Wendi Gosliner, senior researcher and policy advisor at the Nutrition Policy Institute, spoke on a panel on policy and advocacy on January 28 at a virtual symposium hosted by the University of California, Berkeley and Plant Futures. ‘Symposium–2022: The Countdown: Exploring the Future of Plant-Centric Food Systems,' convened attendees for two days to discuss climate, agriculture, nutrition, and planetary health and to hear from leaders in the food system working on creative solutions to challenges in these areas. The Plant Futures initiative launched in 2021 as a multidisciplinary program at UC Berkeley focused on plant-centric food systems and their impacts on human health, animal welfare, and planetary sustainability, with programming expanding to campuses across the globe.
Nutrition Policy Institute policy advisor Christina Hecht presented virtually at the 2021 Child and Adult Care Food Program conference. Her talk on October 19 was titled “Testing: one, two and three! AB 2370 and you” on the California law–AB 2370–that requires licensed child care centers to test for lead at every tap used for drinking or cooking. Implementation of the law was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hecht's talk informed attendees on how to prepare for future implementation of AB 2370 and also provided a question and answer session for child care providers to share their experiences. Hecht leads the National Drinking Water Alliance, which is coordinated by NPI.
Nutrition Policy Institute researcher Wendi Gosliner presents virtually at the 2021 American Public Health Association 2021 Annual Meeting and Expo October 24-27. Gosliner and NPI co-authors Ron Strochlic and Marisa Tsai present a virtual talk on October 26 titled 'Increasing fresh local produce in prisons: Promising practices to improve health, foster food justice, and support local food systems'. Gosliner presents an in-person talk with NPI co-authors Celeste Felix, Strochlic and Tsai on October 27 titled ‘Texting monthly nutrition messages to all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants in San Diego county, California: Promising pilot study results'. Gosliner is also co-author of a talk presented by Mekhala Hoskote of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health titled ‘“Hidden pandemic”: Delays in healthcare among low-income families in California during the COVID-19 pandemic' on October 22. The 2021 APHA meeting theme is 'Creating the Healthiest Nation: Strengthening Social Connectedness', and is a hybrid conference allowing attendees to participate online or in-person in Denver, Colorado.
- Author: Danielle L. Lee
- Editor: Lorrene Ritchie
Nutrition plays an important role in promoting health and preventing disease, but where people live or how much money they earn can affect their ability to access or afford healthy food. Understanding the role socio-economic conditions play can help inform prevention efforts. Nutrition Policy Institute director and Cooperative Extension specialist, Lorrene Ritchie, presented at a three-day virtual National Institutes of Health workshop, “Food Insecurity, Neighborhood Food Environment, and Nutrition Health Disparities: State of the Science”. Her talk, “Food Insecurity Across the Lifespan,” provided an overview of current evidence related to racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities of food insecurity over the life course. All talks are free and available on-demand for online viewing.
The federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support to low-income women, infants and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk. The COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected and unprecedented changes to WIC service delivery in order to protect the health and well-being of staff and participants. Researchers at the Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI) presented two talks at the National WIC Association 2021 virtual annual conference, held online June 15-17, 2021. The first shared results of quantitative and qualitative data collected during the pandemic from WIC participants and WIC local agency directors in California. Results from this study highlight the significant success of the California WIC program in reaching participants and meeting their needs during the COVID crisis and suggest multiple strategies useful for continued program improvements throughout the nation. The second talk shared results from a survey of nearly 50,000 WIC participants in 11 states and 1 Indian Tribal Organization. Researchers shared WIC participant perspectives of what worked well and what was challenging about enrollment, nutrition education, shopping for WIC foods, and use of the WIC card and app(s). The survey also collected suggestions from participants on how they would like to receive WIC services once when it is safe to return in-person to WIC clinics, and how their physical, mental and financial well-being and food insecurity changed during the pandemic. Researchers involved in the studies included NPI's Lorrene Ritchie and Danielle Lee, Georgia Machell of the National WIC Association, private consultant Linnea Sallack, and Shannon Whaley of the Public Health Foundation Enterprises-WIC. The projects were funded by grants from the David and Lucille Packard Foundation; the California study was also funded by the California Department of Public Health.