New York Health Foundation

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Year: 2024

New York State Parent Teacher Association

Food insecurity is widespread. One in ten households in New York State worry about where their next meal will come from, with stark disparities by race and ethnicity. High rates of food insecurity are not likely to reverse any time soon, as food prices continue to increase. SNAP and WIC are among the most effective ways to combat hunger among people with low incomes. SNAP provides families with food benefits to supplement their grocery budget. WIC provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under age five. In New York State, approximately 3 million people rely on SNAP and 400,000 women, infants, and children rely on WIC to purchase food. Even so, the programs remain under-enrolled. Approximately 40% of WIC-eligible and 10% of SNAP-eligible New Yorkers do not participate in these programs, with substantial disparities by race. In 2024, NYHealth awarded the New York Parent Teacher Association (PTA NYS) a grant to expand food access by encouraging and equipping schools to conduct SNAP outreach to families. 

Under this grant, PTA NYS will leverage the connection between SNAP participation and CEP eligibility to encourage and equip schools to conduct SNAP outreach to families. It will build on and update its SNAP outreach toolkit for schools; identify schools close to the eligibility threshold for CEP; share the outreach toolkit alongside information about the benefits of SNAP for families and schools, and offer one-on-one virtual meetings to discuss outreach opportunities.  

American Farmland Trust

Farm-to-school programs bring locally grown, fresh, healthy food into cafeterias, benefiting children, farmers, educators, and health care providers. Starting in 2018, NYHealth has partnered with American Farmland Trust (AFT) to advance the farm-to-school movement in New York State. In 2024, NYHealth awarded American Farmland Trust a grant to strengthen and unify the farm-to-school movement in New York State through improved policy coordination and the provision of expert guidance on policy analysis. 

Under this grant, AFT offered expertise to policymakers, school districts, farmers, and other coalition members about the changes needed to address potential conflicts in existing and new policies. AFT conducted policy research and analysis; coordinated diverse stakeholders; and advocated for policy changes and modifications.  

StrivEquity Consulting, LLC (fiscal sponsor: Emerging Equity, LLC)

Unequal access to healthy, affordable food is a major contributor to the disproportionately high rates of food insecurity and diet-related disease in communities of color. To address these disparities, NYHealth used a request for proposals (RFP) to identify projects led by organizations rooted in the communities most affected by food insecurity that (1) support healthier, culturally responsive food in public institutions and (2) promote Food Is Medicine interventions. After awarding 10 grants to support projects throughout the State, NYHealth prioritized supporting grantees with customized technical assistance (TA). In 2024, NYHealth awarded StrivEquity Consulting, LLC (through fiscal sponsor Emerging Equity, LLC) a grant to provide technical assistance (TA) and increase the collective impact of a cohort of grantees working to advance a more racially equitable, healthier food system.

Under this grant, the consultants will assess each organization’s TA needs and goals during the first phase of the engagement and develop customized support for each grantee. The consultants will provide a range of TA services, including engaging community members meaningfully; structuring and executing partnerships and agreements with government agencies and health care providers; communicating effectively and tailoring strategic messaging to different decisionmakers; measuring and describing program impact; and securing sustainable funding sources. The consultants will also identify opportunities for shared learning, joint problem-solving, or collective advocacy, as well as create linkages and opportunities for collaboration.

Syracuse University, Maxwell School Center for Policy Research

People experiencing food insecurity often face poorer diet quality, higher rates of diet-related illnesses, and greater health care costs. Research shows that medically supportive food and nutrition services—known as Food Is Medicine (FIM)—can reduce the severity of these problems. Veterans generally experience worse health outcomes and higher rates of food insecurity compared to civilians. A recent veterans’ needs assessment commissioned by NYHealth found that one-quarter of veterans in New York experienced food insecurity in the past year. Yet, few FIM models have been tailored to meet the specific needs of veterans. In 2022, NYHealth awarded God’s Love We Deliver a grant to develop and launch a FIM pilot to serve veterans, with a focus on veterans with behavioral health diagnoses. God’s Love developed an enhanced menu optimized for mental health, expanded community outreach, and trained staff to deliver trauma-informed, culturally competent care to veterans. In 2024, NYHealth awarded God’s Love We Deliver a grant to expand its Phase 1 pilot to improve the health and food security of veterans. 

Under this grant, the Maxwell X Lab will evaluate a new FIM pilot (carried out in partnership with the Syracuse VA Medical Center and Instacart) that provides nutrition counseling and a $100 monthly subsidy for home delivery of medically tailored groceries to veterans with diabetes and hypertension. The project aims to build the case for sustainability at Veterans Affairs (VA) sites across the country, as well as with health plans. It will collect, analyze, and share qualitative and clinical outcome data to make the case for expanded FIM programs for veterans, with the ultimate goal of securing Medicaid, Medicare, and Tricare reimbursement for FIM services  

NYHealth is also supporting a complementary initiative with God’s Love We Deliver.  

God’s Love We Deliver

People experiencing food insecurity often face poorer diet quality, higher rates of diet-related illnesses, and greater health care costs. Research shows that medically supportive food and nutrition services—known as Food Is Medicine (FIM)—can reduce the severity of these problems. Veterans generally experience worse health outcomes and higher rates of food insecurity compared to civilians. A recent veterans’ needs assessment commissioned by NYHealth found that one-quarter of veterans in New York experienced food insecurity in the past year. Yet, few FIM models have been tailored to meet the specific needs of veterans. In 2022, NYHealth awarded God’s Love We Deliver a grant to develop and launch a FIM pilot to serve veterans, with a focus on veterans with behavioral health diagnoses. God’s Love developed an enhanced menu optimized for mental health, expanded community outreach, and trained staff to deliver trauma-informed, culturally competent care to veterans. In 2024, NYHealth awarded God’s Love We Deliver a grant to expand its Phase 1 pilot to improve the health and food security of veterans. 

Under this grant, God’s Love will double program enrollment to 1,250 veterans and 250 caregivers and children. To identify and enroll veterans, it will continue and expand referral partnerships with Veterans Affairs hospitals and veteran-serving health care and community-based organizations in New York City. Veterans will receive weekly deliveries of 10–21 meals; nutrition therapy through individualized counseling; and social supports. God’s Love will also collect, analyze, and share qualitative and clinical outcome data to make the case for expanded FIM programs for veterans, with the ultimate goal of securing Medicaid, Medicare, and Tricare reimbursement for FIM services.  

NYHealth is also supporting a complementary initiative with the Maxwell X Lab at Syracuse University. 

Primary Care for All Americans (Fiscal sponsor: Global Impact) 

New York State’s primary care advocacy efforts are primarily led by provider organizations working to advance policy and practice changes. Consumer advocacy groups are increasingly engaging on primary care issues with a focus on patients’ needs. Yet a key voice remains underrepresented: grassroots, community-level movements that directly involve primary care providers, community leaders, and patients in local advocacy and solutions development. Community-led models are emerging, but remain limited; many communities still lack the leadership and resources to create these types of initiatives. In 2024, NYHealth awarded Primary Care for All Americans (PC4AA) a grant to expand New York’s primary care advocacy network. 

Under this grant, PC4AA will build relationships with community members, health care providers, and other stakeholders to understand community needs and develop culturally aligned strategies to address primary care access challenges in Queens. It will establish a grassroots network of primary care advocates with a targeted plan to improve primary care access locally. Over time, this grassroots model will complement efforts to increase primary care access and equity statewide. 

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