Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2021

Abstract

One particular social determinant of health: food insecurity, is gaining curiosity amongst researchers, social workers, and public health experts for its role in the bio-psycho-social health of children, specifically in low-income populations (LIP’s) and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). The literature demonstrates that due to historical disenfranchisement and systemic oppression, BIPOC children are three times more likely to experience this phenomenon than those in White households. BIPOC children also experience chronic health conditions related to malnutrition or unhealthy eating, higher rates of psychological distress due to the social stigmatization of food insecurity, and predicted behaviors in the classroom such as fighting, stealing, and cheating. Educating on the social determinants of health, the prevalence of food insecurity for BIPOC populations, and overall cultural competence may help heighten awareness for those working directly with Black, Indigenous, and children of color. Feeding communities nutritious foods through subsidized neighborhood markets may help alleviate the number of children in food insecure households. Advocating for legislative change may decrease prejudice and oppressive practices. Social work practitioners are ethically mandated to enhance human well-being and meet the needs of all people, especially those who are in a vulnerable or oppressed population. Therefore, it is vital to the profession to examine ways to work towards reducing the number of BIPOC children living in food insecure households.

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A poster made based on information gathered from this capstone paper can be found here.

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