Trauma-Informed Financial Empowerment Programming Improves Food Security Among Families With Young Children

Abstract

Objective: To determine how trauma-informed programming affects household food insecurity (HFI) over 12 months.

Design: Change was assessed in HFI from baseline to 12 months in response to a single-arm cohort intervention. Measures were taken at baseline and in every quarter. Two participant groups were compared: participation in ≥4 sessions (full participation) vs participation in <4 sessions (low/no participation).

Setting: Community-based setting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Participants: A total of 372 parents of children aged <6 years, participating in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, recruited from county assistance offices and community-based settings.

Intervention: Trauma-informed programming incorporates healing-centered approaches to address previous exposures to trauma. Sixteen sessions addressed emotional management, social and family dynamics related to violence exposure and childhood adversity, and financial skills.

Main outcome measures: Household food insecurity, as defined by the US Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module.

Analysis: Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to compare groups from baseline to 12 months, controlling for adverse childhood experiences, depression, and public assistance.

Results: Those with full participation had 55% lower odds of facing HFI compared with the low/no participation group (adjusted odds ratio = 0.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.90).

Conclusions and implications: Trauma-informed programming can reduce the odds of HFI and may reduce trauma-related symptoms associated with depression and poverty.

Keywords: adverse childhood experiences; depression; food insecurity; food security; trauma-informed.