A Model for Sustainable Action on Food Security: Participatory Food Costing in Nova Scotia, Canada Patty Williams, Canada Research Chair in Food Security.

A Model for Sustainable Action on Food Security: Participatory Food Costing in Nova Scotia, Canada

Patty Williams, Canada Research Chair in Food Security and Policy Change and Director, Participatory Action Research and Training Centre on Food Security, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova ScotiaDebra Reimer, MSW, RSW, Executive Director, Kids Action Program, Apple Tree Landing, Canning, Nova ScotiaOn behalf of the Partners of the Nova Scotia Participatory Food Costing Project

IUHPE Conference, July 13, 2010

Nova Scotia Food Security Network

The Nova Scotia ContextIncome-related household food insecurity by province in Canada

NF

PEI

NS

NB

QC

ON

MB

SK

AB

BC

Canada

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

8

7.1

9.5

7.4

6.1

5.6

6.8

5.2

7.2

6.9

6.3

2.5

2.1

5.1

2.8

2.4

2.7

2.7

2.9

3.5

3.5

2.9

Moderately Food Insecure Severely Food Insecure

Health Canada, 2007 - CCHS Cycle 2.2, 2004 (Nutrition)

Traditionally conducted by professionals (1988) First in Canada to use Participatory Action

Research (PAR) approaches for provincial food costing (2002)

Have engaged individuals most affected by the issue of food insecurity (2000-2010)

Our Food Costing Journey

Nova Scotia Nutrition Council

Project Partners Nova Scotia Food Security Network (NSFSN) and Coordinating

Committee and Participatory Food Costing Working Group Collaborating Community Action Program for Children and

Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program funded NS Family Resource Centres/Projects, staff and participants, and other community partners

Nova Scotia Nutrition Council NS Public Health Services Ecology Action Centre Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada and First

Nations and Inuit Health Branch Departments of Health, Health Promotion and Protection,

Community Services and Agriculture Acadia, Dalhousie, Mount Saint Vincent, St. Francis Xavier

Universities and University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Supported by funding from Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection.

Developing a Food Costing Model

In 2004/05 funding from Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection (DHPP) received to develop model for ongoing food costing in NS

Model guided by the need to address root causes of food insecurity for all Nova Scotians and build capacity for policy change National Scan of food costing initiatives (20 in-depth interviews) Partner consultations Reflection on previous experience in participatory approaches to food

costing

Information compiled to develop a framework for ongoing food costing in Nova Scotia, submitted to DHPP 2005

Model funded 2006-2009; renewed 2009 to March 2011

Ongoing review and reflection among partners

NS Participatory Food Costing Model

GOAL: For all Nova Scotians to be food secure

Purpose: To help build capacity for food security for all Nova Scotians using participatory approaches to examine and address the accessibility of a nutritious diet.

Objectives:

To engage individuals and mobilize communities towards knowledge and skill development to improve food security

To collect and critically analyze evidence about factors that affect the accessibility of a nutritious diet

To share the evidence by creating effective communication mechanisms

To inform and support healthy public policy development

Participatory Food Costing in Nova Scotia

Conducted in 2002, 2004/05, 2007, 2008, 2010 using adapted National Nutritious Food Basket (NNFB) (Health Canada, 1998 and 2008)

Monthly Net Income Minimum Wage Income Assistance

Net Wages $1198.11 $0.00

Working Income Tax Benefit $59.18 m/a

Child Tax Benefit $930.66 $585.19

GST/HST Credit $70.75 $60.33

Personal Allowance n/a $416.00

Shelter Allowance n/a $620.00

Childcare Allowance n/a $140.08

Transportation Allowance n/a $300.00

Total $2258.70 $2121.60

Basic Monthly Expenses  

Shelter $841.62 $841.62

Power/heat/water/phone $161.10 $161.10

Transportation $360.91 $360.91

Childcare $420.23 $420.23

Clothing, footwear, etc. $229.83 $229.83

Personal/household care $136.16 $136.16

Funds remaining for food $108.85 $213.10

Cost of the NFB $606.59 $673.62

Funds remaining for other expenses -$497.74 -$393.49

*Lone Female (24-49yrs) Boy 7-9yrs, Boy 10-12yrs, Girl 10-12yrs NSFSN/MSVU, 2009

Affordability for Lone Parent Family of Three*, June 2008

Participatory Food Costing has contributed to…

Evidence that a healthful diet is out of reach for many Nova Scotians

Building awareness of, and capacity to take action on the issue of food insecurity

Informing policy change, e.g. Healthy Eating Nova Scotia (HENS); Food and Nutrition Policy for NS Public Schools and Childcare Centre; increases to income assistance and minimum wage

Collective action and voice among partners including those experiencing food insecurity

Building relationships and partnerships for future food security work, e.g. formation of NS Food Security Network (NSFSN) in 2005; Community University Research Alliance funding 2010-2015 ($1million/5 yrs); Dept. Community Services

Practical “food on the table” programs, e.g. garden project

Lessons Learned

Supports need to be in place to allow those experiencing food insecurity to participate

Interrelationship of projects have necessitated thinking of new ways to evaluate outcomes

Need flexibility to accommodate contributions from partners of diverse backgrounds and to be responsive to changing context

Building relationships and trust are needed to strengthen project’s sustainability – takes a long time!

The investment in participatory processes multiplies and prolongs outcomes

Voices… Community Partners

“And not just that but you are giving a voice to the people who are living it. And it’s not that they haven’t been saying it for a long time, it’s just nobody has really been listening.

And that’s the whole main thing to me with this project is giving people the power and voice. It’s not just professors or students, it’s people who are actually living in this

type of circumstance.”

(Participatory Food Costing Participant, Johnson C, MScAHN Thesis, 2004)

Thank You!For More Information..

Participatory Action Research and Training Centre on Food Security, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NSwww.foodsecurityresearchcentre.caThought About Food? A Workbook on Food Security and Influencing Policy and accompanying DVD Food Security: It’s Everyone’s Businesswww.foodthoughtful.ca

Patty Williams, Principal [email protected] Watt, Food Costing [email protected]

Special thanks to co-authors - Michelle Amero, Barbara Anderson, Doris Gillis, Rebecca Green, Christine Johnson, and to Alyson Branton (Dietetic Intern) , Cynthia Watt and Liesel Carlsson for their input on the presentation and/or manuscript.