Meals and grocery support for families of hospitalized children
NOURISH: Nurturing Outreach for Understanding and Reducing Inpatient Security of Health
This project tests whether giving prepared family meals or grocery gift cards to caregivers of hospitalized children who screen positive for food insecurity can reduce household food insecurity and improve post-discharge outcomes.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Wake Forest University Health Sciences Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) |
| Trial ID | NCT07010289 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot feasibility trial at Brenner Children's Hospital partners with Second Harvest Food Bank to test two short-term food supports for families whose child was hospitalized and screened positive for food insecurity. Caregivers will receive either weekly prepared family meals, grocery store gift cards, or standard of care over a four-week enrollment period. The study will measure changes in household food insecurity, 30-day hospital readmissions, and primary care follow-up. The primary goals are to demonstrate feasibility and acceptability of the interventions and to collect preliminary outcome data to inform larger trials.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Caregivers who live with a hospitalized child, screened positive for food insecurity, live in Forsyth County, have a freezer and oven, speak English or Spanish, and are willing to accept weekly meal deliveries are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Families without a freezer or oven, with household food allergies, planning to leave Forsyth County within six months, or unable to provide legal consent are unlikely to receive benefit from the tested interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce household food insecurity, help families meet immediate nutrition needs, and lower short-term readmissions while improving outpatient follow-up.
How similar studies have performed: Prior community and hospital-linked food support programs have demonstrated improvements in food security and some health outcomes, though hospital-based meal delivery and gift-card pilots are still limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * caregiver and legal guardian of a pediatric patient hospitalized in the acute care units of Brenner Children's Hospital, who have screened positive for food insecurity during the hospitalization. * lives in the same household as the pediatric patient hospitalized * lives in Forsyth County, North Carolina * has a freezer and oven in the household * does not have family members with food allergies in the household * willing to accept weekly meal deliveries at home address * speaks English or Spanish Exclusion Criteria: * subjects who do not have the capacity to give legally effective consent * planning to leave Forsyth County, North Carolina within 6 months of enrollment date
Where this trial is running
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Brenner Children's Hospital — Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Leila DeWitt, DO, MA — Brenner Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Leila DeWitt, DO, MA
- Email: Leila.dewitt@advocatehealth.org
- Phone: 336.713.3552
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.