The Development of New Measures to Complement the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module

In this edition of the NIFA Nutrition Security Webinar Series, Dr. Eric Calloway explains that while the definition of food security is holistic and nuanced, measurement has not traditionally been operationalized more fully. The USDA Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) is the primary tool used to assess food security in the United States.
The HFSSM has pros and cons - like most measures. Key drawbacks from an intervention development or needs assessment perspective is that the HFSSM focuses on one facet of the food insecurity experience (e.g., financial access) and was not designed to provide practical information to inform programming. GSCN has developed a modular suite of measures that assess aspects of food insecurity that are not currently considered in the HFSSM. These measures include assessment of household resilience, the “other” three pillars of food insecurity (i.e., perceived availability, utilization and stability), and nutrition security/dietary choice.
This presentation covers the development, testing and potential uses of these new measures. The format includes an overview of the measurement development, findings and uses, and an additional 15 minutes for questions and discussion.
To learn more, contact Dr. Sheila Fleischhacker at [e-mail].