Nourish to flourish: OHSU Doernbecher’s solution for supporting hungry families
When their child is hospitalized, the last thing parents and caregivers want to worry about is where their next meal is coming from. But across the country, food insecurity often worsens when a child or loved one is in inpatient treatment.
Oregon Health & Science University found that many parents and caregivers of patients at Portland-based OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital did not eat though they were hungry, reduced food intake or skipped meals. Those behaviors often persist when patients head home.
To address this hidden hunger, OHSU Doernbecher launched the Nourish program in 2022 to provide parents and caregivers with food during hospital stays. Recently, the program expanded through a partnership with the Portland Open Bible Community Pantry to launch the Food for Health Network. This collaborative partnership coordinates with 10 food pantries in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties to ensure that families leaving the hospital have access to fresh, healthy and culturally appropriate food. Using a digital platform, families can order groceries online for pickup or delivery, ultimately easing their transition to outpatient care.