Food insecurity is defined as "the state of being without reliable access to sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food." Food insecurity and poor nutrition have serious consequences for the health and well being of our community, including a greater risk for chronic disease, which can be costly to health systems and individuals. Vulnerable populations such as children, seniors, and individuals who live in rural areas have less access to healthy foods and are particularly at risk for food insecurity, poor nutrition, and chronic illnesses over the course of their life.
Year 1 and 2 Progress UpdateLead Agency: Healthy Klamath staff
As an agricultural community, one of the main components of the food insecurity work is to help keep produce grown in the Klamath Basin local and educate the community about the benefits of supporting it. Healthy Klamath wrote a successful grant to complete a food hub feasibility study. They partnered with local producers, OSU Extension, restaurants, farmers market, WIC, community gardens, and Klamath Farmers Online Marketplace (KFOM) to improve the local food system. KFOM successfully applied to become a SNAP approved location and is exploring the opportunity to become WIC approved.
In the first year of the CHIP work, Food for Thought and Find Your Farmer events were held and well attended. These are meant to be quarterly and annual events, but due to the pandemic later programs were cancelled. Similar to other committees, while in-person work was prohibited by the pandemic, educational materials, website improvements, and strategic planning were done.
What does the data say?
We've gathered together 3 key indicators to help us see the big picture.
Overview
In 2018, Klamath County's food insecurity rate was in the worst 25% of counties in Oregon.
Klamath County has consistently had a higher food insecurity rate than the state of Oregon. Even though the rate for all people in Klamath County has decreased from 17% in 2012 to 16% in 2018, the child food insecurity rate was measured at 23.8% in 2018, much higher than the Oregon rate of 16%. Additionally, Klamath County ranks in the worst 25% of counties throughout the United States in the Food Environment Index.
GOAL
Improve access to fresh and healthy food, and increase knowledge on how to produce, sell, and prepare local food
Objective 1: Reduce food insecurity among Klamath County residents by 10%, as measured by the Food Environment Index, by June 30, 2022
Strategy 1: Increase access to local produce and other healthy foods within the urban food desert.
Jun
2022
2022
Task 1: Collaborate with IYS to increase food access for school aged kids.
Process Measure: Total youth attending kickoff/year end eventsQuarterly TrackingOct-Dec 2021 Jan-Mar 2022 Apr-Jun 2022 July-Sept 2022 No update Task 2: Promote use of SNAP, WIC, and vouchers at Farmers Markets and KFOM
Quarterly TrackingOct-Dec 2019 Jan-Mar 2020 Apr-Jun 2020 July-Sept 2020 $93.00 SNAP sold on KFOM EBT Application submitted for KFOM KFOM Approved for EBT machine and sales increase EBT Machine arrived Oct-Dec 2021 Jan-Mar 2022 Apr-Jun 2022 July-Sept 2022 We promoted that KFOM was accepting SNAP, but no other update Oct-Dec 2020 Jan-Mar 2021 Apr-Jun 2021 July-Sept 2021 KFOM will be working with new WIC coordinated to become WIC approved KFOM has shown interest in becoming WIC certified, we will introduce managers to new WIC manager SNAP educational booth at farmers market. SNAP educational booth at farmers market. Task 3: Identify transportation solutions to increase access to farmers markets and KFOM
Progress Measure: Number of new transportation solutions in place.Quarterly TrackingOct-Dec 2019 Jan-Mar 2020 Apr-Jun 2020 July-Sept 2020 1, KFOM is now translink approved No Progress No Progress Free bus rides for the entire community Oct-Dec 2020 Jan-Mar 2021 Apr-Jun 2021 July-Sept 2021 Number of new transportation solutions in place Completed in Year 1 Oct-Dec 2021 Jan-Mar 2022 Apr-Jun 2022 July-Sept 2022 Completed in Year 1
Strategy 2: Improve local food economy by connecting and advocating for local producers to sell locally
Jun
2022
2022
Task 1: Host Annual Find Your Farmer Event. Adjusting as needed for community needs.
Process Meassure: Number of event participants, number of new buyers sourcing locally
Oct-Dec 2019 Jan-Mar 2020 Apr-Jun 2020 July-Sept 2020 No data 1 Event, 40 Attendees Hosting a "passport program" to encourage customers to visit our local restaurants. Passport program launched and complete now working on local food guide Oct-Dec 2020 Jan-Mar 2021 Apr-Jun 2021 July-Sept 2021 No progress. We hope to host an event in fall 2021 No event hosted due to gathering restrictions from COVID-19 No progress Hosted 2 lunches building the layout for FYF 2021. Scheduled for December 1st. Oct-Dec 2021 Jan-Mar 2022 Apr-Jun 2022 July-Sept 2022 3 events hosted for producers in this quarter. Task 2: Work to improve food and/or systems in schools.
Process Measure: Number of healthier practices implementedQuarterly TrackingOct-Dec 2021 Jan-Mar 2022 Apr-Jun 2022 July-Sept 2022 1 parent went to city school board and wrote letter promoting simple solutions. Task 3: Develop and share a Producer Resource Hub containing information about funders, timelines, partners, and grant writers
Process Measure: Resource list on Healthy Klamath WebsiteQuarterly TrackingOct-Dec 2021 Jan-Mar 2022 Apr-Jun 2022 July-Sept 2022 Working on this, but also met with KFOM to discuss possible connections and collaborations
Strategy 3: Educate consumers on nutritional quality, producing, and preparing healthy foods.
Jun
2022
2022
Task 1: Host "food for thought" events to educate community members on our food system
Process Measure: Number of participants; number of events.Quarterly TrackingOct-Dec 2019 Jan-Mar 2020 Apr-Jun 2020 July-Sept 2020 1 Event, 29 attendees Postponed due to COVID Event hosted in Q4 Next event hosted November 4th, Oct-Dec 2020 Jan-Mar 2021 Apr-Jun 2021 July-Sept 2021 Hosted virtual "food for thought" discussing the details of the food hub feasibility study No events hosted, yet. No progress Data collected about community and small gardens to help direct the next food for thought. Oct-Dec 2021 Jan-Mar 2022 Apr-Jun 2022 July-Sept 2022 No update Task 2: Increase utilization of and education about community gardens
Process Measure: Number of individuals utilizing community gardens.Quarterly TrackingOct-Dec 2019 Jan-Mar 2020 Apr-Jun 2020 July-Sept 2020 No Data Partnering with Klamath Works on grant project for garden and greenhouse Community Garden page with information each community garden now hosted on HK website No progress Oct-Dec 2021 Jan-Mar 2022 Apr-Jun 2022 July-Sept 2022 Working with Nicole Sanchez and Klamath Works to encourage community members to apply for a plot Participated in evening sessions that taught the essentials in managing community gardens. Shared this opportunity through email. No progress Data collected about community and small gardens to design what the education will look like. Oct-Dec 2020 Jan-Mar 2021 Apr-Jun 2021 July-Sept 2021 Surveys were done. See community gardens survey results document for more information. Task 3: Utilize Healthy Klamath Website to promote nutrition and share food system resource materials
Process Measure: Number of new food system educational resources available on healthy Klamath website.Quarterly TrackingOct-Dec 2019 Jan-Mar 2020 Apr-Jun 2020 July-Sept 2020 No Data (yet) Resource page focusing on food published Resource page with COVID resources published Updated resource page Oct-Dec 2020 Jan-Mar 2021 Apr-Jun 2021 July-Sept 2021 No new progress No progress No progress Webpage built for Nutrition Oregon and brochure created. Oct-Dec 2021 Jan-Mar 2022 Apr-Jun 2022 July-Sept 2022 Working on multiple pages promoting NOC and community gardens.
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Food Environment Index in Klamath County
The Food Environment Index, ranging from 0 (the worst) to 10 (the best), is a combination measure of the percentage of the population that is low-income and has low access to a grocery store, and the percentage of the population that did not have access to a reliable source of food during the past year. In Klamath County, the Food Environment index has improved slightly from 6.1 in 2015 to 6.7 in 2020 as shown in the chart below.
Food Environment Index
County: Klamath
The Food Environment Index is trending upwards.
The CHIP Priority Health Objective is to reach a target index of 7.4 by June 30, 2022.
Federal Food Programs
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), previously called the Food Stamp Program, is a federal-assistance program that provides low-income families with electronic benefit transfers that can be used to purchase food.
The National School Lunch Program is a federally-assisted meal program operating in schools and residential child care institutions. Families who meet the eligibility requirements or who receive SNAP benefits can apply through their children's school to receive free meals.
County: Klamath
(Compared to OR State Value)
As Fast Food Restaurants Go Down, Grocery Stores Go Up
Fast food is often high in fat and calories and lacking in recommended nutrients. Frequent consumption of these foods and an insufficient consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables increase the risk of overweight and obesity, coronary heart disease, type-2 diabetes, multiple cancers, hypertension, stroke, premature death and other chronic conditions. Fast food outlets are more common in low-income neighborhoods and studies suggest that they strongly contribute to the high incidence of obesity and obesity-related health problems in these communities.
There are strong correlations between the density of grocery stores in a neighborhood and the nutrition and diet of its residents. The availability and affordability of healthy and varied food options in the community increase the likelihood that residents will have a balanced and nutritious diet. A diet comprised of nutritious foods, in combination with an active lifestyle, can reduce the incidence of heart disease, cancer and diabetes and is essential to maintain a healthy body weight and prevent obesity. Low-income and under-served communities often have limited access to stores that sell healthy food, especially high-quality fruits and vegetables. Moreover, rural communities often have a high number of convenience stores, where healthy and fresh foods are less available than in larger, retail food markets.
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