Department Resources

Food Access & Healthy Eating

Definitions

Food Access: Food access means that all community members can obtain affordable, nutritious, and culturally familiar foods in ways that are convenient, dignified, and sustainable. It also reflects the need for equitable systems and policies that remove barriers such as cost, transportation, and stigma, while fostering trust in the food system.

Healthy Eating: The practice of consuming foods that support physical, emotional, and cultural well-being, while respecting diverse traditions, preferences, and needs. It includes nutrition literacy, food preparation skills, and the ability to make choices that suit individual and household needs.

Goal 1:

Reduce the stigma surrounding nutrition assistance programs by normalizing conversations, outreach, and access in ways that foster dignity and belonging

Community Identified Theme: Stigma

Key Actions:

1.1 Identify or develop a community of practice to reduce stigma around nutrition assistance programs

1.2 Improve communications with key community leaders and food assistance applicants about accessing the food system by dispelling myths and addressing fear of immigration challenges and other fears around participation

1.3 Collaborate with partners to develop non-stigmatizing best practices around nutrition assistance programs

1.4 Advocate for benefits to be more broadly available and accepted

Goal 2:

Improve awareness of, access to, and enrollment in food assistance programs through coordinated, trusted, community-based navigation programs

Community Identified theme: Navigation

Key Actions:

2.1 Establish or enhance a community of practice that includes providers, key community leaders, and community members to improve communications across a variety of formats regarding the offerings, intentions, and requirements of food assistance programs

2.2 Analyze the barriers and challenges to food assistance application and renewal processes identified by community and stakeholder engagement and advocate for solutions

2.3 Partner with community organizations to train and support navigators who can provide enrollment assistance to eligible community members

2.4 Promote the existing directory of food resources among county residents and agencies

Goal 3:

Increase nutrition literacy efforts to promote healthy eating for all in the Fairfax Community

Community Identified Theme: Healthy Behaviors

Key Actions:

3.1 Encourage Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to ensure that all students have a guided experiential interaction with the food system at some point before they graduate from high school

3.2 Partner with organizations to support schools in developing and sustaining food waste activities

3.3 Co-create nutrition literacy and wellness programs with residents and community leaders to support ongoing nutrition literacy/education efforts at various touchpoints and ensure content is relatable and culturally inclusive

3.4 Develop and encourage the adoption of model policies that require healthy options in vending machines and cafeterias in schools, community centers, and county facilities accompanied by signage explaining the changes

Goal 4:

Establish an understanding of healthy eating, cultural acceptability, and how nutritional requirements can be met across cultures and age groups

Community Identified Theme: Healthy Behaviors

Key Actions:

4.1 Convene community members, partners, and other stakeholders to explore perceptions and practices around healthy eating across cultures, age groups, and food sensitivities to foster an understanding of how nutritional requirements can be met in inclusive ways

4.2 Based on insights gathered from community conversations and partner discussions, create and disseminate a toolkit that can be used across various sectors of the food system and by community health providers

Goal 5:

Improve availability and access to healthy food to build toward food security for all in the Fairfax Community

Community Identified Theme: Food Access

Key Actions:

5.1 Pilot benefit programs at food retailers

5.2 Develop a work group to identify alternative food retail models

5.3 Develop a work group to examine barriers and make recommendations for improving the type and quality of foods offered at food pantries and other food distributions

5.4 Increase the capacity for people to grow their own food

5.5 Advocate for a local SNAP/WIC benefit supplement

5.6 Research the underlying causes of the theft of SNAP benefits and advocate for preventative measures

5.7 Improve transportation system partnerships and communications to support food access

5.8 Increase SNAP/WIC/Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program acceptance to all 10 FCPA Farmers Markets

Live Healthy Fairfax

Live Healthy Fairfax Alert:

Department Resources

Food Access & Healthy Eating

Improving the local food system so that healthy, culturally familiar foods are not only accessible and affordable but understood, valued and sustained for all

Definitions

Goal 1:

Reduce the stigma surrounding nutrition assistance programs by normalizing conversations, outreach, and access in ways that foster dignity and belonging

Goal 2:

Improve awareness of, access to, and enrollment in food assistance programs through coordinated, trusted, community-based navigation programs

Goal 3:

Increase nutrition literacy efforts to promote healthy eating for all in the Fairfax Community

Goal 4:

Establish an understanding of healthy eating, cultural acceptability, and how nutritional requirements can be met across cultures and age groups

Goal 5:

Improve availability and access to healthy food to build toward food security for all in the Fairfax Community

Fairfax Virtual Assistant