- Email:
- maldimar@indiana.edu
- Campus:
- IU Bloomington
Resilience: Teen Food Insecurity in Southern Indiana
Project abstract
Nearly 14% of households with children are food insecure in the U.S., and 38% of those households have children older than age 6. Indiana has higher-than-average food insecurity rates, possibly due to the fact that food insecurity is found to be higher in non-metropolitan areas. Despite these statistics, both teens and rural communities have been left out of food insecurity research and initiatives. This is of grave concern as teens are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity due to biological, nutritional, and social experiences unique to this life course stage. Through working with teens and their communities, this project seeks to characterize the prevalence of food insecurity among teens in rural southern Indiana. We aim to understand, through the voices of teens, what food insecurity is like for teens and their families and compare experiences across Bloomington and nearby rural communities. Ultimately, we aim to improve food insecurity for teens by working with them, their communities, and their schools to establish the extent of the issue and share teen's recommendations for innovations designed to meet the unique needs of teens.
Community partners
- The Bloomington Food Policy Council
- Hoosier Hills Food Bank
- Girls Inc.
- Flatrock Public Schools
- Edgewood High School
- Harmony Public Schools
- Volunteers in Medicine of Monroe County
- 4-H of Lawrence County
- West Washington Public Schools
Campus partners
- Sustainable Food Systems Science Initiative
- Departments of Anthropology
- School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Counties involved
Monroe, Lawrence, Washington