Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

Pandemic emergency food benefits end as Nutrition Month starts

John Brandon Cantrell — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 19:10:06 +0000

Pandemic emergency food benefits end as Nutrition Month starts John Brandon C… Tue, 02/28/2023 - 14:10

In This Story

Evelyn Tomaszewski, MSW, ACSW

Kerri LaCharite, PhD

Erin D. Maughan, PhD

Topics

food insecurity

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

Department of Social Work

School of Nursing

SNAP benefits

Food and Nutrition

Poverty and Inequalities

March 1 end of program will impact millions of Americans–predominantly families and people of color

Millions of families rely on food pantries, even after the height of the pandemic. Photo Credit: Emily Bartenfelder, George Mason University BSW '20

On the same day National Nutrition Month kicks off, millions of individuals and families in the U.S. who currently receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assessment Program (SNAP) will see a decrease in their federal food benefits. On March 1, pandemic emergency allotments to SNAP are set to end–cutting benefits by $90 per month per person (on average).

Despite SNAP emergency allotments, many Americans still face food insecurity

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, food insecurity rates doubled overall throughout the nation and tripled in households with children. Congress originally enacted emergency allotments (EAs) during the pandemic to provide economic stimulus and address food insecurity. However, data shows that even though EAs kept more than 4 million people “above the poverty line,” according to a study from the Urban Institute, millions of Americans still experienced food insecurity and lived below the poverty line.

Evelyn Tomaszewski, MSW, assistant professor of social work in the College of Public Health at George Mason University, underscores the severity of the issue, saying: “Food insecurity was prevalent during the pandemic and will remain a serious concern in a ’post-pandemic’ world, particularly among households with children–who were most likely to face food insecurity during the pandemic–as well as communities of color (per USDA data).”

“When you are struggling to balance rent and daily living expenses, a loss of $168 or $190 can translate to hardship and extreme food insecurity,” said Tomaszewski. “In 2022, 9% of the population of Virginia, or 1 in 11 persons, accessed SNAP benefits. We are talking about our neighbors, our students, and our colleagues.”

A study by American University found that by the end of 2021, Americans were paying an average of 12 percent of their income on food; for lower-income wage earners, it was closer to 36 percent.

In 2023, an estimated 34 million people (including 9 million children) still remain food insecure, and the cost of food is expected to rise by 3.5 percent - 4.5 percent, according to the USDA.

Vulnerable populations already adversely affected by COVID will see the biggest impact

“Our country’s vulnerable populations have been the most affected by COVID and inflation. Those who live significantly below the poverty threshold, including households with children headed by single women and Black and Hispanic households, rely on SNAP benefits to make sure there is food on the table,” said Kerri LaCharite, PhD, associate professor of Nutrition and Food Studies in the College of Public Health.

LaCharite and Tomaszewski are also concerned for populations that will likely dip below the poverty line when EAs end, including college students, seniors living on a fixed income, and individuals with disabilities.

Mason Social Work students volunteer at food pantry during COVID-19 pandemic.

College students who qualified for the emergency allocation will also lose their benefits on March 1, when those defined as “able-bodied adults without dependents” will again be limited to a three-month limit of benefits. According to the College and University Food Bank Alliance, more than 30% of college students were food insecure in 2019, even before the pandemic.

Older adults and persons with disabilities saw a decrease in SNAP benefits when they received “long overdue (and still minimal) increase to social security benefits.” With the end of EAs, benefits will be cut (on average) by $168.00 per month for households with adults aged 60 and older and (on average) $190 per month for persons with disabilities.

The impact of food insecurity is long-lasting for children and adults. “The long-term effects of food insecurity will affect health outcomes. In children, food insecurity is associated with cognitive problems, higher risks of being hospitalized, asthma, behavioral problems, depression, poorer general health, among a longer list. In non-senior adults, food insecurity is associated with diabetes, hypertension, mental health issues, high blood cholesterol levels, and poor sleep,” said LaCharite.

Food banks, schools, and community support - How will individuals, families, and communities meet the need?

Erin Maughan, PhD, associate professor of nursing in the College of Public Health, works with K-12 school districts and school nurses and is particularly concerned about the impact on school-aged children, school systems, and the employees who may already be stretched thin.

“With SNAP emergency funds decreasing, it could increase the number of students or amount of food schools will provide students. Schools already are a safety net for food (breakfast and lunch), and some provide food backpacks for the weekend. Of greater concern is how it will impact mental health and learning. When children are hungry, they can't concentrate; down the road, it could also be an issue of malnutrition,” said Maughan

“Families are going to need to fill the gap somehow,” says LaCharite. “We have seen this in the past. It will likely mean increased reliance on food banks and pantries, skipping meals, and a significant decrease in the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Food insecure families buy less fruits and vegetables and buy more nonperishable staples as their budget for food shrinks.”

People are losing a significant amount of support money available via the SNAP EA, resulting in increased reliance on food banks (which are also consistently reporting both increased need and decreased donations.) While many of our area emergency food providers saw a temporary dip in need in fall 2021, they also experienced a large increase in patrons seeking food in the spring of 2022 as inflation rates started to rise.

What can be done to help?

March 1 is also the start of National Social Work Month, and Tomaszewski sees an important role for social work students and faculty–and beyond. In addition to donating to area food banks, there are ways that members of the community can help those experiencing food insecurity.

“At the macro or systems level, everyone can advocate for the Commonwealth of Virginia to add funds to the program that not only ensures SNAP benefits (at least) similar to the SNAP EA levels but also expands coverage to those that will be losing benefits, such as ‘able-bodied persons’ and college students,” says Tomaszewski.

She also sees an important role for those in the College of Public Health and beyond. “Social work students, and students throughout the College, directly work with those who will be affected by this policy change and/or who are at risk for food insecurity. At the individual level, social work students and allied professionals across the College can learn about food insecurity and available benefits, and ensure that clients know what is available, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and SNAP.”

As the country recognizes National Social Work Month and National Nutrition Month, it is also an opportunity to recognize, support, and advocate for our neighbors, our students, and our colleagues who continue to experience food insecurity across the United States.

College of Health and Human Services and ServiceSource Establish a Center on Aging with a Focus on Healthy Aging and Workforce Development

Mary Cunningham — Wed, 18 May 2022 20:55:33 +0000

College of Health and Human Services and ServiceSource Establish a Center on Aging with a Focus on Healthy Aging and Workforce Development Mary Cunningham Wed, 05/18/2022 - 16:55

In This Story

Dr. Cathy Tompkins

Healthy aging is more important than ever in the U.S. as everyone in the Baby Boomer generation nears retirement age.

Post-doctoral student Hyun Kang, Associate Dean of Faculty and Staff Affairs and Professor Cathy Tompkins, Assistant Professor Michelle Hand, and Chair of the Department of Social Work Emily Ihara at the opening of the Wellness Center for Older Adults.

College of Health and Human Services and ServiceSource, Inc. (SSI) have established a Northern Virginia Center on Aging, which will be recognized as a satellite center with the Virginia Center on Aging (VCoA). The center will provide services, programs, and activities for older adults and workforce development and continuing education for health care professionals who support older adults. Faculty and students will be actively involved and are excited for this new opportunity.

The Center on Aging will expand the VCoA’s mission of being an interdisciplinary study, research, information, and resource facility for the Commonwealth of Virginia utilizing the full capabilities of faculty, staff, libraries, laboratories, and clinics for the benefit of older Virginians and the expansion of knowledge pertaining to older adults and aging in general. VCoA is a statewide agency created by the Virginia General Assembly.

“Healthy aging is now more important than ever as our over-65 and over-85 populations continue to grow in the coming decades,” said Associate Dean of Faculty and Staff Affairs and Professor Cathy Tompkins. “This collaborative program will help prepare the current and future geriatric workforce to optimize opportunities to maintain and improve physical and mental health, independence, and quality of life throughout a person’s life.”

By 2030, every person in the Baby Boomer generation will be 65 or older. With this generation being larger than generations before it, more resources are necessary to support the population.

The new center will provide workforce training to students across the College’s departments through practicums, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities on how to effectively work with older adults. Additionally, the Center will partner with other community organizations to provide continuing education and training for frontline workers and licensed professionals. College faculty will have opportunities to evaluate current interventions implemented by SSI staff and community partners.

The Northern Virginia Center on Aging will be housed at the new Wellness Center for Older Adults (WCOA), which is less than four miles from Mason’s campus.

The College is home to the Department of Social Work and leads research and workforce development initiatives focused on healthy aging. Other departments actively involved in the new Northern Virginia Center on Aging include the School of Nursing and the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies.

SSI’s mission is to facilitate services, resources, and partnerships to support people with disabilities and it offers a wide range of services to serve the community, including operating the WCOA.

Other WCOA community partners supporting the Center include AARP Virginia, The Alzheimer’s Association American Health Care Professionals, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, INOVA Community Health, Insight Memory Care Center, Northern Virginia Community College, Shenandoah University, the Shepherd’s Center, and the Parkinson Social Network.

About Mason

George Mason University, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at http://www.gmu.edu.

About the College of Health and Human Services

The College of Health and Human Services prepares students to become leaders and to shape the public's health through academic excellence, research of consequence, community outreach, and interprofessional clinical practice. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in its nationally-recognized offerings, including 6 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 6 certificate programs. The college is transitioning to a college of public health in the near future. For more information, visit https://chhs.gmu.edu/.

Topics

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

Nutrition News

The College of Health and Human Services is Awarded Seed Funding Grants for Two Urgent COVID-19 Studies

mthomp7 — Tue, 12 May 2020 16:13:34 +0000

The College of Health and Human Services is Awarded Seed Funding Grants for Two Urgent COVID-19 Studies mthomp7 Tue, 05/12/2020 - 12:13

Mason grants will enable preliminary data collection to study the feasibility of telehealth-based intimate partner violence screening and the effects of COVID-19 on young adults in America

The College of Health and Human Services faculty have received two seed funding grants from George Mason University to pursue data collection for urgent research related to COVID-19 and its impact on young adults and intimate partner violence (IPV). The studies receiving funding are described below.

A pilot feasibility and acceptability study for telehealth-based IPV screening and intervention during COVID-19

Reports of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, mirroring increases experienced during previous humanitarian crises and natural disasters.

Drs. Jhumka Gupta (Global and Community Health) and Rebecca E. Sutter (Nursing) have received $21,900 to complete a pilot feasibility and acceptability study for a telehealth-based IPV intervention during COVID-19.

The study seeks to build on research from previous humanitarian crises to develop urgently needed interventions that address IPV and safety while maintaining social distancing. Seed funding will be used to pilot a telehealth-based IPV screening and safety planning intervention for low-income rural and Latina immigrant women served by the Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics in Northern Virginia.

MAP Clinic faculty and staff will integrate this intervention into ongoing telehealth-based COVID-19 symptoms screening. In the first phase of the study, research will include focus groups, in-depth interviews, and key informant interviews with nurses, IPV survivors and IPV advocates/service providers. Data gathered from this phase will inform the revision of clinic-based IPV screening, safety planning, and referral tools that have been previously used with refugee women. The second phase of the study will involve assessing the feasibility, fidelity, and acceptability of two different screening and referral approaches within six MAP clinics. Nurses will implement the screening protocols as assigned. To assess feasibility and fidelity, researchers will track all aspects of recruitment, retention, and screening completion.

Thirty MAP clinic patients who will receive the intervention will be invited to participate in a remote survey four days after their screening. Nurses will participate in a brief, online survey. Researchers will use these data to inform a larger intervention study.

How will COVID-19 affect the future of young American adults? Rapid changes in health and stress before and during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Young adults may be important spreaders of the COVID-19 virus because they often have no or mild symptoms and may be more likely to disregard advice to limit their social activities. They have had “COVID-19 parties” that resulted in numerous cases and hundreds of individuals placed under public monitoring at a time that local health departments were already stretched. At the same time, 20% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients were 18-44 years old, highlighting the disconnect between perceived COVID-19 risk and risk reality.

It is urgent to learn about young adult’s COVID-19 risk perception, related behaviors and COVID-19 disease progression, including antibody development, so that tailored interventions can be developed to lower the risk of transmission within this group and to their many contacts. Researchers seek to identify measures that young adults will likely adhere to, which sources of information they trust to convey these measures, and what emotional support programming they need.

CHHS faculty Drs. Amira Roess (Global and Community Health), Allison Evan Cuellar (Health Administration and Policy), and Lawrence Cheskin (Nutrition and Food Studies; Global and Community Health) with fellow Mason faculty Drs. Jerome Short (Psychology), Virginia Espina (Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine), and Lance Liotta (Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine) have received $35,000 for their study titled “How will COVID-19 affect the future of young American adults? Rapid changes in health and stress before and during the COVID-19 epidemic.” The study seeks to understand the behavior of young adults, who have been reported to ignore advice regarding social distancing, particularly if they believe that they are at lower risk of negative COVID-19. The goals of the study are to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in this group and their many contacts and better understand antibody dynamics in young adults.

The study will estimate the level of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence) virus among 150 college students in May 2020—a time that the peak of cases in the U.S. is projected—and to measure the association between the level of COVID-19 virus in their blood samples and self-reported stress.

In addition, the study will look more broadly at the mental health impact of the pandemic, given the recent media reports of increasing substance abuse and use of mental health hotlines (up by over 800% from the last year).

“Mason’s continued investment in our faculty is a testament to the urgent research our College is doing to understand the many short and long-term implications of COVID-19. The seed investment will lead to further research on COVID-19 and critical public health issues like intimate partner violence and the health of young adults,” says Germaine Louis, professor and dean of the College.

An Interdisciplinary and Systems View of Nutritional Epidemiology

mthomp7 — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 20:38:48 +0000

An Interdisciplinary and Systems View of Nutritional Epidemiology mthomp7 Wed, 02/19/2020 - 15:38

Dr. Frank Hu, Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

As the third speaker in the College of Health and Human Services Dean’s Seminar Series, Dr. Frank Hu Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Hu presented “Integrated Nutrition Approach to Improving Personal, Population, and Planetary Health.” Hu has played a leading role in informing policies related to red meat consumption and taxation of sugary drinks. His interdisciplinary and systems view of nutritional epidemiology has opened a dialogue both inside and outside of academia about strategies and policy to improve both human and planetary health.

Hu’s research focuses on integrating population, laboratory, and translational approaches to study chronic diseases as well as translating scientific findings into clinical guidelines and policies that have a major impact on public health.

In his Seminar, Hu discussed the importance of a public health approach to nutrition, stating that our current food systems are not sufficient to feed the world’s booming population, which will grow by 33% from 7.5 billion to more than 10 billion by 2050. While precision nutrition presents a range of opportunities to help better understand their unique blend of factors that shape our individual nutrition response—including genetic makeup, gut microbiome, and metabolic profiles—Hu believes that the costs of collecting and analyzing this data will be difficult to scale even with the proliferation of wearable devices and AI.

Because changing human behavior- especially as it relates to food consumption- is very difficult, Hu promotes a model for developing healthier food environments, which is ultimately more effective in changing unhealthy behaviors. Taxation, labeling, and altering how food is marketed and where have proven to be effective in helping people make healthier choices about food.

“We are not yet able to say ‘Alexa, what should I eat because there are many different food systems, we all have different metabolic responses, and different eating habits,” says Hu. Overall, data shows that diets are pretty unhealthy across the world – with some exceptions for countries in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and East Asian regions. Hu also discussed the human and planetary health implications of the many meat options currently available—from conventional red meat to plant-based meat alternatives like Impossible Burgers or Beyond Burgers and the emerging area of lab-grown or cultured meat. “Maybe someday your robots here at Mason will deliver burgers like these,” joked Hu, in reference to the Starship food delivery robots that bring pizzas and coffee to students around campus. That someday is probably sooner than we might think.

Dean’s Seminar Series

This presentation was part of the College of Health and Human Services Dean’s Seminar Series. Learn more about the series, upcoming speakers, and RSVP.