Overview
This comprehensive toolkit helps pediatricians and pediatric care teams identify and respond to food insecurity among children and families. It is designed to support both screening and practical follow-up, with a focus on integrating food insecurity interventions into routine pediatric care.
What the Resource Covers
The toolkit explains why food insecurity is an important child health issue and provides detailed guidance for incorporating screening into pediatric practice. It includes practical information to help clinicians identify families experiencing food insecurity, discuss food needs in a supportive way, connect families with federal nutrition programs and community resources, and build referral processes into existing workflows. The resource is intended to give pediatric practices both the background information and implementation tools needed to move from recognizing food insecurity to taking action.
Key Takeaways for Implementation
Food insecurity screening is most useful when practices have clear processes for responding to identified needs. Pediatric teams can use this toolkit to develop consistent screening, referral, and follow-up procedures and to strengthen connections with nutrition assistance and community-based resources.
Who May Find This Resource Useful
This resource may be especially useful for pediatricians, pediatric clinics, and health systems seeking a comprehensive and detailed guide for implementing or strengthening food insecurity screening and referral programs for children and families.
Resource Type: Tools & Toolkits.
Topic Areas: Pediatrics, food insecurity, screening, referrals, nutrition assistance, program implementation.
Population or Setting: Pediatric health care settings, children, and families.
Publication Date: January 2021.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics; Food Research & Action Center.
