Page Contents
Framework Component
Indicator Description
Background and Context
Detailed backgrounders, implementation guides, and contact information for further assistance may be obtained at the USDA Economic Research Service website.2
Outcome Measures
(Each food security status is defined in the glossary.)
What to Measure
Pre-Intervention Food Security Status:
- Standard EARS demographic data
- Unique, anonymous identifier to facilitate matching of pre-post pairs (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY birthdate)
- Date of survey administration
- Baseline food security status of program participants (a composite/index indicator created by tabulating responses to individual module questions)
Post-Intervention Food Security Status (30-day or 12-month reference period):
- Unique, anonymous identifier to facilitate matching of pre-post pairs (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY birthdate)
- Date of survey administration
- Number of completed interventions (where applicable)
- Post-intervention food security status of program participants (a composite/index indicator created by tabulating responses to individual module questions):
Food Security Status of Non-Participant Comparison Group(s):
- Pre-Intervention Comparison Group (OPTIONAL): If program participants are known at least 30 days (or 1 year) in advance of program participation, consider administering the pre-post surveys in the same manner to these future participants who are, in effect, a “delayed intervention comparison group.”
- Cross-sectional Data/De-Identified Public Data (OPTIONAL): Consider comparing the pre-post percentage of food secure participants or households within an at-risk population category to the overall percentage of food secure participants or households within the total at-risk population in a given community. Due to the time “lag” in availability of population-based data, such comparisons between food security status of program participants and the general population do not align. Even though these data will therefore not be as relevant or sensitive as within-group pre-post comparisons for actual program participants, the comparison may still be worthwhile.
Population
Surveys and Data Collection Tools
U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (18 items)
U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (18 items – Spanish)
U.S. Adult Food Security Survey Module (10 items)
Short Form of the U.S. Food Security Survey Module (6 items)
CHILDREN & YOUTH
U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (18 items)
https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/survey-tools.aspx#household
U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (18 items – Spanish)
https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/survey-tools.aspx#Spanish
Self-Administered Food Security Survey Module for Youth Ages 12 and Older
https//www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/survey-tools.aspx#youth
YRBS: Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4941a2.htm
“In the past 30 days, have you been concerned about having enough food for you or your family?”
Additional evaluation tools to measure R6 can be found in the SNAP-Ed Library.
Key Glossary Terms
Additional Resources or Supporting Citations
- CPS Food Security Supplement Data: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-security-in-the-united-states.aspx
- Map the Meal Gap – County Level Food Security (Supplementary data – not an authoritative source) https://map.feedingamerica.org/
References:
1 FAO Economic and Social Development Department. Chapter 2. Food security: concepts and measurement Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 2003. Available from https://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y4671e/y4671e06.htm.
2United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Food Security in the U.S.—Overview [webpage]. 2016, May 4. Available from https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us.aspx.
3United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Definitions of Food Security [webpage]. 2015, September 8. Available from https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/definitions-of-food-security.aspx
4United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Food Security in the U.S.—Survey Tools [webpage]. 2015, September 8. Available from https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/survey-tools.aspx