, Fairview packs and distributes more than 2.5 million pounds of food each year from the Fairview Community Health and Wellness Hub in downtown St. Paul.

These Fair Table resources are available for patients at M Health Fairview clinics across the metro.

Providing food to patients.

Niah’s doctor put her in touch with the food resource navigator program. To offer immediate help, Vang sent Niah a Care Cart delivery, which is a one-time grocery order delivered right to Niah’s home.

"As a family medicine doctor much of what I do is help patients with changes to their lifestyle to help manage their health,” said Sarah Hammes, MD, a provider at the Rice Street Clinic and Fair Table care champion provider. “Healthy eating can improve all aspects of health from diabetes and high blood pressure to inflammation and pregnancy. Learning about healthy foods usually isn’t enough for many patients due to rising costs, transportation, etc. Fair Table has been an amazing resource for our patients. It provides food education and recipe ideas that are culturally relevant, and healthy food is also delivered. Having this food referral available has helped my patients manage their health and overall wellbeing.”

Vang also enrolled Niah in a program called MarketRx . Niah gets vouchers she can use at The Food Group’s Twin Cities Mobile Market or Fare for All retail grocery programs offering affordable food around the Twin Cities. The Twin Cities Mobile Market has a location that Niah can stop at on her way home from work, making the weekly trip easy.

The food assistance has “made a humongous impact already,” Niah said. "I can open my fridge without crying.”

Niah was always the type to be independent and take care of herself, so being unable to afford food was a huge stressor. But now that she has access to food staples, she has started eating healthier. She gets to be creative and try new recipes.

Support from Fair Table and the MarketRx program made an immediate difference for Niah. But lasting solutions require a network of partnerships and the ability to meet people where they’re at. Navigating available food resources can feel complicated when one’s time and energy are limited. Food shelves are often only open certain hours or days, delivery options may only be for seniors or individuals with physical challenges, and lack of transportation can make getting to the grocery store and home with heavy bags difficult for those without a car or reliable transportation.

If you need help finding food resources in your area, call Minnesota Food Helpline at 1-888-711-1151 or visit The Food Group for resources available to you. We also encourage everyone to advocate for food resources in our community.