Funded Projects

Bridging The Food Access Gap

Project Year

2026

City & State

Bronx, New York

Program Name

Resident

Topic

Food Insecurity

Program Description

The Problem Food insecurity is a critical yet often underrecognized social determinant of health among school-aged children, putting them at an increased risk for adverse physical health, mental health, and academic outcomes, particularly during adolescence when nutritional needs increase [1]. While nutrition support programs such as Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provide essential assistance for children under five, there is no universally inclusive nutrition support program for children aged six years and older, particularly for families affected by immigration-related eligibility restrictions.  In New York City, food insecurity is disproportionately concentrated in the South Bronx. Community-level data indicate that neighborhoods such as Mott Haven-Port Morris experience food insecurity rates exceeding 30%, driven by poverty, housing instability, and limited access to affordable, healthy food [2,3]. Immigrant and mixed-status families are particularly vulnerable due to limited eligibility for federal nutrition programs and fear of documentation requirements, which can deter families from accessing food resources. Qualitative research shows that even when food assistance is available, families may perceive it as insufficient or inaccessible because of structural and social barriers [4].   Primary Setting and population We plan to implement this project at Public School (P.S.) 5 Port Morris, a public Kindergarten through grade 8 school located in the Mott Haven-Port Morris area of the South Bronx.  This school serves approximately 603 students, including 288 middle school students (grades 6-8). 98% of students are identified as economically disadvantaged, and 27% experience homelessness or housing instability, placing many families at high risk for food insecurity. The student population is predominantly Hispanic/Latino, followed by African American [5]. Based on South Bronx estimates, we expect approximately one in three middle school students to experience food insecurity and plan to screen at least one-third of them.  Prior Screening Experience As part of a clinic-based quality improvement initiative at BronxCare Hospital, routine screening for food insecurity was implemented in the outpatient setting. During the first half of 2025, 5% of the 2,532 families screened identified as food-insecure, demonstrating feasibility in a busy clinical environment. The intervention was later expanded to the inpatient setting. Between October and December 2025, the proportion of families identified as food-insecure increased from 2.0% to 15.4% of the 306 admissions, coinciding with reductions in WIC and SNAP benefits.  Project Goal and Proposed Intervention Our goal is to implement a school-based screening and referral program for food insecurity, starting with middle school students. Families will be offered voluntary, anonymous screening using a multilingual QR-code-based tool, with paper options available. Immigration status will not be collected, and all families will receive food resource information regardless of screening participation to ensure equitable access. Referrals will prioritize food pantries that do not require identification or documentation. We plan to train school staff in culturally sensitive, nonjudgmental engagement and designate a school-based food insecurity champion to support sustainability beyond the grant period.  Anticipated Outcomes Over 12 months, we aim to increase school staff confidence in identifying food insecurity, screen middle school families, improve access to inclusive food resources, and strengthen school-healthcare-community partnerships.

Project Goal

Our goal is to implement a school-based food insecurity screening and referral program for middle school students and their families at PS 5 Port Morris that reduces stigma, improves access to inclusive community food resources, and equips school staff with the knowledge and skills to identify and address food insecurity, while strengthening sustainable school- community partnerships. 

Project Objective 1

Objective 1 (Short-Term): Capacity Building and Equity-Centered Implementation.   By month three of the 12-month project period, train participating school staff who work with middle school students (grades 6 to 8) on food insecurity among school-aged children, culturally sensitive and stigma-reducing communication, and use of the screening and referral process, with an emphasis on inclusive, immigration-safe resource sharing. 

Project Objective 2

Objective 2 (Intermediate): Screening and Identification (Middle School Only)     By month eight of the 12-month project period, screen at least 30% of middle school families at PS 5 Port Morris (approximately 72 of 288 families) for food insecurity using a validated screening tool. Screening will be offered universally to middle school families during school pick-up and drop-off times using a multilingual QR-code-based tool (English, Spanish, French, and Arabic), with paper-based options available. Food resource information will be provided to all middle school families, regardless of whether they complete screening, to promote equity and reduce stigma.  

Project Objective 3

Objective 3 (Long-Term): Resource Access and Follow-Up (Middle School Families)     By the end of the 12-month project period, increase access to inclusive community food resources among participating middle school families by 15%. Families who screen positive and choose to provide an email address will receive a one-week follow-up survey to assess resource utilization. For families who do not provide contact information, engagement will be evaluated by tracking the distribution of food resource pamphlets and by collecting feedback from middle-school-affiliated school staff.  

AAP District

District II

Institutional Name

BronxCare Hospital Program

Contact 1

Sana Amreen, MD

Contact 2

Merve Ladik, MD