Interventions to Manage Food Insecurity and Inappropriate Feeding Practices Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic (AMISTAD)

The investigators propose to assess food insecurity and inappropriate feeding practices within a public health clinic patient population that has at least one child less than 2 years of age at home. A targeted intervention will determine whether focused family interactions with referral and follow-up to community agencies can mitigate the frequency and effects of food insecurity on children over a six-month period. Specifically, the investigators will identify 50 Hispanic families with food insecurity based on a full screen (the investigators expect to screen 150 families).

There are 2 in-person visits for this study, both of which are routine clinic visits where the child would be seen regardless of participation in this research study. The first visit at baseline will be when the subject is approached about the study and enrolled. The second visit will also be at a routine pediatric visit for medical care follow-up approximately 6 months later. Between in-person visits, phone calls for follow-up will take place.

The investigators will use a highly validated U.S. Department of Agriculture six-question, five-minute screening tool at each pediatric visit, via telehealth or in person. Those who screen as positive for food insecurity and consent to participate will be enrolled. Subjects will be enrolled as a parent/child dyad. The validated food-insecurity questionnaire will be completed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to screen for food insecurity as a standard of care.

Resources When appropriate, specific referrals will be made by the study personnel (PIs who are pediatricians) to food assistance programs including Good Apple, a local fresh produce delivery program, United Way of Central Texas, and local food banks. The participants will receive a call from the study coordinator who will review the family circumstances and plan for intervention with these partner programs and follow-up. A research team member will contact our food assistance partners to confirm each family's participation. The investigators will also confirm participation when available in WIC and SNAP programs. Partner organizations will provide financial data regarding the interventions they provide, which will be analyzed and interpreted within the context of families' participation in public programs such as WIC and SNAP. The study coordinator or designee who are part of the research study team will call the families frequently (weekly for first month, then every 2 weeks until 3 months, then monthly from 3-6 months; about 12-15 calls total) to check on their progress with the food assistance programs.

The participants will receive assistance with finding useful community resources websites and/or applications, grocery shopping lists, tips for shopping on a budget, and more topics related to nutrition, wellness, food assistance programs, food banks, bus routes, mindfulness, meal planning, and parenting strategies. Along with the referral resources, these documents and apps (i.e., My Fitness Pal food tracker, Pacer fitness tracker) will help the participants improve food literacy. Providing resources when a family is identified as food insecure is standard of care. However, the electronic resources and ongoing follow up are only related to this study. The investigators will track if the participants access the electronic resources that the investigators provide.