Providing families access to food and nutritional education in our community
What is the FAST program?
The Parkview FAST Program (Food Assistance and Support Team) aims to navigate and assist in solving problems related to food insecurity in Allen County. The program connects individuals tohealthcare providers and community-based food assistance programs to provide optimal access to nutritious foods and improved health to those identified as food insecure.
The FAST program will:
- Screen individuals for food insecurity and facilitate emergency, short- term, and/or long-term food assistance.
- Educate and connect patients to available federal nutrition programs and existing food resources in our area.
- Develop and promote on-site food farmacy, food pantry, and greenhouse & learning kitchen.
Once an individual screens positively for food insecurity, they are connected with a Parkview FAST Community Health Worker (CHW). The representative will conduct an assessment to address each individual’s unique situation. The FAST team member will then actively guide and assist patients with programs that are tailored to their needs. There are a variety of pathways the CHW could recommend for individuals, depending upon the situation – including emergent assistance, short-term assistance, and long-term assistance. FAST strives to provide high- quality, nutritious food options through local and federal resources.
What is food insecurity?
Food insecurity is defined as the disruption of eating patterns because of a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active and healthy life. Approximately 1 in 10 individuals in Allen County are food insecure and 1 in 8 at risk for food insecurity. Food insecurity may be long term or temporary and is often associated with a multitude of health issues and higher rates of hospitalization – including malnutrition, chronic conditions, and mental health problems.
Application process