Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #223463
Title: Barriers to receiving food assistance in rural North Dakota

Author
item COLBY, SARAH - EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
item JOHNSON, LUANN - UNIV OF NORTH DAKOTA
item Follett, Jennifer
item PAULSON, MARCIA - GRAND FORKS FOOD BANK

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2008
Publication Date: 4/15/2008
Citation: Colby, S., Johnson, L.K., Follett, J.R., Paulson, M. 2008. Barriers to receiving food assistance in rural North Dakota. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 22:1b768.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Food insecurity is associated with having lower dietary quality and an increased BMI. The barriers individuals face in rural North Dakota to receiving food assistance are largely unknown. A partnership of community agencies and researcher conducted focus groups with food assistance providers (those who provide assistance through soup kitchens and food pantries) and clients (those who receive assistance). Findings of focus groups were used to develop a postcard survey for clients and providers. Surveys were administered by key regional contacts throughout North Dakota. Results indicated that embarrassment, transportation, amount of food provided, hours of operation and location of the operation were the biggest barriers reported by clients to receiving food assistance. Providers also perceived factors associated with embarrassment to be primary barriers to receiving food assistance. By understanding barriers to receiving food assistance more effective interventions can be developed to alleviate hunger associated with food insecurity. This research was funded through a grant from Otto Bremer Foundation and the USDA/ARS Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center.