Food and Nutrion Screening Algorithm What providers can do

Food and Nutrion Screening Algorithm
For Health, Educaonal and Social Service Providers
What providers need to be aware of
Environments that put children at high risk
for hunger/food insecurity:
•Poverty
•Single parent household
• Parent or caregiver with depression and/or other
What providers can do
Discuss/share 211 and
3SquaresVT information
with all families at
enrollment
mental health issues
•Social isolation
•Child with special health needs
•High heating and/or utility costs
At each ensuing visit,
check back about food
access and food program
enrollment
Food scarcity can compound
nutritional problems
Risk factors or red flags for undernutrition:
•Delayed growth – either small for age or thin
If there are concerns
about hunger:
• Make sure they are
enrolled in all available
food/nutrition programs
• Inform family about local
food shelves
•Overweight
•Anemia
•Problems with choking/swallowing
•Vomiting/reflux/GERD
•Child on a limited diet/extreme pickiness
•Child/caretaker feeding relationship is dysfunctional
•Child is delayed in acceptance of foods/textures
•Chronic constipation/diarrhea
•Significant dental caries
•Child still using a bottle after age 2 years
With parent’s permission,
make referral to dietitian
Food Resources
1. Tell everyone you work with about 22-1-1:
2-1-1 provides free confidential information and referral, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, on services and
resources in each region, including food pantries, housing and heating assistance. Information can also be accessed
at www.211.org
2. 3SquaresVT (formerly Food Stamps)
Information on 3SquaresVT can be found at www.vermontfoodhelp.com – including a screening tool to determine
eligibility and estimated benefits, how to apply, and to download an application.
3. WIC: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children
WIC provides weekly food packages, cash benefit for fruits and vegetables, nutrition education, health screenings,
and referrals. For eligibility, go to: http://healthvermont.gov/wic/
4. School meals
Children in families that earn up to 185% of the federal poverty level or who receive 3SquaresVT or Reach Up are
eligible for free/reduced price school meals and can apply anytime in the school year. Applications are available at
schools or at the Hunger Free Vermont website: http://www.hungerfreevt.org/school_meal.php
How to support a family without
adequate food resources
1. Never assume a family has adequate food resources—
resources— share information with all families: “Here
is information about 3SquaresVT and 211 for food and other resources. If you are interested in these
resources I can help you with referrals or additional information on food.”
2. As you develop a relationship with the family, you can provide them with information on local
food shelves and offer to help them apply for food/nutrition programs: “One of the services we
help families with is applying for 3SquaresVT (formerly food stamps) or connecting them to other
resources in the community.”
This can be part of a conversation about food/nutrition: “Those healthier foods are very expensive, would
you like information on additional food resources?” OR “Sometimes people have trouble making ends
meet at the end of the month, would you like information on food resources?”
3. As you feel more comfortable, you can assist with addressing some of the other risk factors for
hunger such as accessing mental health services.