Food insecurity and hypertension have been determined as the key problems related to public health in Miami, Florida. Referring to the population of Miami as the aggregate under discussion, it is necessary to concentrate on the implementation of a care plan to address the issues of food insecurity and high blood pressure. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how appropriate interventions will be implemented in the community in the context of the developed care plan.
The Selected Group and Interventions
The target group within the aggregate includes five low-income white families living in one community. These families are selected because children go to the same school, they are reported to suffer from food insecurity, and parents have problems with blood pressure or are at risk of developing hypertension. In order to address the determined problems while working with this group, it is necessary to focus on two main interventions.
The first one is to organize regular lunches for children from the selected families supported by the Florida Association of Food Banks with the focus on ensuring transportation and the provision of lunch boxes. The second intervention is associated with organizing consultations for family members regarding the high blood pressure issue. It is also necessary to provide adults in these families with lists of cheap and nutritional products to consume in order to stabilize their blood pressure.
Health Risks and Expected Results
While implementing these interventions, it is possible to address the following health risks in children: anemia, frequent colds, and depression. In addition, it is also possible to decrease the risks of developing asthma, cognitive problems, and anxiety in these children that are related to an inappropriate intake of nutrients (Berkowitz, Basu, Meigs, & Seligman, 2018). The expected results include improvements in diet and sleep patterns to positively influence children’s general health and productivity (Gundersen & Ziliak, 2015). In adults, risks of heart attacks, hypertension, and strokes will decrease (Whittle et al., 2015). Furthermore, it is also possible to expect positive changes in adults’ psychological health.
Planning the Implementation, Time Required, and Resources
The support of local organizations is required in order to implement the first intervention for children suffering from food insecurity because significant financial resources are needed. This intervention should be implemented in cooperation with the Florida Association of Food Banks and organizations like Feeding South Florida. The implementation of the second intervention for adults is possible without involving external actors (Gundersen & Ziliak, 2015).
Face-to-face consultations for adult family members will be held in social service centers. In order to achieve positive outcomes for both children and adults, it is recommended to conduct the intervention to address food insecurity during six months, and the second intervention will be realized during three months. The required resources include the funding and food provided by the Florida Association of Food Banks and Feeding South Florida.
Conclusion
In order to contribute to public health in Miami, Florida, it is necessary to implement interventions oriented toward addressing food insecurity and the risk of hypertension among the adult population. The complex character of the identified problems explains the necessity of involving local organizations to provide additional resources and support for the determined group of people. The key focus is on decreasing health risks for low-income families with reference to observed food insecurity and high blood pressure.
References
Berkowitz, S. A., Basu, S., Meigs, J. B., & Seligman, H. K. (2018). Food insecurity and health care expenditures in the United States, 2011–2013. Health Services Research, 53(3), 1600-1620.
Gundersen, C., & Ziliak, J. P. (2015). Food insecurity and health outcomes. Health Affairs, 34(11), 1830-1839.
Whittle, H. J., Palar, K., Hufstedler, L. L., Seligman, H. K., Frongillo, E. A., & Weiser, S. D. (2015). Food insecurity, chronic illness, and gentrification in the San Francisco Bay Area: An example of structural violence in United States public policy. Social Science & Medicine, 143, 154-161.