Addressing Food Insecurity in Health Care to Promote Health Equity for Children
Official title: Addressing Food Insecurity in the Health Care Setting to Promote Health Equity
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11375068 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pilot program will test a workflow that links families with food insecurity to healthy nutrition supports for children through Medicaid/SNAP in California.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $475,278 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK140573-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11375068 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families with children aged 0-11 years who experience food insecurity and receive Medicaid or SNAP benefits in California.
✕Less likely to help
Families without access to Medicaid/SNAP or those not experiencing food insecurity may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This grant tests a practical, clinic-based approach to help families with food insecurity access nutrition resources for children. It uses a Roll-Out Implementation Optimization design to implement and measure how well the I-FRESH program works in real health care settings. The focus is on families of children with nutrition-related illnesses who already receive Medicaid or SNAP benefits, aiming to improve access, affordability, and health outcomes. The study combines screening, navigator-led discussions, and referrals to nutrition programs to create sustainable, real-world changes in care. Results will inform how to scale effective workflows to support health equity for families across communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could make it easier for families to obtain nutritious foods, potentially improving children’s health and academic outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous similar approaches show promise in connecting families to nutrition resources, but this exact rollout in pediatric care with ROIO is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rhee, Kyung E — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Rhee, Kyung E
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.