Letter of support
You can copy/paste this template into your health department's letterhead:
[Insert name of your 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.
[Insert specific examples of ways that your health department has used food insecurity data in the past and/or ways that you plan to use data on food security and food assistance in the future. This may include your CHA, CHIP, planning healthy food access programs, partnerships with food pantries or other food system partners, etc.]
Reliable local data are essential for identifying disparities, targeting resources, evaluating community interventions, and measuring progress over time. Adding these questions to Ohio's BRFSS would strengthen the data available to local health departments and their community partners.
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.
Sincerely,
[signature of Health Commissioner or other health department staff person]
[name of Health Commissioner or other health department staff person]
[Date]
