The Power of Statistics and Why We Need Them

Agenda Learning about your data efforts Current statistics about food insecurity How to choose, collect, and share data Real examples from food banks and agencies across the country Questions, ideas, and builds

1 Learning about your data efforts

How does your agency currently collect data? Paper transcribed to computer Only electronic Only paper

What types of data are you collecting? Basic name and age Address or housing type Food preferences Health status or conditions Education or student status Employment status

What do you do with the data collected? Share it with media Nothing! Share it back with clients Provide it to the food bank Share it with volunteers Provide it to donors

Current statistics about food insecurity 2

42M U.S. INDIVIDUALS ARE FOOD INSECURE

CHILDREN ARE FOOD INSECURE 13 Million CHILDREN ARE FOOD INSECURE

SENIORS ARE FOOD INSECURE 5.4 Million SENIORS ARE FOOD INSECURE

Prevalence of Food Insecurity Remains High in 2016 National rate of food insecurity among individuals Great Recession Source: Household Food Security in the United States in 2016 (USDA ERS)

Local variations in food insecurity are significant map.feedingamerica.org

That’s why having your own data is so important! 360,540 IOWANS ARE FOOD INSECURE

3 How to choose, collect, and share data

Identifying what questions to ask clients What services does your agency currently offer? Where can you feasibly take action and improve services? Do you have local donors (food or funds) like local grocery stores, city government, church, individuals that request data or reports? Does your agency have a strategic plan or organizational goals? Engage your stakeholders (e.g., food bank, agency board, agency staff) to collectively discuss what questions are important to ask Ask questions that are actionable. Don’t place additional burden on clients by asking questions that are interesting, but not actionable

Choosing the right methods to collect data based on your needs Do you need individual-level information to connect someone with assistance or tailor their distribution? Examples: Enrolling in SNAP Identifying dietary considerations Referrals to other organizations Do you need honest feedback information to help identify changes? Example: Anonymous surveys that don’t ask for name Do you want to create a dialogue or two-way communication? Example: Focus groups, community meetings after the distribution, or data walks to learn more

What to do with the data once it’s in the door Order and offer different product based on health or dietary considerations Provide materials in clients’ languages Tailor Food and Service Delivery Fundraise and Write Grants Illustrate reach of program Describe participants and experience, outcomes Connect People with Services Assess clients’ eligibility or interest in other programs (e.g., SNAP, tax prep assistance, healthcare, etc.) Advocate for Public Policies Demonstrate need and service of specific programs Identify policy improvements Build Community Support & Empathy Bust myths and boost public perception Increase visibility and support for your agency

No matter how data is shared, always remember to respect the privacy and the dignity of the people from whom it was collected Don’t share personal information (like names, their address or date of birth) unless clients have given you permission Also make sure the receiving organization takes care of this data Using a basic privacy agreement or consent form can go a long way to explain why the data is collected and how it will be used By sharing back out aggregate findings with clients, you can build trust and demonstrate how it is being used and confirm that individual information is not being shared inappropriately

Overcoming resource constraints to find data and messaging that works Work with a skilled volunteer or intern to collect data Reach out to colleges and universities Involve corporate volunteer groups Train one person who already has intake experience Download data and printouts from Feeding America Map the Meal Gap Access publicly-available data American Fact Finder (U.S. Census Bureau) Share poverty statistics for your county Iowa Department of Public Health

Real examples from food banks and agencies across the country 4

Real Example from Oregon A school pantry program was struggling to keep its funding and the program manager’s position was going to be cut. Staff wrote the school district superintendent to advocate for the pantry. They used data from their new technology system to tell a deeper story about the clients being served: The pantry also served families from 14 other schools Over half of families have someone working full or part-time These additional reporting abilities helped show the importance of the pantry and the value of the program manager’s position.

Real Example from Oak Park, MI An agency learned that 90% of the households they served had a member with diabetes, prompting them to significantly adjust the nutritional quality of food boxes. Children’s programs began using actual, instead of projected attendance to inform menu planning and food procurement and successfully reduced food waste. Agencies are learning about additional languages spoken by the families they serve. As a result, they are now creating unique, translated resources based on this information. Real Example from Houston, TX Real Example from Oregon

CONTACT Brittany Morgan Research Team 312.641.5676 bmorgan@feedingamerica.org

THANK YOU Questions, ideas, and builds?