HJBR Sep/Oct 2019

44 SEP / OCT 2019  I  Healthcare Journal of baton rouge   Healthcare Briefs La., for Nutrition for a Healthier Tomorrow, a collaborative community project to address health, nutrition and wellness for youth and homeless populations in Washington Parish. The Community Health Grants program made available up to $90,000 in grant funds for up to six eligible schools, nonprofit organizations, and healthcare providers in Louisiana. Applicants were required to submit detailed descriptions of the projects for which funding was requested as well as descriptions of anticipated long- and short- term outcomes. Projects were required to address hunger, food insecurity and/or food access at the community level. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food insecurity often requires a household to choose between basic necessities, such as medical needs or housing, or purchasing healthy foods. In Louisi- ana, 20 percent of the population is classified as food insecure, according to Hunger Free Amer- ica. The state also has the second highest rate of food insecure children, and the highest rate of food insecure seniors, in the nation, the agency reported in its 2017 National Report on Hunger. “Food insecurity is one of the most serious social determinants of health in our state, and it is one that affects every community,” said Chel- sea Graves, community relations principal at Lou- isiana Healthcare Connections. “The organiza- tions selected for grant funding demonstrated a clear commitment to making a meaningful dif- ference in the communities they serve, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to support their efforts.” Louisiana Healthcare Connections’ Community Health Grants program launched in 2018 as part of the health plan’s efforts to combat food inse- curity and hunger in Louisiana. The Healthy Loui- siana Medicaid health plan has also implemented a number of other food insecurity-focused pro- grams, including a physician toolkit to help healthcare professionals identify and address food insecurity at the point of care. “Improving health outcomes requires a com- prehensive approach. Access to quality care is critical, but families need more to achieve long- term improvements in their health,” said Ken- dra Case, COO. “By providing the tools and resources needed to address issues like food insecurity, and by partnering with organizations that share our commitment to building healthy communities, we have the opportunity to truly transform health in our state, one person at a time.” n