Food Insecurity Priority
People of Duluth have access to and consume healthy foods
Strategies
Strategy #1
Make food more affordable and accessible (short-range)
Action steps:
- Expand the use of market bucks, POP Club, access discounts
- Increase the reach of food shelves through mobile, pop-up, or satellite options
- Increase the supply to food shelves: expand food shelf partnerships and food waste reduction programs
- Increase enrollment in evidence-based WIC and SNAP programs by expanding access and removing barriers including online and satellite opportunities
Strategy #2
Develop a community approach to screening for food security, connecting people facing food insecurity with the resources and supports necessary (mid-range)
Action steps:
- Health care and Public Health collaborate on Social Determinants of Health screening tools and process
- Research and raise funds for shared community resource development
- Develop referral resources to support people facing food insecurity (community health workers)
Strategy #3
Increase healthy food consumption of the youngest (mid-range)
Action steps:
- Bridging Health Duluth (BHD) members adopted evidence-based breastfeeding friendly policies
- Promote breastfeeding policies through BHD organizations and partners
- Utilize website to promote breast feeding (all strategies) and raise awareness
- Continue to support Farm to School (Renee Willemson)
- Partner with Farm to Childcare (Born to Thrive Network)
Strategy #4
Increase access to fresh/ healthy food by increasing availability of healthy food retail in underserved areas and improving transportation equity and connectivity to retail (long-range)
Action steps:
- Collaborate with Together for Health
- Fair Food Access, Duluth Transit Authority (DTA), Lincoln Park: Expand grocery bus routes city wide
- Collaborate with city partners to create multimodal transportation opportunities
- Support the American Indian Community Housing Organizations (AICHO) efforts with the 4th Street Market
Action Teams
Breastfeeding
Eating healthy food as a baby is so important. This team is working with organizations to adopt workplace policies that support breastfeeding mothers.
Community Partners
- To be determined
Leader
Amanda Casady, Essentia Health
Lincoln Park Middle School Healthy Foods
This team is starting a school food pantry and supporting healthy eating.
Community Partners
- Lincoln Park Middle School teachers, staff, and students
- Duluth Community School Collaborative
- Lincoln Park Middle School Parent Collaboration Group
- UMN Extension
- Boys and Girls Club
- Duluth Farm to School
- Ecolibrium3
- Salem Covenant Church
- First Covenant Church
- Engage Church
- Other partners
Leader
Rachel Thapa, Duluth Community School Collaborative
Farm to School Funding Plan
The Duluth Farm to School program teaches kids gardening, healthy eating, and more. While the program serves many kids, the program needs more funding to grow. This team is developing a sustainable funding plan for the program.
Community Partners
- Duluth Farm to School
Leader
Sarah Nelson, Generations
Health Care Initiatives
Social Determinants of Health Screening
This team has been coordinating efforts to meet community member’s Social Determinants of Health needs with dignity and respect. The goals include determining a process for Social Determinants of Health screening and referral, identifying gaps in resource availability in the community, improving communication and coordination among service/resource providers, and making systems changes to address root causes of Social Determinants of Health needs.
Community Partners
- Stratis Health
Leader
Sarah Nelson, Generations
Health Care Initiatives