Understanding the Relationship Between Poverty, Well-Being, and Food Security Status

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) is sponsoring a new study, called the Study of Food and Well-Being.

This study aims to advance a deeper understanding of the policy-actionable correlates of food insecurity in areas with persistent poverty. It will enable FNS to capture information on low-income households’ well-being and identify ways to address the challenges these individuals face. Advancing understanding of food insecurity and poverty in this environment can help in developing appropriate and effective policy responses through SNAP, other USDA-administered programs, and community-based assistance. Mathematica will collect information from households in six counties where 20 percent or more of households have lived in poverty over the past 40 years. The study will use a survey and in-depth interviews to gather information about food security, poverty, and related individual and family circumstances and environmental factors.

Information for Participants

What is the Study of Food and Well-Being? Mathematica is conducting the Study of Food and Well-Being for the U.S Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services (USDA FNS). The study will gather information about the food-related experiences, benefits received, and overall health and well-being of households in six counties across the country.

How was my address selected? Mathematica scientifically selected addresses from within each of the six study counties for the study. We want to understand how everyone is doing, but we can’t talk to everyone. To help us get a picture of everyone’s experiences, we randomly selected addresses from within each county. If your address was selected, we need to hear from you so that our findings can represent residents across your county.

Why should I participate? If you are contacted by a Mathematica telephone or in-person interviewer, we hope that you will participate in the study. Your input will help design programs that could help reduce hunger in your county. Your help is critical to the study’s success and we greatly appreciate your assistance.

Do I have to participate? While we would love to hear from everyone, you do not have to participate. If you decide to take part, you are not required to answer any question that makes you uncomfortable. You can stop the survey at any point.

What about my privacy? Everything you tell us will be kept private. Your responses to our questions will NOT be shared with anyone outside of the research team. Your responses will not impact any benefits that you may receive.

How can I take the survey? You can reach us or complete your survey by calling 1-833-428-2090.