Collaboration
There’s a role for everyone in the
fight against hunger.
All organizations
— public and private — that touch the
lives of low-income children, families
and communities must be engaged in
the effort to end hunger and improve
nutrition. Maryland Hunger Solutions has
been bringing together diverse groups
and building coalitions to take more
coordinated, systematic and effective
action to ensure that all state residents
receive the food and nutrition they need.
These efforts include:
•
Partnering with AARP Maryland,
the Maryland Department of Aging,
and the Maryland Department of
Human Resources to establish the
first Maryland Senior Hunger Month
in February 2012. Through a Tele-Town
Hall and other outreach events, the
combined efforts aimed to raise public
awareness about hunger among seniors,
and reach more seniors who may be
eligible for nutrition programs.
•
Tackling barriers to participation
in the Food Supplement Program
by collaborating with the Maryland
Department of Human Resources
and various organizations across the
state to improve access for more
Marylanders, including non-English
speaking residents, and by partnering
with grocers, like Food Depot and
ShopRite, and the Department of
Human Resources to offer FSP outreach
in stores.
•
Serving on the Maryland State
Department of Education’s steering
committee for implementation of the
federal Healthy, Hunger Free Kids
Act
focusing on increasing access to
school meals and improving nutrition
education, the cafeteria environment
and culinary choices.
•
Supporting the expansion of the
Afterschool Meal Program
by working
with the State Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene (DHMH) to address the
issue of inconsistent health certification
requirements at the local level. Maryland
Hunger Solutions reviewed current
regulations and worked with DHMH
to develop materials and trainings
that provide guidance to local health
departments and afterschool programs
to ensure that more children receive hot
suppers that they need with rules that
protect them but don’t unnecessarily
burden providers.
F IVE YEARS OF SOLVING HUNGER AND IMPROVING NUTRI T ION IN MARYLAND
14
SOLVING HUNGER AND IMPROVING NUTRIT ON IN MARYLAND: THE FIRST FIVE YE RS
“Maryland Hunger Solutions is
an outstanding collaborator as we
work together to make our Food
Supplement Program an exemplary
model for how to provide supplemental
nutrition benefits to all populations.
They provide hands-on experience
and deep insight in helping us reach
those who need our assistance
as efficiently, effectively and
compassionately as possible.”
—
ROSEMARY MALONE,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
,
FAMILY INVESTMENT ADMINISTRATION, MARYLAND
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
