About the Data: Percent of Population Who Have Adequate Access to Food

Data Description

Data Source(s):
American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates Table B22003 for Eastern Cherokee Reservation, NC

Used on Prior EBCI THIP:
No

Measure Definition:
Percent of households not receiving Food Stamps/SNAP, indicating adequate access to food:
(Number of households not receiving SNAP / Total number of households) x 100

Baseline (Annual):
2018:

• Percent with Adequate Access to Food: 90.27%
• Numerator: 3,007 households not receiving SNAP
• Denominator: 3,331 total households

Target:
94.78%

Target-Setting Method:
5% improvement from baseline percentage.

Annual Data Overview

Numerator Details:

Number of households not receiving SNAP, indicating adequate food access.

Denominator Details:

Total number of households in the Eastern Cherokee Reservation, NC.

Comparable National Data:

Unknown

Data Collection Frequency:

Annual

Citation:

U.S. Census Bureau. "RECEIPT OF FOOD STAMPS/SNAP IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS BY POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS FOR HOUSEHOLDS." American Community Survey, ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables, Table B22003, 2018, https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2018.B22003?q=B22003&g=2500000US0990. Accessed on October 16, 2024.

Story Behind the Curve

The percentage of households with adequate access to food, as measured by the absence of SNAP/food stamp assistance, showed steady improvement from the 2018 baseline of 90.27% to a peak of 93.85% in 2020. This improvement aligns with efforts to address food insecurity through community engagement and education.

However, a slight decline to 93.11% in 2022 suggests persistent challenges, likely tied to economic fluctuations and the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic's disruption to employment and household incomes may have increased food insecurity for some households, particularly in vulnerable populations.

Partners

Efforts to improve food access involved collaboration among:

• EBCI Public Health and Human Services (PHHS): Provided support for community awareness and food assistance programs.
• EBCI Tribal Option (TO): Gathered and analyzed data on food insecurity and its social determinants.
• Local Community Stakeholders: Contributed to outreach and interventions for improving food security.

What Worked

1. Data Collection and Analysis:
   Leveraged the American Community Survey and other sources to establish baselines and track progress.

2. Community Engagement:
   Engaged households through surveys and initiatives to identify and address barriers to food access.

3. Cultural Sensitivity:
   Developed educational campaigns tailored to the needs and values of the EBCI community, which supported greater awareness of food insecurity issues.

4. Collaboration Across Sectors:
   Coordinated efforts between Tribal entities, public health organizations, and local stakeholders to implement effective interventions.

Strategy

The strategies employed to address food insecurity and improve access included:

1. Baseline Development:

   • Utilized ACS data to establish a baseline for food access across the community.
   • Identified disparities through detailed data analysis.

2. Community Engagement:

   • Conducted culturally relevant surveys to gauge food insecurity and identify at-risk households.
   • Increased public awareness of available resources to address food needs.

3. Interagency Collaboration:

   • Partnered with public health and community organizations to align efforts and maximize impact.

4. Monitoring and Adjustment:

   • Regularly reviewed data to assess progress and refine strategies.

These strategies were foundational in improving food security for the EBCI community, as evidenced by the steady improvements from 2018 to 2020, despite recent challenges.