A cross-sectional, anonymous, online survey was distributed via the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ e-mail platform and social media accounts in two waves from April 2020 to February 2021. Participants were U.S.-based RDNs practicing in community-based settings to address food insecurity (wave 1: n = 454; wave 2: n = 331).
Public health and community RDNs responding to the Academy’s surveys reported quickly adapting their programs to ensure staff and client safety while continuing to provide essential food security services as demand for food assistance increased. Commonly reported barriers to providing food security support included supply chain issues, staffing challenges and program financial losses. Federal child nutrition waivers to improve the flexibility of food delivery options were facilitators, with respondents reporting they were widely implemented.
Going forward, responding RDNs wanted nutrition program policies to remain flexible and for there to be rapid identification and communication of best practices in future public health emergencies. Read the full details in this article published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
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