RWJBarnabas Health Receives Grant to Combat Food InsecurityRWJBarnabas Health Receives Grant to Combat Food Insecurity NEWARK, NJ—RWJBarnabas Health has received a grant from the New Jersey Food Security Initiative (NJFSI) to combat food insecurity in the state. The program will place Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Navigators in each of the health system’s 12 acute care hospitals. These navigators will assist low-income residents with: – Enrolling in SNAP – Recertifying their benefits – Connecting them to other food resources Barbara Mintz, Senior Vice President of Social Impact and Community Investment at RWJBarnabas Health, explains that the initiative “is a transformative approach to improving food security and health equity in New Jersey.” Food insecurity adversely affects health outcomes: – In 2022, 1 in 12 New Jersey households reported food insecurity. – This challenge costs the state an estimated $1.3 billion annually. The new program is part of RWJBarnabas Health’s ongoing efforts to address food insecurity, including the Beth Greenhouse and Farmers Market, the Sadie Vickers Community Garden, and the Food Farmacy Program.
1
NEWARK, NJ—RWJBarnabas Health today announced it has received a grant from the New Jersey Food Security Initiative (NJFSI) to launch a groundbreaking program aimed at combating food insecurity in the state. The program will place Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Navigators in each of the health system’s 12 acute care hospitals to help low-income residents access food, healthy diets and nutrition education.
Barbara Mintz, Senior Vice President of Social Impact and Community Investment at RWJBarnabas Health, was excited about the partnership with NJFSI. She highlighted the initiative as a transformative approach to improving food security and health equity in New Jersey. The navigators will provide critical support in enrolling individuals in SNAP, assisting with recertification and connecting them to other food resources.
This initiative aligns with RWJBarnabas Health’s ongoing efforts to address food insecurity through several projects, including the Beth Greenhouse and Farmers Market, the Sadie Vickers Community Garden, and the Food Farmacy Program. These efforts are part of the broader Social Impact and Community Investment practice, which partners with state and local agencies to address multiple social determinants of health, such as economic stability and affordable housing.
Food insecurity has a significant impact on health outcomes, with one in 12 New Jersey households reporting it as a challenge in 2022, according to the USDA. This challenge results in an estimated $1.3 billion in annual costs to the state. RWJBarnabas Health’s new program aims to mitigate this impact by ensuring greater access to essential food resources.
