NEWARK, NJ—RWJBarnabas Health announced today that it has received a grant from the New Jersey Food Security Initiative (NJFSI) to launch a pioneering program aimed at combating food insecurity across the state. This program will place Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Navigators in each of the health system’s 12 acute care hospitals to assist low-income residents in accessing food, healthy diets, and nutrition education.
Barbara Mintz, Senior Vice President of Social Impact and Community Investment at RWJBarnabas Health, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with NJFSI. She highlighted the initiative as a transformative approach to improving food security and health equity in New Jersey. The navigators will provide critical support in enrolling individuals in SNAP, aiding with recertification, and connecting them to other food resources.
This initiative aligns with RWJBarnabas Health’s ongoing efforts to address food insecurity through various projects, including the Beth Greenhouse and Farmers Market, the Sadie Vickers Community Garden, and the Food Farmacy Program. These efforts are part of the broader Social Impact and Community Investment practice, which collaborates with state and local agencies to address multiple social determinants of health such as economic stability and affordable housing.
Food insecurity significantly affects health outcomes and was reported by one in twelve New Jersey households in 2022 as a challenge, according to the USDA. This issue results in an estimated annual cost of $1.3 billion to the state. RWJBarnabas Health’s new program aims to mitigate these impacts by ensuring better access to necessary nutritional resources.
