Co-Chairs:
- Dr. James Huang, Unity Health Care
- JoAnn Jolly, DC Health
- Hannah Francis, DC Health
Accomplishments:
The Universal Free School Meals Policy Brief (2022): Universal Free School Meals is a policy that can be passed at the federal or state level to provide free breakfast and lunch to every student. Universal free school meals increase access to school meals and reduce stigma for children who rely on free meals. In 2022, the Food Policy Council developed recommendations to bring Universal Free School Meals to DC, with the assistance of Stephanie Schmeltzer, a graduate student at CUNY School of Public Health. See the presentation slides here.
Nutrition Education Landscape Assessment (2022) developed by Dr. Oganya Udenyi
Milan Urban Food Policy Pact Award: In October 2019, the District was internationally recognized by the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact for its approach for food as medicine programs. The District received the Highest Score Award for its Produce Plus and Produce Prescription programs. Read more about that award here.
“Food as Medicine” includes policies and programs integrating healthy food access as a core component of health care. The DC Food Policy Council has identified promoting food as medicine programs in the District as a top priority in 2019. In collaboration with DC Health, the FPC created two resources highlighting the District’s food as medicine programs and potential ways to enhance and expand these programs.