FOOD INSECURITY IN WINONA COUNTY Low-income families are significantly more likely to have reduced access to affordable and nutritious food WHY DOES THIS MATTER? People without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable and nutritious food may have a higher risk of developing: Depression Anxiety Obesity Heart disease Hypertension Diabetes5 1 in 4 hospitalized children in the U.S. come from food insecure households2 Single women with children are almost twice as likely to experience food insecurity than married couples with children3 22% of Winona children live with a single parent4 1 in 10 residents of Winona County is food insecure1 We spoke to 49 low-income parents at 8 community locations to better understand barriers to accessing affordable and nutritious food6 My child was embarrassed of the free summer meals program If we don’t have enough, I tell the kids not to eat so much Healthcare is expensive. Sometimes I go to the doctor but then can’t afford the medicine I’m at my job because I don’t have a high school diploma and I can’t go anywhere else It’s hard to get good, safe housing in Winona First I pay my bills, even if that means I don’t have enough to eat I could have more variety of jobs if transportation was better Summer is harder because kids are way more active so they need more food References (1) (4) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2018). RWJ County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/ Susman, K. (2016). Food Insecurity, Health Equity & Essential Hospitals. Washington D.C.: Essential Hospitals Institute. Minnesota Department of Health, Healthy Minnesota Partnership (2012). The Health of Minnesota (Statewide Health Assessment: Part One). Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Health. (5) US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (2014). The Intersection between Food Insecurity and Diabetes: A Review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ (6) Listening Sessions conducted by Winona Wellbeing Collaborative (2016) Winona County PartnerSHIP is the local grantee of the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership, and collaborates with partners to help people live longer, healthier, better lives http://winonacountypartnership.com/