Nine plus ways hospitals can provide community benefit support

There are numerous ways that hospitals can provide community benefit support for healthy food access programs. This brief outlines nine common role categories — and on-the-ground examples — that hospitals are playing in support of these programs: 

1. Provide grant support
2. Provide use of hospital facilities
3. Conduct food insecurity or health screening
4. Conduct nutrition, food, or cooking education
5. Provide staff or financial support for program evaluation
6. Provide staff support for grant writing or securing sustainable funding of community benefit initiatives
7. Manage or coordinate a program or community collaboration 
8. Participate in a community collaboration
9. Participate in policy advocacy