Session Title: (148) Hungry for Collaboration: Parks and the Health Department Team Up for Food Access in San Antonio

Session Type: Education Session Talk
Topic(s): Health and Wellness
Partnerships

Day/Time: Thursday - Block 6
10/12/2023 09:00 AM (Central Time (US & Canada)) - 10/12/2023 10:00 AM (Central Time (US & Canada))

Room: Room D173

Audience Experience Level: Any level
Audience Familiarity with DEI: Any Level
CEU: 0.1

Description:
The Food Access and Resource Hub, located on the Southside of San Antonio at Villa Coronado Park, provides a space for Metro Health staff and community organizations to collectively increase access to food resources for community members. Services include connection to sustaining food resources such as SNAP and WIC enrollment, providing health educational classes (e.g., diabetes self-management, nutrition topics, garden-based education), and serving as a food safety net to address immediate needs (e.g., food pantry, connections to immediate assistance). The hub aligns with Metro Health’s Strategic Plan by increasing access to healthy foods, addressing food insecurity, and promoting healthy eating and educational activities. The hub will complement the community center next door and the fruit tree orchard already established at the park. This colocation of resources is an example of how health departments and park and recreation departments can team up to support communities in a holistic way.

Learning Objectives:
1. After attending this session, attendees should be able to articulate a way for park and recreation departments and health departments to work together to address food insecurity.
2. After attending this session, attendees should have a working knowledge of at least three strategies for addressing food insecurity.
3. After attending this session, attendees should understand the role of community health workers in developing inclusive programs/projects for addressing complex issues.

Speaker(s):

Anna Macnak
Ruby Zavala