HAN member Rush University System for Health is addressing food insecurity and strengthening its bond with the community through food security and urban farming initiatives. It is estimated that more than half a million residents of the nearby West Side neighborhood have difficulty accessing nutritious food, which worsens other health issues. Increasing access to food is part of RUSH’s goal of narrowing the up to 20-year life expectancy gap between several higher- and lower-resourced communities.
RUSH also aims to deepen its connection with West Side communities by demonstrating its commitment not only to high-quality medical care, but also to the social supports that are critical to whole-person health. “We are contributing to the long-term health and stability of our community,” Julia Bassett, director of the Food is Medicine-Veggie Rx program at RUSH, said, “and ensuring that our impact extends beyond the walls of our hospital.”
From the American Medical Association (AMA) article:
Rush also partners with an urban farming initiative on reclaimed land in a nearby food desert. Staffed by returning citizens and students, they grow culturally sensitive and appropriate foods for the area’s population every summer, reinforcing the program’s focus on culturally relevant care.
They will also be opening a site at Sankofa Wellness Village, a community-driven wellness campus created to address longstanding health inequities through integrated, holistic services.