Eating for Healing Program - Project Abstract Summary Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, Milwaukee, WI Eating for Healing Program The Eating for Healing Program at the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, Wisconsin’s only Urban Indian Health Center and a Federally Qualified Health Center, will take a multi-pronged approach. Individuals enrolled in the program will reduce food insecurity, improve nutrition and dietary patterns by increasing access to and consumption of fruits, vegetables and traditional foods. They will also increase their nutritional knowledge through multiple modalities of nutrition education that support their healthier food choices and long-term behavior change. The Eating for Healing Program will focus on eight objectives in four categories, serving a minimum of 500 people across 10 cohorts of 50 people. A robust data collection and tracking system will be developed that includes clinical, knowledge, behavior change, and additional outcome data. Eating for Healing Program Objectives Navigation: All participants will… 1) Receive Eating for Healing enrollment and navigation assistance from a Registered Dietitian or a Community Health Worker. 2) Be navigated to internal and external programs that help with access to healthy traditional foods as well as fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Clinical/Care Team: All participants will… 1) Provide health histories/family health histories (if they authorize it) and receive baseline, mid-point, and final month assessments of clinical measures (BP, BG, A1c if possible). 2) Be invited to participate in supportive health programs as indicated (self-measured blood pressure programs, tobacco cessation, Fitness Center, etc.). Provision of Food: All participants will… 1) Reduce food insecurity through the provision of gift cards and vouchers for healthy food stores/markets. 2) Be given opportunities to receive traditional foods from food boxes, cooking events, special events, and/or cooking demonstrations. Educational Supports: All participants will… 1) Meet with a Registered Dietitian one-on-one at least twice per cohort, participate in at least two nutrition-focused activities/classes of their choosing during the cohort, be provided with videos and written nutrition information and recipes. 2) Receive referrals to classes by eligibility, such as Diabetes Prevention Program, the What Can I Eat Program, Cultural Cooking Conversations, Family Culture Nights, and more. The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center serves nearly 3,000 patients annually, with cultural and outreach events that serve an additional 2,000 or more people. The Eating for Healing Program provides an opportunity for cultural connections, a return to consumption of traditional healthy foods, and a way to alleviate growing food insecurity in Milwaukee’s urban Native community.
