Screen and intervene: A toolkit for pediatricians to address food insecurity

Food insecurity — the limited or uncertain access to enough food — is a critical child health issue that impacts millions of infants, children,
youth, and families in all communities across the U.S. Children of all ages who live in households with food insecurity, even at the least severe levels of food insecurity, are likely to be sick more often, recover from illness more slowly, and be hospitalized more frequently.

Unfortunately, 1 in 7 U.S. children lives in a household experiencing food insecurity. These levels have only deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Black and Hispanic/Latino households with children continue to face disproportionately high rates of food insecurity before and during the pandemic.