Laboratories for Policy ChangeHealthcare-Community Partnerships to Address Food Insecurity, Childhood Obesity, and SDOH

July 17, 2019

Welcome!

Sara BartelSara Bartel, JD (presenting)Senior Attorney ChangeLab Solutions

sbartel@changelabsolutions.org

Allison Gertel-RosenbergAllison Gertel-Rosenberg, MSOperational Vice President, National Prevention and Practice, National Office of Policy and PreventionNemours Children’s Health System

Allison.Gertel-Rosenberg@nemours.org

Meet the team…

Manel KappagodaManel Kappagoda, JD MPHProject Director ChangeLab Solutions

mkappagoda@changelabsolutions.org

Kate BlackburnKate Blackburn, MSWManager, Practice & PreventionNemours Children’s Health System

kate.blackburn@nemours.org

Connect with Us!

@MHCUpstream@ChangeLabWorks

• What do we mean when we talk about policy? • Overview of the Policy Learning Lab model• Stories from the field – Food Insecurity• What are the stages of policy?• What resources are particularly useful?

AGENDA

How We Define Policy

Binding or some accountability

Broadly applicable to a geographic area, type of institution or physical space, and/or group of

people

A statement in writing

Hospital policy

Local ordinances Zoning language Resolutions

School/agency policy language

Contracts/agreements State/federal laws

University policy Organization policy

Types of Policies

• What do we mean when we talk about policy? • Overview of the Policy Learning Lab model• Stories from the field – Food Insecurity• What are the stages of policy?• What resources are particularly useful?

AGENDA

What is a Policy Learning Lab?

The Need for Policy TA

Policy can “lock in” great programs and practices but it requires time and know-how.

Clinicians and front line staff who develop programs often have limited policy development know-how.

And community coalitions typically focus on policy but are often staffed by volunteers with limited time for policy scans and research.

Thus there is a need for technical assistance initiatives that build capacity and provide curated resources.

PLL Goals1. Accelerate the work of

PLL teams

2. Provide knowledge and connections that endure beyond the participation in the PLLs

3. Inform the field by sharing PLL resources and lessons learned

Overview: MHCU’s Policy Learning Labs

• 17 teams (2017 & 2018)

• Team composition: Healthcare partner + local government partner + CBO partner

• Range of experience working on policy

• Goal: To address a community health challenge through policy change.

Core Elements of the PLL

• What do we mean when we talk about policy? • Overview of the Policy Learning Lab model• Stories from the field – Food Insecurity• What are the stages of policy?• What resources are particularly useful?

AGENDA

Food Insecurity

+ Childhood

Obesity

• More than 15 million U.S. children live in food-insecure households

State of Obesity/RWJ (2017)

• Black, Latino, and Native American/Alaska Native families experience higher rates of food insecurity

State of Obesity/RWJ

• Over 30% of U.S. children are overweight or obese

Child Health Data (2017)

• American Indian and/or Native Alaskan, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic children experience higher rates of obesity

Isong, et al. (2018)

• Studies show food insecurity associated with higher likelihood of overweight or obesity in children and adolescents

Food Research Action Center (2016)

• Low incomes/wages tied to root causes associated with both food insecurity and childhood obesity, including lack of access to safe, convenient spaces for physical activity; lack of access to healthy food options; parental stress

State of Obesity/RWJ

Team Profile: Los Angeles,

CA

Who: LA County Dept of Public Health & Dept of Health Services, Hubert Humphrey Comprehensive Health Center, and LAC + USC Medical CenterPolicy Issue: Expand the reach of a 2-item food insecurity screening tool piloted at the Hubert Humphrey Clinic.

Team Profile: Atlanta, GA

Who: Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement (ARCHI), Collective Wisdom, GA Health Policy Center, The Reinvestment Fund, DeKalb County Community Development, and UGA Coop ExtensionPolicy Issue: Create an assessment plan to understand grocery store closings in underserved areas and respond with policy changes to better meet community needs

Results

100% said participating in PLLs informed &

accelerated their work.

Filled a gapCatalyzed commitment and action

Created/cemented connections

Increased knowledge and skills

Provided stature

Themes from Evaluations

ParticipantQuotes

“We have so appreciated your detailed, responsive, and timely technical assistance and policy insights. This has advanced our work on both local and state policy issues.”

“I’ve seen great value in being connected to other teams that are our partners and fellow leaders in this work, not just locally but broadly/nationally.”

• What do we mean when we talk about policy? • Overview of the Policy Learning Lab model• Stories from the field – Food Insecurity• What are the stages of policy?• What resources are particularly useful?

AGENDA

The Policy Process Wheel

Identify and Define the Problem

Envision and Plan for Success

Review and Select the

Policy

Develop and Adopt the

Policy

Implement and Evaluate

the Policy Engage Key

Players

Key Resource: The Policy

Process Playbook

https://www.movinghealthcareupstream.org/mhcus-policy-learning-labs/

Policy Development Cycle

• What do we mean when we talk about policy? • Overview of the Policy Learning Lab model• Stories from the field – Food Insecurity• What are the stages of policy?• What resources are particularly useful?

AGENDA

• Moving Health Care Upstream’s Policy Learning Lab Webpage

• ChangeLab Solutions Resource Library

• The Democracy Collaborative’s Healthcare Anchor Network

Relevant Resources

https://www.movinghealthcareupstream.org/mhcus-policy-learning-labs/

https://www.changelabsolutions.org/tools-policy-change

https://www.healthcareanchor.network/

Thank you to our sponsors!

Thank you!Questions?