WED-063 - Food Is Medicine in Practice: Developing a Food Landscape Review in the Kansas City Metro

Brief Abstract Summary: Examine the development, implementation, and evaluation of a food landscape review aimed at exploring Food is Medicine (FiM) programs in the Kansas City, Missouri, metropolitan area. Key elements include program types, barriers, facilitators, and the role of multi-sector partners.

Detailed abstract description:

Introduction: As the Food is Medicine (FiM) movement gains momentum nationally, there is a growing need to understand how these interventions are being implemented in practice. This presentation will outline the development, implementation, and evaluation of a FiM landscape review in the Kansas City, Missouri, metropolitan area focused on exploring the types of FiM programming, barriers, facilitators, and the role of active multi-sector partners.

Methods: This project used a cross-sectional research design to distribute a survey via Qualtrics using a mix of purposeful convenience and snowball sampling to reach community organizations engaged in FiM work within Kansas City. Following survey participation, in-depth interviews were conducted with key actors. As part of a federally funded grant, instruments and distribution lists were developed in collaboration with a team of local food system experts. Surveys were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a FiM coding scheme, developed from existing FiM pyramid literature on categorizing intervention types. In-depth interview analysis used a mix of inductive and deductive coding to establish key themes across interviews.

Results: Using the FiM coding scheme, 30% as medically tailored meal packages/groceries, and 30% as produce prescriptions. Most programs reported screening participants (82%) for some eligibility criteria before enrollment (e.g. food insecurity, chronic disease, Medicaid user), 90% reported working with other partner agencies, and 44% provided locally sourced foods. Beyond providing food or redemptions for food (e.g. gift cards, vouchers), 60% reported providing nutritional education, and 30% reported having emergency food program assistance (e.g. SNAP, WIC). Initial analysis from interviews highlight collaborative multi-sector partnerships, facilitators (population reach, research/evaluation), barriers (participant needs, limited resources, healthcare model), and sustainability (PSE change), as emerging key themes and subthemes in FiM program practice.

Conclusion: Findings highlight the methodology used to develop and implement a novel FiM landscape review instrument that can be utilized by other communities. Additionally, this evaluation emphasizes the nuance of FiM programs in practice and provides a foundation to better understand how they are being implemented, key actors, and additional support needs.