Grocery Support for Food Insecurity

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

Disqualifiers: Negative food insecurity, High income

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests different methods to assist adults who struggle to afford enough food. It compares two approaches: a monthly grocery card worth $80 (Grocery Support Monthly Program) and a one-time payment of $960 at the end of a year (Grocery Support One-Time Payment). The goal is to determine which method better supports individuals facing food insecurity and chronic health conditions. Ideal participants are adults who are members of Covered California, have a chronic condition, experience food insecurity, and have an income below 250% of the federal poverty level. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative solutions for food insecurity.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that monthly grocery support is safe and beneficial. In one study, people who received monthly food assistance reported better health and quality of life. Another study found that this support helped lower blood pressure for those struggling to afford food. No reports indicate negative effects from receiving financial help for groceries. This type of program is generally well-received and safe for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these grocery support programs because they offer innovative solutions to tackle food insecurity. Unlike typical food assistance programs that might provide food directly or offer vouchers for specific items, these programs use cash cards, providing flexibility and dignity by allowing participants to choose what they need. The monthly support program offers consistent aid, potentially reducing ongoing stress about food access, while the one-time payment aims to deliver substantial financial relief at once. This approach not only addresses immediate nutritional needs but also empowers individuals to manage their resources more effectively.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for food insecurity?

Research has shown that ongoing food support can greatly reduce food insecurity. Studies have found that programs like SNAP, which provide regular food assistance, help families consistently have enough to eat. Evidence suggests that monthly support enables people to more easily purchase healthy food. This steady help can lead to better health and well-being. In this trial, the monthly grocery support program aims to offer similar benefits by providing a reliable source of food assistance. Another arm of the trial will evaluate the impact of a one-time grocery support payment, given as a lump sum at the end of the study period. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Laura M Gottlieb, MD, MPH

Principal Investigator

University of California, San Francisco

Caroline Fichtenberg, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of California, San Francisco

Danielle Hessler Jones, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of California, San Francisco

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with chronic conditions, food insecurity, and incomes below 250% of the federal poverty level. Specific details about who can join or reasons why someone might not be eligible are not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

Members of the household are eligible to participate if the recruited participant is an active Covered California member

Recruited participant has a chronic condition identifiable in Covered California's medical claims

Recruited participant screened positive for food insecurity via 2-item Hunger Vital Sign

Exclusion Criteria

Recruited participant is negative for food insecurity via 2-item Hunger Vital Sign

Recruited participant has an income >=250% federal poverty level

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive either a monthly $80 grocery support payment or a one-time $960 payment at the end of 12 months

12 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in food insecurity, health outcomes, and healthcare utilization

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Grocery Support Monthly Program
• Grocery Support One-Time Payment

Trial Overview The study is testing whether giving a monthly food card benefit helps adults with low income and chronic illnesses better than a one-time lump sum payment. It's a randomized controlled trial, meaning people will be put into groups by chance to compare the outcomes.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Monthly grocery support program Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The intervention entails the provision of an $80 monthly payment (adjusted by household size) in the form of a re-loadable cash card to be used at food retailers including food retailers who sell non-food item.

Group II: One-time grocery support payment Active Control 1 Intervention

At the end of the study period (12 months), active comparator participants are provided a lump sum payment of $960 (adjusted by household size) as a re-loadable cash card to use at food retailers. No intervention is provided during the 12-month evaluation period.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, San Francisco

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,636

Recruited

19,080,000+

Covered California

Collaborator

Trials

2

Recruited

90,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07215897

Evaluating Covered California's Grocery Support Program The goal of the proposed research is to evaluate the impact of a 12-month grocery support program on participant food insecurity and other ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10200560/

Effectiveness of mobile produce markets in increasing ... MPM are critical resources of affordable produce and have been successful in improving access to FV among individuals of low socio-economic status in RI.

3. feedingamerica.org feedingamerica.org/sites/default/files/2020-12/Food%20Security%20Evidence%20Review%20August%202020.pdf

FOOD SECURITY EVIDENCE REVIEW 1) Stubbornly high food insecurity rates, even after the end of the Great Recession. 2) Mounting evidence of negative health consequences related to food ...

4. cbpp.org cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/snap-helps-struggling-families-put-food-on-the-table-0

Chart Book: SNAP Helps Struggling Families Put Food ... This chart book highlights some key characteristics of the 41 million people using the program in a typical month, trends and data on program administration ...

5. fns-prod.azureedge.us fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/FINI-InterimReport_1.pdf

The Evaluation of Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives, Interim ... The Evaluation of Food Insecurity Nutrition. Incentives (FINI) Interim Report. Prepared by Westat, Inc. for the U.S. Department of Agriculture,. Food and ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1499404625001757

An Innovative Approach to Improving Food Security Among ... Of 4076 G2G participants enrolled through May 2024, 94.6% placed at least one order in their first 6 months. Of those that ever ordered (n = 3856) 75.3% made ...

7. shmpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com shmpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jhm.70213

Giving Resources to lOw‐income Children to Enhance ... We will assess food insecurity through longitudinal surveys and urgent healthcare reutilization with claims data. Our secondary outcomes include ...

8. ihpi.umich.edu ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/news/food-insecurity-insights-ihpi-researchers

Food insecurity: Insights from IHPI researchers In December 2019, 14% of adults age 50 to 80 said they experienced food insecurity within the previous year, and among them, 45% rated their ...

9. med.unc.edu med.unc.edu/medicine/news/unc-health-blue-cross-nc-study-offers-clinical-evidence-on-how-food-delivery-models-can-reduce-food-insecurity-and-improve-health-outcomes/

UNC Health, Blue Cross NC Study Offers Clinical Evidence ... ... monthly $40 food subsidy improved blood pressure among people facing food insecurity. The results were published in JAMA Internal Medicine.