Through partnership with hospitals, clinics, community health centers and county health departments, the Regional Food Bank is working to address negative health outcomes affected by food insecurity through upstream strategies such as food insecurity screening and targeted, multilayered interventions.

Screening questions recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics are included in the institutional workflow screening protocol, or electronic health records, at healthcare partner locations to identify patients at risk for food insecurity. Identified patients receive immediate food assistance from an on-site food pantry and they are then connected with sustainable food resources through community food pantries and SNAP application assistance.

A food insecurity provider handout is available for hospitals, clinics and healthcare providers across central and western Oklahoma. The purpose of this handout is to equip providers with information showing the connection between food insecurity and health outcomes, as well as provide ideas for addressing food insecurity in the healthcare setting and an introduction to resources available to patients.

This handout is endorsed by a few of the most influential organizations in Oklahoma health systems, including the Oklahoma Hospital Association, Oklahoma Primary Care Association and Oklahoma State Department of Health. Partnerships and collaborative efforts with these organizations fall under the Regional Food Bank’s work in hunger prevention.