LHD Support for Food Security Data

Background: USDA discontinued collection of one of the most widely used sources of state and county-level food security data in 2025, creating a significant gap for public health. The Ohio Association of Foodbanks is working with Feeding America to fill this gap by advocating for 9 food security and food assistance questions to be added to Ohio’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. If ODH approves this proposal, Feeding America will fund both the additional survey questions and analysis of results, providing Ohio health departments with new food security and food assistance data.

Sign-on Statement: Our health department is committed to increasing access to healthy food and decreasing food insecurity in our community. Consistent access to high-quality data on food security is critical to public health assessment, planning, and evaluation. We therefore support the Ohio Association of Foodbanks’ proposal to add 9 questions to the BRFSS that address food security, charitable food assistance use and government food program use.

Question Title

1. Endorsed by: (Required.)

Other (please specify)

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2. Date

Date / Time

Date

Question Title

3. Staff person first name

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4. Staff person last name

Question Title

5. We would likely use the BRFSS food security and food assistance data in the following ways (choose all that apply):

CHA

CHIP

Identify disparities and priority populations

Demonstrate need in grant proposals to fund programs such as community gardens, food bank/pantry partnerships, farmers markets, produce prescriptions, Food as Medicine initiatives, etc.

Evaluate programs and/or track progress on CHIP objectives

Mobilize partnerships with food pantries and other food system partners

Support assessment, implementation or evaluation of Creating Healthy Communities activities

Educate partners and policymakers about the importance of WIC and SNAP

Other (please specify)

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6. Is your health department also willing to submit a letter of support with more detail about why this data is important to you?

Yes

LHD Support for Food Security Data

Question Title

* 1. Endorsed by: (Required.)

Question Title

* 2. Date

Question Title

* 3. Staff person first name

Question Title

* 4. Staff person last name

Question Title

* 5. We would likely use the BRFSS food security and food assistance data in the following ways (choose all that apply):

Question Title

* 6. Is your health department also willing to submit a letter of support with more detail about why this data is important to you?

1. Endorsed by: (Required.)

2. Date

3. Staff person first name

4. Staff person last name

5. We would likely use the BRFSS food security and food assistance data in the following ways (choose all that apply):

6. Is your health department also willing to submit a letter of support with more detail about why this data is important to you?