Phil Tocco

Extension Educator

MSUE-Jackson County

Measuring Food Security in Jackson

Why Measure Food Security?

What is a Food Security Survey?

• An assessment of need within a community

• Fairly quantitative and repeatable

• Highly configurable based on research goals

Developing the Survey

• Begin with the end in mind

• Seek input from a diverse stakeholder group

• Craft a basic survey instrument

• Pilot and revise survey as necessary

• Collect and analyze data

Components of the Survey?• Demographic and Socioeconomic profile

• Community food resource profile

• Household food security assessment

• Assessment of food resource accessibility

• Food availability and affordability assessment

• Community food production resources assessment

Demographic Profile

• Helps to describe what the community looks like.

• Parameters can include:– Age, Race– Employment

• Poverty status– Income

Photo Credit Getty Images

Food Resource Profile

• Determines the adequacy of community resources.

• Are food assistance programs available?

• Is the community participating?

• Are emergency resources available?

Household Food Security Assessment

• Main driver is to determine if household food security is a direct personal problem.

• Key assessment indicators:– Perceptions of inadequacy.– food budget anxiety.– reports of reduced food

intake or consequences.

Food Resource Accessibility

• Assesses physical access to food.

• Do grocery stores exist in the neighborhood?

• What barriers to access exist?

• Is transportation adequate?

Food Availability and Affordability

• Is there a variety of food available in local stores?

• Is the food affordable?

• Can include a survey of local grocery stores.

Photo Credit Getty Images

Community Food Production Resources

• Assesses the community capacity for local production and low income access.

• Indicators include:– Community gardens– Local food purchases by

institutions and schools– Value added production

or food processing

Partnership Park Demographics

• 20 square blocks adjacent to downtown.

• 85% renter occupied

• Median household income is $15,966

• More racially diverse than rest of city

Branded Neighborhood

• Gateway sign and street banners.

• Historic street lighting.• Monthly

neighborhood stakeholder meetings.

• Annual neighborhood events.

Community Activism Around Food Security

• Active community garden group in neighborhood.

• MSUE, Faith-based collaborations to educate gardeners.

• Emphasis on hand-up

Photo Credit Citizen Patriot

Other Neighborhood Investments

• $12 million in Public/Private investments.

• 24 rehabs.

• 16 new urban in-fills.

• Significant sidewalk repairs (191 squares).

Research Methods

• Developed and validated food security instrument.

• 19 households randomly picked from each subject area.

• Data subjected to simple T-test to determine significance of differences among populations.

Home Ownership Rates

Hungry because they couldn’t afford food

Lost weight because they couldn’t afford food

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Usage

SNA Program Partnership Park Occurrences

Adjacent area Occurrences

WIC 7 9

Free/Reduced School Lunch

3 7

Project Fresh 0 1

Meals on Wheels 1 0

Food Pantries 10 7

Interfaith Shelter 3 2

Bridge Card/Food Stamps

16 12

Community Garden 5 0

Key Takeaways

• Begin with the end in mind

• Develop stakeholder group

• Remember the data are the starting point

Photo Credit Getty Images