Best Practices in Addressing Food and Nutrition Security with Policy, Systems and Environmental (PSE) Change Projects

Although food and nutrition insecurity have affected millions of Americans for decades, these topics have recently come to the forefront of conversations on health equity as the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated longstanding inequities in chronic diseases and healthy food access. The White House recently announced the goal of ending hunger and increasing healthy eating by 2030 so fewer Americans experience diet-related diseases.

While a variety of entities across the United States are implementing strategies to address food and nutrition insecurity to promote optimal health, reduce risk of chronic disease, and eliminate health inequities and disparities, there is a lack of information about best practices in how these entities are organized and governed, select priority strategies, and assess their impact on communities.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and Altarum partnered to identify best practices in organizing collaborative approaches to addressing food and nutrition insecurity, such as food policy councils, food charters and plans, and State Nutrition Action Councils (SNACs), as well as which policy, systems and environmental change strategies are most promising for groups to implement. Download the report to learn how states are addressing food and nutrition security through collaborative strategies and engaging diverse stakeholders.