It’s the end of another week and there is nothing left to put in her children’s sandwiches. Andrea’s husband needs a meal to sustain him while he works today so he doesn’t lose his job or get sick. A cup of coffee will be fine for her
Maybe we are asking the wrong questions.
We look to a frightening future with this virus and ask: “What will happen if……”
Scientists and economists make models and predictions. Politicians count votes.
And we still don’t know what the future holds in this pandemic.
Maybe first we should ask: What is happening NOW?
And then we should ask: Why?
Right now we know that:
Overall rates of hunger have effectively doubled since 2018.
TENS OF MILLIONS of children lost meals when their schools closed.
TENS OF MILLIONS MORE lost meals when their childcare closed.
To feed themselves or their families, terrified workers must continue to work.
More and more “essential workers” get sick and bring the virus home.
Those who lost jobs are home but frantically prioritizing spending where food may be last on the list.
Many of the 91,000 California farm workers who work in the “Salad Bowl of the World” cannot afford the very food they grow, harvest, or process.Despite being employed, Latinos experience higher food-insecurity rates (16.2%) than the national average (11.1%).
And when we ask WHY, we see that this virus laid bare inequities that were just beneath the surface. We can define the problem as “hunger” and offer food—and we may need to do that to answer the question of NOW. But if we rest in those “feel good” actions, we are missing the real solutions.
Hunger is the symptom. Senator Elizabeth Warren stated, “Decades of structural racism have prevented so many Black and Brown families from accessing quality health care, affordable housing, and financial security, and the coronavirus crisis is blowing these disparities wide open.”
The collective United States and our personal stomachs should ache. Maybe the next question is HOW? How did we let this happen? How can we let this continue? In the richest country in the world? This is first in a series Uprooting Food where we examine the issues, effects of, and possible solutions to food disparity in the United States. Each article will describe the concerns and offer steps for each of us to become advocates for change.
What’s Needed Now
1- Consider a donation to World Central Kitchen, who is working across America to safely distribute individually packaged, fresh meals in communities that need support – for children and families to pick up and take home, as well as delivery to seniors who cannot venture outside.
2- Email your U.S. Senators immediately and ask them to vote YES on the HEROES Act to strengthen SNAP for families and kids in need. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the most effective ways to feed hungry children. This bill increases SNAP benefits for kids and struggling families and strengthens child nutrition programs, ensuring children continue to get the food they need during this crisis.
3- Consider a donation to the Oregon Worker Relief Fund. Immigrant Oregonians have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. While Latinx Oregonians account for 31.7%¹ of all cases of COVID-19, they are only 13.3% of the state’s population².
. The federal government has ignored our essential and tax-paying immigrants, and our immigrant neighbors cannot access public benefits. The Oregon Worker Relief Fund provides financial relief to Oregonians that cannot access public benefits.
COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019, was first identified in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, China in December 2019 and has now spread into a global pandemic. Governments around the world are rushing to institute measures that will keep families safe and limit the spread of the virus.
For the Latino community that already faces inequities in healthcare and accessing food, COVID-19 increases those disadvantages. Civic leaders are urging the government to consider economic inequalities that put people at higher risk of suffering from COVID-197. Advocacy groups highlight the need for the government to respond to the decision that some families, such as those working in hospitality, childcare, and retail, must make between potentially missing a paycheck and ensuring the health of their families8. This past Wednesday evening, President Trump signed a coronavirus aid package into effect that will expand unemployment assistance and the government is currently working on a $1 trillion proposal that, if passed, could provide economic stimulus for workers9.
Of particular concern is how people are accessing food in this time of crisis. Our food safety nets have not been tested like this since the time of the Great Recession in 20084. With businesses temporarily closing, children out of school, and other changes implemented to keep people safe, what does this mean for how you get food and stay healthy?
With sudden job layoffs and reduced work hours, people may have less money to spend on food. The nation’s primary safety net to combat food insecurity is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps)4. In the face of this, the government has decided to suspend changes to the SNAP program that were set to go into effect April 1st, 20201. The changes would have altered work requirements for single adults receiving SNAP benefits but will not take effect while the nation faces coronavirus.
For some businesses, it is work as usual. As of March 19th, 2020, the US government deemed agriculture as a critical infrastructure, meaning that farms can keep operating like normal6. Some businesses may decide individually to modify operations, but in the face of this and other environmental threats such as climate change, the people that grow our food are finding innovative ways to continue providing the nation with food.
But how people access food is being limited. On March 17th, 2020 Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed an order which prohibits food establishments to offer on-site dining, along with prohibiting public gatherings of 25 people or more. Grocery stores and most farmers markets have been allowed to remain open. A vital resource, at participating farmers markets, SNAP recipients can double up to $10 per day spent on fruits and veggies with a program called Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB).
Additionally, mothers and children participating in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), may be affected by people who are buying food they don’t normally buy at the store. WIC dollars can be spent on certain foods, indicated by a WIC symbol next to the price tag. If you are buying food and it has a WIC symbol next to it and you don’t need it, consider choosing something different so that it can be available for a WIC participant2.
Taking care of infant nutrition in this time of crisis is also important. If you are or know somebody who is breastfeeding and worried about passing COVID-19 to the baby, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends washing hands before breastfeeding and wearing a mask during breastfeeding to avoid passing the virus between mother and child. But, because so little is known about the virus, it’s unclear if it can be passed from the mother to the infant in breast milk3. Because breast milk is the most nutritious source of food for babies, it’s recommended to continue breastfeeding3.
Keeping safe and healthy may seem difficult in these times, but as more advocacy groups push for the government to recognize the disproportionate burden that social inequities place on racial minorities, including Latinos and Hispanics, resources are being expanded.
To see which farmers markets in Oregon are participating in DUFB and open, go here:https://doubleuporegon.org/
ESPAÑOL
Pandemia de coronavirus (COVID-19) y acceso a alimentos para latinos
El COVID-19, que significa enfermedad por coronavirus 2019, fue identificado por primera vez en Wuhan, la capital de la provincia Hubei, China en diciembre del 2019. Ahora se ha propagado al punto de convertirse en una pandemia global. Gobiernos alrededor del mundo se apresuran para instituir medidas que mantengan seguras a las familias y que limiten el avance del virus.
Para la comunidad latina, que de por sí enfrenta desigualdades con respecto al cuidado de la salud y al acceso a la comida, la presencia del COVID-91 aumenta las desventajas ya existentes. Los líderes civiles instan a nuestro gobierno a considerar las desigualdades económicas que ponen a ciertos sectores en mayor riesgo de contraer este virus. Las agencias que se encargan de defender a estas personas recalcan lo vital que es la respuesta gubernamental a la cuestión de si algunos empleados, como los que trabajan en servicios, guarderías o tiendas, deben trabajar aún arriesgando el bienestar de sus familias porque requieren su quincena. El miércoles pasado, el Presidente Trump aprobó un paquete de ayuda relacionado con el coronavirus que expandirá las prestaciones de desempleo, y el gobierno está armando una propuesta adicional que liberaría un trillón de dólares para apoyar la economía de los trabajadores. Pero ¿qué ocurrirá con los que no pueden solicitar la ayuda, debido a su estado migratorio?
Es particularmente preocupante la cuestión de cómo las familias seguirán alimentándose durante esta contingencia. Nuestro abasto alimentario no ha enfrentado semejante crisis desde la Gran Recesión de 2008. Puesto que abundan los cierres de negocios pequeños y los niños no van a la escuela, junto con otras medidas para salvaguardar la salud comunitaria ¿por qué medio conseguirán las familias su alimento y cómo se mantendrán saludables?
Con repentinos despidos y reducciones en el número de horas laborales, la gente tiene menos dinero para gastar en comida. El mayor sistema que tiene la nación para combatir la inseguridad alimentaria es el Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, también conocido como estampillas para alimentos). Por este motivo, el gobierno ha decidido suspender las modificaciones al programa SNAP fijas para el 1 de abril del 2020. Son cambios que hubieran subido los requisitos de trabajo para los adultos solteros que recibieron las prestaciones SNAP, pero no tomarán efecto mientras la nación batalle el coronavirus.
Algunos negocios siguen trabajando igual que antes. El 19 de marzo de 2020, el gobierno de los Estados Unidos decretó que la agricultura representa una infraestructura crítica, para que las granjas pudieran seguir operando de manera normal. Algunos negocios quizá modifiquen sus operaciones de forma autónoma; al enfrentar esta crisis y la del cambio climático, la gente que cultiva nuestra comida ha encontrado modos innovadores de continuar abasteciendo a la nación.
Por otro lado, se está reduciendo el acceso a la comida. El 17 de marzo de 2020, la Gobernadora de Oregon Kate Brown firmó una orden prohibiendo que los restaurantes ofrecieran servicio de mesa, y además prohibió las reuniones públicas de más de 25 personas. Sin embargo, las tiendas de abarrotes y la mayor parte de los mercados al aïre libre han podido seguir abiertas. Además, en algunos tianguis participantes, debido a un programa llamado Dólares Dobles para Comprar Comida (DUFB), la gente que cuenta con estampillas SNAP pueden llevarse el doble de mercancía por el mismo costo (hasta un valor de $10 por día) al comprar frutas y verduras.
Las mamás e hijos que participen en Women, Infants and Children (WIC) quizá sean afectados, si las personas que no cuenten con WIC llegan a comprar los productos que llevan el símbolo. Los “Dólares WIC” sólo se pueden usar para comprar ciertos productos; si usted no tiene WIC, sería mejor escoger algún otro producto que no lleve el símbolo, para que una participante lo pueda adquirir.
Es vital cuidar la nutrición infantil durante este momento de crisis. Si usted o alguien que usted conoce está amamantando y existe la preocupación de pasar el COVID-19 al bebé, debe saber que el Centro Nacional de Prevención y Control de las Enfermedades (CDC) recomienda actualmente que las manos se laven antes de amamantar y que la mamá se ponga cubrebocas durante el amamanto, para evitar la posibilidad de un contagio entre ella y su bebé. Por otro lado, se conoce tan poco sobre el nuevo virus que aún no se sabe con certeza si se puede transmitir por medio de la leche materna.
Mantenernos sanos y saludables quizá parezca difícil en estos tiempos, pero sí se pueden ampliar los recursos disponibles para las minorías raciales, incluyendo a los latinos, siempre y cuando los grupos de defensa sigamos instando al gobierno a reconocer que las desigualdades sociales causan mucho mayor sufrimiento en estos sectores.
Familias en Acción is excited to partner with the Oregon Health Authority and Washington County to work with the Latino community and many Latino serving organizations on HIV/STI’s and sexual health. Leveraging over 20 years of Latino health services, Familias is ready to take on this critically important health topic and End HIV in Oregon.
Among Latino Oregon residents during 2008-2017, the mean rate of new HIV diagnoses was nearly twice the rate of new diagnoses among Whites. Of those diagnosed during 2012-2016, Latinos were more likely than Whites to progress to meeting criteria for AIDS within 12 months of testing positive; indicating that, on average, Latinos have been infected for a longer time prior to diagnosis.*
Thirteen percent of people estimated to be living with HIV in Oregon at the end of 2017 were Latino.*
We recognize that community participation is essential in formulating a more effective strategy to combat HIV/AIDS in Oregon. Long-term community engagement will be critical to sustaining the involvement of communities in any type of decision-making and activities. In this first year we will focus on developing new relationships related to HIV/STI and sexual health programs for Latinos throughout the state. Also within this first year, we will have a strong focus on WA County Latino residents and the non-profit community in this area.
Of persons diagnosed 2013–2017, 42% of Latinos were diagnosed late compared to 36% among Whites and 26% among Black/African Americans.*
In Washington County the Latino community is disproportionately impacted by HIV/STIs and issues of shame, stigma, and lack of knowledge of risk. Through collaboration and partnerships, Familias will be conducting culturally and linguistically appropriate HIV/STI education and outreach to the Latino community in Washington County. Our focus here is being developed as the first phase of a longer project to increase outreach, health literacy and education to Latinos and their families at high risk for, or who are impacted by, HIV/STIs in Oregon. Our work will include referrals to a variety of services and patient navigation for those in need. We will partner and build on the work of non profit groups like Edúcate Ya, Latino Network, Cascade AIDS Project and others across the state to lay the organizational foundation to carry on this work for many years.
Familias is currently looking to build our HIV/STI and sexual health team. Check out our open positions page and consider joining us on this critical health issue.
The ability to drive legally is vital for many families in Oregon. They need to take their kids to school, commute to work, and contribute to their communities. Without the ability to apply for a license to drive, parents and families are forced to make impossible choices.Having the ability to apply for a license to drive gives all Oregonians, including those without legal status, the opportunity to follow the law, get to work and school safely, and provide for their families and communities.
Help us pass HB 2015 by contacting your legislator today!
Excluding Oregonians from the ability to get a driver’s license because of their citizenship or immigration status puts our neighbors at risk and makes it harder for them to care for themselves and build a better life for their families. Help us pass HB 2015 by contacting your legislator today!
For information about registering to our AMY classes, visit here.
What is Abuela, Mamá y Yo (AMY)?
Abuela, Mamá, y Yo is a state-wide Latina/x program that provides information on:
Healthy eating that helps create strong and healthy children
The impact of the food we eat on our bodies
Advocacy for better nutrition
The impact that climate change has on mental health
How healthy foods reduce the risk of diabetes and chronic diseases
Classes are for members of the Latina/x community who care for children ages 0-5, pregnant women, and anyone interested in gaining knowledge about nutrition and food equity.
Why is this so important?
Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) research tells us that a baby’s health is impacted by three generations of their family. This genetic chain is also modified by environmental issues and social determinants of health (SDH), such as poverty, driving the increase of chronic diseases among our populations. Currently Latinos are experiencing an epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes. In the US today,, about 25% of US Latino children ages six to 11 years of age are obese, and over 33% of Latino children live in poverty.
Our project responds to an urgent need to build Latino advocacy and knowledge between social inequalities and healthy families. Current public health education programs often focus on individual responsibility for having a healthy family. However, it is equally important to develop equitable public policies to improve the social, physical, and economic environments so that Latino families can build healthy lives.
Listen to what class participant Luz Gaytan has to say about our AMY classes:
Food Equity for healthy Latino families differs from traditional nutritional programs because it addresses the root causes of health inequities. The curriculum enhances knowledge of the role of the community environment in the availability of appropriate nutrition and level of social stress experienced prior to and during pregnancy. Participants build their knowledge about the health impacts of poverty, racial discrimination, social disadvantages, and overall toxic stress on themselves and their children. Self advocacy skills in food justice will build self-sufficiency for participants.
PARTNERSHIP: In 2018, Familias en Acción started this project in collaboration with the OHSU Moore Institute for Nutrition and Wellness. Through Focus groups we gathered data and information about eating habits, food access and health education. With this information and research on epigenetics, nutrition and the developmental origins of Health and Disease we created our curriculum that is currently used today.
AMYNEWSLETTER: In our Abuela, Mamá y Yo Newsletter, we will share news about AMY trainings, public policies relevant to food and health equity, advocacy days, healthy recipes and more! Sign up now.
“Hay que buscar ayuda, hay que buscar apoyo y no rendirse”
“We need to look for help, look for support and not give up”
El Señor Eliseo believes that you should never give up when facing a chronic disease. After being diagnosed with diabetes, he enrolled in our Tomando Control de su Salud (Chronic Disease Self-Management) health class. Our 6-week course provided him with skills that allowed him to make better decisions about his eating habits. Eliseo then decided to take what he learned even further, and started growing his own vegetables knowing that it would be beneficial to his health.
When Eliseo was trying to navigate the health system on his own, he was frustrated and stressed. His medical bills kept piling on without any ability to pay them. Familias en Acción was also help him apply for medical assistance, attend his appointments, and apply for health insurance. He now spends his time taking care of his vegetables that he shares with friends and families and with his fellow support group members. Eliseo tells his friends and co-workers to seek guidance and advice from agencies like Familias en Acción.
El Señor Eliseo recently had surgery to remove a tumor. He did not hesitate to get the surgery since he knew his insurance would be covering it. He did not have to worry about medical bills and only focused on getting better. Eliseo continues to work in his garden and sharing not only the vegetables but the knowledge he’s been able to learn by navigating the health systems. “Hay que buscar ayuda, hay que buscar apoyo y no rendirse”
