Mission Statement
Improve the quality of life and health of Nevadans by increasing food security throughout the state.
About the Office of Food Security
The Office of Food Security (OFS) is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) through Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) with support from the Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (CDPHP). The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is responsible to administer the Funds for Healthy Nevada (FHN), to supplement and not supplant existing funding. The FHN is a source of state revenue funded through tobacco settlement monies received or recovered by the State of Nevada. The FHN funds are managed through the OFS to support initiatives and programming aimed to reduce hunger throughout Nevada communities and promote public health and improve health services for children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.
FHN Goals:
- Align and enhance collaboration efforts of state and non-state agencies to strengthen statewide food security strategies;
- Support strategies that increase participation in state/federal nutrition programs;
- Support client-centered strategies that increase access to nutrition programs and resources that address determinants of hunger; and
- Establish evaluation and reporting processes to enhance data collection to drive future strategies and track progress in improving food security in Nevada.
FHN Objectives:
- To provide cost-effective services that are accessible, available, and responsive to the needs of individuals, families, and their communities;
- Foster a service delivery system responsive to the individual and cultural diversity of the people and communities served;
- To provide a comprehensive and integrated system of services to promote self-sufficiency; and
- Conduct a systematic evaluation of program activities to improve the effectiveness of the FHN funds.
The OFS also manages the DPBH Wellness and Prevention Program (WPP) who is a member of the newly formed Nevada Obesity Collaborative. The collaborative is a statewide working group of community members across multiple sectors whose singular goal is to reduce obesity and related comorbidities. Nevada residents should have access to and opportunities for choosing healthier eating and active living options. Since healthy decisions and behaviors are influenced by a range of multiple factors, which requires the WPP to have ongoing partnerships, collaboration, and interventions.
The WPP has partnered with statewide local health districts and obesity prevention subject matter experts to develop a Healthy Eating and Active Living (Nevada HEAL) umbrella message with a 5-2-1-0 program. The message is a cohesive statewide community engagement message, and the program is "the how to adopt" HEAL behaviors. The 5-2-1-0 program has four main messages for every day of the week: Eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables; Use 2 hours or less of recreational screen time; Get 1 hour or more of physical activity; and Drink 0 sugary drinks, drink more water. The goal of Nevada HEAL is to deliver a cohesive wellness and prevention message to community members where they live, work, study, play, and seek medical attention and to change behaviors, policies, and systems and reduce obesity prevalence in the state.
Initiatives:
- Support Nevada healthcare providers in engaging in respectful conversations with individuals about weight status and chronic disease-preventing behaviors, such as eating nutritious meals, maintaining a physical activity routine, and sustaining clinically recommended sleep hours;
- To provide support for implementing the Standard Operating Procedures for Collecting and Reporting Students' Height and Weight in Nevada Schools (SOP) and identifying resources to refer students and their families to a healthcare provider who can attend and treat obesity and overweight.
- Reoccurring annual Geographic Information System (GIS) map that will guide outreach and promotion of the Children and Adult Food Program (CACFP).
- Increase CACFP participation in Early Care and Education (ECE) settings.
- Assist statewide ECE providers in gaining knowledge, tools, and resources to develop and install fruit and vegetable gardens for young children as a vehicle for learning.
The OFS also provides administrative support to the Council on Food Security (CFS) that was created following the Nevada’s Plan for Action in 2013 through an Executive Order and codified into state law in the 80th Legislative Session in 2019 (per Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 232.4963). The OFS continues to support the CFS in enhancing collaborative efforts throughout the food security network and implementing policies supporting food security statewide. Since inception, the CFS has provided a platform for stakeholders and subject-matter experts to make recommendations to state agencies on addressing food insecurity in Nevada and has enhanced connectivity among food security initiatives and partners.
Read the 2023 Food Security Strategic Plan Here!
Principles
- Incorporate economic development opportunities into food security solutions.
- Use a comprehensive, coordinated approach to ending hunger and promoting health and nutrition, rather than just providing emergency short-term assistance.
- Focus on strategic partnerships between all levels of government, communities, and nonprofit organizations including foundations, private industries, universities, and research institutions.
- Use available resources in a more effective and efficient way.
- Implement research-based strategies to achieve measurable results.
Notice of Funding Opportunity SFY 2021-2023
Funding for a Healthy Nevada: Wellness/Hunger Services Notice of Meetings