Rachel Ingram is a seasoned public health program manager and the Senior Program Manager at Bronx Health REACH/Institute for Family Health. She has been instrumental in advocating for healthier food policies and community-driven initiatives across the Bronx. We invited Rachel to discuss how community engagement can shape food policy and address critical intersections with other social issues. Her insights highlight the ongoing challenges and successes of grassroots advocacy in creating lasting change in food access and health equity.
HOW DO YOU SEE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SHAPING FOOD POLICIES?
Rachel Ingram (RI): Bronx Health REACH is a 25-year-old community coalition of more than 80+ members that has employed a community-based approach to designing, planning, and implementing its initiatives. At its inception, the coalition focused on nutrition education at after school programs, faith based organizations, and community based organizations. However, community partners began pushing for a focus that not only embraced change at the individual level, but for policy changes at the institution level and at the larger systems level. As a result, the afterschool program adopted a nutrition policy to serve healthier foods that were even more rigorous than New York State guidelines. It has since worked to implement these changes throughout its extensive network of home based child care providers. Additionally, NYC public schools eliminated whole milk from the cafeterias and promoted nutrition education in schools to accompany the introduction of healthier plant based menus. These efforts were led by an organized group of parents from the community who resisted pressure from the Dairy Industry to influence a NYC City Council hearing to stop the school milk policy. Furthermore, in 2014, community members advocated with NYC City Council Member Ritchie Torres to support increasing the supply of Health Bucks leading him to be the first NYC Council Member to allocate discretionary funds for Health Bucks. It has been community members who have been pushing policies supporting healthier, affordable food at their neighborhood bodegas. For twenty five years, Bronx Health REACH has seen the power of community engagement help shape food policies.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE INTERSECTION OF FOOD POLICY WITH OTHER SOCIAL ISSUES (SUCH AS HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, OR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY) IN COMMUNITIES YOU SERVE? CAN YOU PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THESE INTERSECTIONS IMPACT YOUR WORK?
RI: More than 30% of the average American’s income is spent on housing, forcing many low income Americans to have less money to spend on food, much less healthy food, which tends to be more expensive. In many Bronx communities, access to healthy and affordable food is limited, obesity, diabetes, and other food-related illnesses occur at higher rates, contributing to higher healthcare costs. Bronx Health REACH led by The Institute for Family Health (IFH), a network of federally qualified health centers, has implemented programs at the intersection of healthcare and food policy. One of these programs has been the Food as Medicine Produce Prescription program funded through Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP). In partnership with Corbin Hill Food Project Inc., Bronx Health REACH implemented Food as Medicine Produce Prescription programs at three IFH health centers to provide access to fruits and vegetables for food insecure patients. This program, like others of its kind, has been incredibly successful and well-received by staff and patients alike. Unfortunately, it is not yet a policy and as this was only a two (2) year program, it has ended, and we are forced to seek more funding for another iteration of this program.
WHAT ARE THE TOP 2-3 FOOD POLICIES YOUR ORGANIZATION BELIEVES NEED IMMEDIATE CHANGE OR IMPROVEMENT? HOW IS YOUR ORGANIZATION ADVOCATING FOR THESE CHANGES?
RI: This year, demand for Health Bucks exceeded supply. As the demand and redemption of Health Bucks grows, it is imperative to increase funding for Health Bucks. The Bronx #Not62 Steering Committee is looking into the current funding levels and funding mechanisms for Health Bucks in order to determine how to strengthen and increase the numbers with the goal of codifying funding in future city budgets. In November 2024, we will launch a newly funded bodega pilot in the Hunts Point area of the Bronx with a focus on addressing the challenges bodegas face in securing supply chains to stock affordable, healthy food. This pilot project is expected to demonstrate what is needed if bodegas are to sell healthier food at more affordable prices, and what additional price supports may be needed. Finally, we would like to see an expansion or a permanent funding stream for produce prescription programs in health care. The Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH is evaluating our current program in an effort to share its success with policy makers, elected officials and potential funders.
WHAT FACTORS COULD ELEVATE THIS POLICY ISSUE TO BECOME A PRIORITY FOR LEGISLATORS AND POLICYMAKERS?
RI: The high redemption rate of Health Bucks provides evidence of the utilization, need, and desire from the community for affordable, fresh produce. In 2014, Bronx Health REACH advocated with then, newly elected City Council member, Ritchie Torres, to allocate discretionary funds for Health Bucks to meet a growing demand in his district for fresh produce at farmers markets. Since then, other City Council members have provided discretionary funds for Health Bucks in their districts, reflecting a growing recognition that Health Bucks makes fresh produce at farmers markets more affordable. For the bodegas, if we can demonstrate to their owners a business case for selling healthy, affordable foods, it may help legislators and policymakers find ways to help with responsive policies. Ultimately, it will take the evidence of success showing legislators and policymakers how this directly impacts their constituents – and their constituents, in turn, advocating and holding them accountable for putting those policies in place. In the case of Produce Prescriptions, there is growing evidence that these programs are effective. Additionally, these types of preventative programs reduce chronic disease and illness, thus decreasing the need for costly health care.
ABOUT THE INTERVIEWEE
Rachel Ingram is the Senior Program Manager at Bronx Health REACH/Institute for Family Health (IFH). As the Senior Program Manager, Rachel oversees and initiates activities to increase opportunities for physical activity and access to healthy food in diverse community settings in the Bronx through a CDC REACH grant. She currently manages nutrition and physical activity programs within IFH health centers, Bronx-based food pantries, faith-based organizations, and other related programs. Rachel co-
Acknowledgements:
We would like to thank Julia Greene for her assistance with reaching out to Rachel Ingram on behalf of CUNY Urban Food Policy Monitor and for her input in the conceptualization and implementation of the community interviews part of this newsletter issue.
