Center for Nutrition & Health Impact (formerly Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition)’s Post

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT! For the last 50 years, our focus has been clear: Conduct strong research that impacts nutrition for all ages. Gretchen Swanson’s original vision from the 1970s of reducing food insecurity among children is still true today, and we have worked to expand our focus over time to include other key areas of public health nutrition, such as healthy eating and active living, food and nutrition security, and food systems more broadly. With growth comes change. We have been working for months behind-the-scenes and we are finally able to share that the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition is rebranding to the Center for Nutrition and Health Impact effective today. By adding “health impact,” we are acknowledging the larger sphere of work we have engaged in over the last 15 years, as well as our work moving ahead. Our hope is for our work to have positive, lasting health impacts across multiple communities, over several generations. This is an ambitious goal, but one we are taking on wholeheartedly. While nutrition is always at our center, this rebrand reflects our unwavering innovation and exploration of other areas to spur progress. It is at the core of what we do. And what won’t be changing: the dedication and amazing work of the team and our partnership with you. We will continue to deliver the high-quality products that you associate with the Center, along with the breadth and depth of knowledge and expertise that has become synonymous with our name. Join us in celebrating this milestone, and please feel free to share this news with others you think may be interested.

Meet Dr. Jessica Cheng, PhD, one of our three selected winners for the Walmart Foundation-funded research opportunity! Dr. Cheng is a postdoctoral fellow with joint appointments in the Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Department of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital 🏥 Using the Center's measure of food security stability (one of six domains or pillars of food security), Dr. Cheng explored the relationship of two newly created dichotomous measures that represent aspects of nutrition security (i.e., perceived limited availability and healthfulness choice) with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (#SNAP) participation 🥒🛒 Curious to learn what Dr. Cheng discovered? 💡 Read the full paper below! https://lnkd.in/gZAK4AfK

To meet the unique online shopping needs of Mississippi WIC (MS WIC) partners, MS WIC proposes a research-informed planning project with listening sessions and surveys involving WIC staff, technology partners, vendors, participants, and key groups. An expert advisory panel will guide the planning stages. A SWOT analysis will determine the appropriateness of the proposed online shopping solution. MS WIC will produce an implementation plan to guide the next steps with at least two WIC-authorized vendors. Explore the project details at https://lnkd.in/gGT5Qwdx #MississippiWIC #MSWIC #WICShopping #OnlineShopping #WICParticipants #WICVendors #HealthNutrition #WICShopPlus

CALL FOR PROPOSALS! The Center for Nutrition & Health Impact is partnering with American Heart Association on a project that aims to pilot and evaluate nutrition insecurity screening and referral within clinical sites’ existing health-related social needs screening systems. Two clinical sites will receive $25,000 to co-design, implement and evaluate their screening and referral protocol in partnership with CNHI. More information about this opportunity can be found on our website: https://lnkd.in/geqeeMqH The CFP closes September 20, 2024.

Please join us from September 15–October 15 in uplifting Hispanic and Latino/a/é voices, traditions, cultures and contributions within the United States! In honor of this year's Hispanic Heritage Month theme, Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together, we will be sharing CNHI staff recommendations, inspirations and resources for you to explore 💡 This image features the vibrant skirts of Jalisco folklorico dresses from Mexico during Jarabe Tapatío, the national dance of Mexico. #HispanicHeritageMonth #TogetherWeShine

A person’s weight is a factor of a multitude of complex interactions among genes, biology, environment and behaviors, and is also associated with the leading causes of preventable death in the U.S., including heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. A new paper co-authored by Principal Research Scientist Dr. Carmen Byker Shanks looks at ending weight stigma to reduce health disparities. The disparities in diet-related diseases may be a result of systemic inequities that could be addressed by targeting structural and social factors. In addition to place-based environmental conditions that influence eating habits and physical activity, stress and behavioral opportunities to manage health effectively depend on health care patterns and access to health care. 🗒️ Read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/gfbPyvA9

West Side Campaign Against Hunger’s (WSCAH) mission is to alleviate hunger by ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to a choice of healthy food and supportive services. For 45 years, WSCAH has put dignity, community and choice at the heart of their efforts to serve people (whom they refer to as customers) and transform the emergency feeding sector. They started this work in the basement of a church on West 86th Street serving hundreds of New Yorkers a week. Today, they serve approximately 600 customers a day—5 million pounds of food to more than 100,000 customers annually—through a new 13,000 square-foot warehouse and dozens of community distribution sites across New York City. In addition to providing healthy food, more than 50 percent of which is fresh fruits and vegetables, WSCAH helps their customers access essential benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (#SNAP; formerly food stamps). WSCAH is also the founder and fiscal sponsor of The Roundtable: Allies for Food Access, a dedicated network of eight of the leading frontline anti-hunger organizations in NYC. The Roundtable collaborates to purchase products in bulk, compare vendor prices, share best practices and drive change across the sector. They continue to explore innovative ideas for serving their customers with dignity and advocating for systems change to bring more resources to communities, so none of our neighbors go hungry. Want to learn more about WCSAH's mission and vision? Read our interview with Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Gregory Silverman here! https://lnkd.in/gRHEM548 #HungerActionMonth

Indiana WIC (IN WIC) will study WIC-approved vendors to assess the feasibility of a WIC online shopping solution. Due to the rural communities and growing refugee population, IN WIC will conduct focus groups statewide to gather data on how clients use online shopping and redeem WIC benefits. Insights from these groups will inform a SWOT analysis and a mitigation plan. Feedback will help create a roadmap and model for implementing the WIC online shopping solution. Discover more about the project at https://lnkd.in/gJMUaPQH #IndianaWIC #INWIC #WICShopping #OnlineShopping #WICParticipants #WICVendors #HealthNutrition #WICShopPlus

Weight Stigma Awareness Week is September 23–27. Created and co-hosted by the Body Equity Alliance and Within Health, Weight Stigma Awareness Week's mission is to "eliminate anti-fat bias, which is rooted in racism, to end the resulting stigma, shame, trauma and discrimination around body shape and size." At the Center for Nutrition & Health Impact, we're committed to the importance of equitable research and evaluation, and exploring the adverse effects of weight stigma in both social and healthcare settings. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), weight stigma refers to "individuals' social devaluation and denigration due to larger body sizes, leading to negative attitudes, stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination. This issue has escalated, with a two-thirds increase over the past decade." This month, we will explore the causes and effects of weight stigma, including the use of Body Mass Index (BMI) to screen for weight categories and overall health, the GusNIP weight stigma measurement toolkit and CNHI scientists' research in this area. Got resources that can help eliminate weight stigma? Share with us in the comments!