Essential Service Provider St Louis Dept of Health

Essential Service Provider, St. Louis Dept. of Health

Food Outreach Mission Statement To provide nutritional support and enhance the quality of life of men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS or cancer.

Our Critical and Unique Services Food Outreach is the only organization in Missouri and western Illinois providing our services to clients living at or below 300% FPL 2 meals per day for 2 weeks at a time at no charge to our clients Individual food/nutrition plan adapted to clients’ health condition, medication and health goals

Food Outreach is not a food pantry NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTIONS Private Nutritional Counseling with our registered dietitians Integrated Frozen Scratch-Prepared Meals Shelf-stable groceries and fresh produce Meal Home Delivery Monday Hot Lunch Nutrition Education Classes Cooking Classes

Who We Serve

COVID-19 CDC Disproportionate burden of illness and death upon our country’s Native, Black and Latino citizens 72% of our clients live at/below 100% FPL Majority of our clients live in zip codes with highest incidence rates

Food as Medicine By providing nourishing meals, Food Outreach empowers individuals with the necessary building blocks to support their treatment, making it a crucial foot-hold in their care.

Medical Nutrition Therapy The goals of nutrition therapy: ● ● ● ● ● Prevent or reverse nutrient deficiencies Preserve lean body mass Help patients better tolerate treatments Minimize nutrition related side effects and complications Maintain strength and energy Protect immune function Decrease the risk of infection Aid in recovery and healing Maximize quality of life

Poverty in our Region 84% of our clients reside in St. Louis City and St. Louis County St. Louis City 80% Free & Reduced Lunch 25% St. Louis City has the highest food insecurity rate in the State St. Louis County: 75% Free & Reduced Lunch 15% food insecurity rate

Related to poverty, our clients experience higher incidence of Addiction Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) Depression and trauma Housing instability High levels of food insecurity Isolation Stigma

HIV/AIDS in MO-STL Region 25% of the total STL region living with HIV The rate of Black females living with HIV is 13. 6 times higher than white females. The rate of Black males living with HIV is 6. 0 times higher than white males.

Our clients living with HIV are living significantly longer and aging with multi-morbidities that compromise their health: Cardiovascular disease High blood pressure Diabetes Congestive heart failure Pulmonary (lung) disease/cancer Mental health issues Polypharmacy

Referrals for Cancer Services Cancer patients are referred from our healthcare partners by a case navigator, social worker, dietitian or nurse.

Cancer clients – 72% Below 100% FPL Breast Lung Head/Neck Colon/Rectal/Prostate Pancreatic Other

Jason Purnell, Ph. D, MPH The Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis BJC Healthcare, VP Community Health Improvement From Jason Purnell’s “For the Sake of All” 2014. Renamed “Health Equity Works” healthequityworks. wustl. edu

Ellen Barnidge, Ph. D, MPH Associate Professor of Behavioral Science and Health Education College for Public Health and Social Justice, St. Louis University 33 years experience Focus on chronic illness Availability, access, adequacy & agency

Public Health Community Models of behavior change Knowledge Skills Habit formation Attitude Norms Self-efficacy

Meeting the Need During COVID Curbside and contact free delivery Client reassurance calls Distribution of PPE/cleaning supplies Expansion of meal home delivery Remote client intakes Virtual education classes Drive-thru Monday boxed lunches Van driver for home delivery Client Services Coordinator

30 Days of Meals Scratch prepared meals Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Whole-Grain Bread Nuts, EVOO, Eggs Shelf-Stable Groceries PPE & Ed Materials

At a Glance 1, 908 Clients in 2019 700 volunteers 13 FT and 1 PT Staff $2 M

Our Role The Dignity of Nutrition