2023 Department of Pediatrics Academic Annual Report

Approximately one in four children in Alabama struggle with food insecurity.

This project extends its reach to patients from all corners of Alabama. The goal for those who are admitted to Children’s of Alabama is to help find local support for ongoing needs in addition to providing urgent resources. Food-insecure patients are identified through the American Academy of Pediatrics Hunger Vital Signs criteria, emphasizing UAB and Children’s of Alabama’s commitment to a comprehensive screening process. “This initiative is truly a multidisciplinary effort, involving physicians across the training spectrum (residents, fellows and faculty), social workers, nutritionists, nursing staff and external organizations. Together, we are dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the lives of families facing food insecurity,” says Molina. “When social services are aware of food insecurity, we meet with the family to discuss how to access food while in the hospital,” said Cindy Deerman, medical social worker on the pediatric hospital medicine team. “We also ensure that they know how to apply for food stamps and/or the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, provide a list of county food banks, and give them a $20 gas card to get to the food bank. And hopefully, in the near future, we will also give a box of food to bridge them to their local food bank.” Approximately one in four children in Alabama struggle with food insecurity, emphasizing the urgency and significance of this project.

“ “Overcoming the challenges in this arena is crucial to delivering truly holistic care to our families, recognizing that medical advances are only meaningful when basic needs are met.”

– Adolfo Molina, M.D., MSHQS

As part of our commitment to ongoing support, Deerman has had the opportunity to call these families after their admission to see if the provided resources were helpful. “I often hear how thankful they are for the resources. It may be that we helped them apply for food stamps or WIC and they now have it, or we connected them to a local food bank, and they were able to get food after discharge,” explained Deerman. Through these comprehensive efforts, the project aims to address immediate needs and to create lasting solutions for families facing food insecurity, thereby fostering a healthier and more secure future for children in our care. ■

2023 Academic Annual Report

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