Qualitative research to describe food bank-health care partnerships: What types of models are currently being used to facilitate food bank-health care partnerships in texas?

BACKGROUND: Food banks and health care are being increasingly called on to partner together to support individuals and families experiencing food insecurity, yet few published works highlight descriptions of current food bank-health care partnerships. 

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify and describe food bank-health care partnerships, the impetus for development of partnerships, and challenges to sustainable partnerships within a single-state area. DESIGN: Qualitative data collection using semi-structured interviews was performed. 

PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-seven interviews were completed with representatives of all 21 food banks in Texas. All interviews were between 45 and 75 minutes and completed virtually using Zoom. 

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Types of models used for implementation, impetus for partnership development, and challenges to partnership sustainability were identified through interview questions. 

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PREFORMED: Content analysis was performed in NVivo (Lumivero. Denver, CO), using transcriptions from voice-recorded semi-structured interviews. 

RESULTS: Four types of models of current food bank-health care partnerships were identified; they included food insecurity screening and referral, emergency food distribution at or near health care partner, pop-up food distribution and health screenings in community settings, and specialty programs for patients referred by health care. The impetus for partnership formation most often came from pressures from Feeding America or the belief that partnerships provided an opportunity to reach individuals and families that were currently not being served by the food bank. Challenges to sustainable partnership included lack of investment in both physical capacity and staff, administrative burden, and poorly developed referral processes for partnership programs. 

CONCLUSION: Food bank-health care partnerships are forming in diverse communities and settings, yet they need significant capacity building to support sustainable implementation and future growth.