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We are a 501(c)(3) public health organization working to support communities in need across the state of Arkansas. We believe that by investing in basic necessities and fostering a robust mutual aid network centering healing and restoration, we can help break the cycle of poverty and empower individuals and communities to create a brighter future for themselves and their families.
ALL Power to The People.
Classification of Food Justice United Members as First Responders
Pursuant to 34 U.S. Code § 10705, a "first responder" is defined as a firefighter, law enforcement officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or other individual (including an employee of a legally organized and recognized volunteer organization, whether compensated or not), who, in the course of his or her professional duties, responds to fire, medical, hazardous material, or other similar emergencies.
Food Justice United (FJU) is a legally organized and recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit public health organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Operating under a volunteer and mutual aid model, FJU coordinates harm reduction programs and free resource distribution to underserved communities.
Members of Food Justice United are actively engaged in emergency medical response activities, including the distribution and administration of Naloxone (Narcan), fentanyl test strips, and xylazine test strips. These services are critical in responding to opioid overdoses, which constitute medical emergencies. FJU also trains community members in the C.A.C.A. method (Check, Administer, Call 911 (FIRST), Aftercare), a structured protocol for overdose intervention.
Given their direct involvement in pre-hospital emergency care and medical crisis response, members of Food Justice United meet the criteria of "first responders" as defined by federal statute. Their professional duties, carried out through a legally recognized nonprofit organization, directly contribute to the mitigation of medical emergencies in the community.
Therefore, Food Justice United members are formally recognized as first responders under 34 U.S. Code § 10705, particularly in contexts involving emergency medical services and harm reduction efforts.
Imagine you have a friend who loves skateboarding, but sometimes they fall and get hurt. Harm reduction is like giving your friend a helmet or teaching them how to land safely. It doesn't stop them from skateboarding, but it helps them not get hurt as much if they fall.
Harm reduction means finding ways to make sure that when people do something that might not be very safe, like taking drugs or having casual sex, they can do it in a way that's less likely to hurt them or others. It's about helping everyone stay as safe as possible, even when they're doing risky things.
How to use Narcan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnjgrRNMfKM&list=PLoYEdxH4g2Wn2rkSxgOI0CbVUeRIaP_PJ&index=3&t=30s
How to use Fentanyl Test Strips (FTS):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6JUT-r-rLM
How to use Xylazine Test Strips(XTS): https://youtu.be/ngeFt1QjtpE?si=U9UeVqGQEy40KuGI
Naloxone can prevent overdose deaths. In 2019, one study found opioids were linked to almost 50,000 deaths, and that bystanders were present in one out of every 3. Often, someone is there when an overdose happens. If they have naloxone, they can use it to possibly save a life. Anyone can carry and use naloxone in an emergency.
Recognizing an opioid overdose can be difficult, but don't worry. Naloxone is a safe medication and can be administered to most anyone, if they aren't overdosing you aren't going to harm them.
Signs of an overdose may include:
When you suspect someone is having an opioid overdose, don't panic! Just remember the C.A.C.A method. ALWAYS call 911 FIRST in any emergency...
Check
the person by loudly saying their name, then use a "trapezius squeeze" where you use your index finger and thumb to squeeze and twist about 2 inches of that muscle. Alternatively, rub your knuckles into their sternum. If they do not respond, go to the next step....
Administer
the naloxone spray into their nostril by firmly pushing the plunger of the nasal spray with the person on their back, then place them in the recovery position. Note the time - a dose can be given every 2 minutes if the person has not resumed normal breathing.
Call 911 (FIRST!)
The Joshua Ashley-Pauley Act (2015) provides immunity for Arkansans who call for help during an overdose. If an individual calls 911 for themselves or another person, they are protected from:
The Opioid Antagonist Immunity Act (2015) SB880 allows individuals to administer naloxone without civil liability, criminal liability, or professional sanctions.
Arkansas pharmacists can order, dispense and/or administer naloxone to Arkansans at their discretion. There is no need for a prescription.
Opioid overdose rescue kits must be available in every public high school and every state-supported institution of higher education.
In Arkansas, providers must co-prescribe naloxone with most opioid prescriptions.
Administer
the second dose of naloxone if the person still hasn't responded after two minutes. Spray the second dose into the other nostril. Continue to administer every 2 minutes, keeping them in the recovery position in between doses until they recover or paramedics arrive.
Here are some great resources and links from the harm reduction, drug policy reform and sex worker rights spaces. This is by no means an exhaustive list! If you’d like to be listed (or think a resource should be) please reach out to us at: ean@foodjusticeunited.org
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) today announced the signing of a joint agreement to strengthen college student access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP.
This agreement aims to increase awareness of SNAP among college students, as new data shows millions of students eligible for food assistance are falling through the cracks. A recent Government Accountability Office report revealed 67% of the 3.3 million college students potentially eligible for SNAP reported not receiving benefits.
"We’re committed to making SNAP more accessible and easier to understand for low-income college students," said USDA Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Deputy Under Secretary Cindy Long. “Many of today’s college students are balancing jobs and family responsibilities. Access to SNAP ensures that eligible students can focus on their education, mental health, and overall well-being, rather than making difficult choices between groceries, textbooks, or other essentials.”
Today's action is a key achievement of the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. FNS and FSA will work together to send emails to low-income students who may be eligible for SNAP informing them of their potential eligibility, basic information about SNAP rules for students, and how to apply. They will also work closely with institutions of higher education to help them provide clear guidance to students on SNAP eligibility and application processes. These efforts are aimed at increasing awareness of students’ potential eligibility for SNAP and reducing barriers that prevent many eligible students from accessing the food assistance they are entitled to.
“Almost one-quarter of college students experience food insecurity, and too many of these students who qualify for SNAP are not receiving benefits. This joint agreement represents the commitment of the Department of Education and USDA to work together to ensure low-income students receive all the support they need to afford and complete college,” said U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal.
The agreement also includes plans to pilot data-sharing projects in up to 10 states, allowing state SNAP agencies and colleges to collaborate in outreach to students who may be eligible for benefits and providing technical support to institutions and agencies in those efforts. By utilizing Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) data, this initiative aims to enable institutions and agencies to more effectively reach potential SNAP applicants and connect them with the resources they need. The Department of Education has previously released guidance on how institutions of higher education and state grant agencies can use FAFSA data for outreach about means-tested benefits, such as SNAP.
To qualify for SNAP, students enrolled in institutions of higher education at least half time must meet the program’s income and other requirements as well as at least one of the other eligibility conditions, such as enrolling in a work-study program, working at least 20 hours per week, being a single parent, or having a disability.
State agencies administer SNAP, process applications, and determine eligibility. Students should contact the local SNAP office where they reside to learn how to apply or to ask other questions. Institutions of higher education with questions about student SNAP eligibility should contact their state SNAP agency.
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and improve food and nutrition security through a suite of 16 nutrition assistance programs, such as the school breakfast and lunch programs, WIC and SNAP. Together, these programs serve 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a year, promoting consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable food essential to optimal health and well-being. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. FNS’s report, “Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security: The Role of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service,” highlights ways the agency will support the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. To learn more about FNS, visit www.fns.usda.gov and follow @USDANutrition.
As a principal office of the U.S. Department of Education, FSA plays a central and essential role in the nation’s postsecondary education system as the largest provider of student financial aid. FSA ensures that all eligible Americans can benefit from federal financial assistance for education or career training beyond high school. In FY23, FSA provided approximately $114.1 billion in grants, loans, and work-study funds to help more than 9.7 million students and their families. To learn more about FSA’s programs, products, and services, visit StudentAid.gov.
Join us in our food equity mission to create a better future for all.
We are committed to addressing health disparities and advancing health equity by expanding access to care, improving health care quality, and supporting health care providers who serve populations at risk for poor health outcomes.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is committed to addressing health disparities and advancing health equity by expanding access to care, improving health care quality, and supporting health care providers who serve populations who are at increased risk for poor health outcomes.
In recognition of research findings that social determinants of health (SDOH) account for about half of the variation in health outcomes in the nation, HHS is moving with urgency to address SDOH and unmet health-related social needs (HRSNs) that have the potential to worsen health and wellbeing.
The impact of diet on chronic conditions and other poor health outcomes is well documented. Despite this knowledge, health outcomes resulting from diet-related conditions and disease continue to move in a concerning direction. The toll of diet-related chronic conditions is not distributed equally and is a result of a complex web of factors that also contribute to health disparities.
Studies have highlighted the many systemic barriers to healthy eating. For example:
These challenges highlight the importance of community- and society-level solutions when addressing nutrition inequities and chronic health conditions and are important to consider in design of FIM interventions.
Participant representation during FIM program design and implementation is an essential component to reflect back community needs and ensure successful program outcomes. FIM program administrators and physicians can also survey participants on challenges encountered when using FIM programs to identify barriers and personalize FIM interventions based on participant needs.
Best practices to collaborate with individuals with lived experience include:
These practices should be applied when designing FIM interventions. It is important to establish a network of trusted community partners, especially those with lived experience and a deep understanding of the population served by the FIM intervention as well as the food landscape in which the program is implemented.
As the health care system shifts toward identifying and addressing individuals’ social risk factors, creating opportunities for organizations from different sectors to come together with a shared vision and collaborative approach that aligns to lived experience needs will facilitate better care coordination.
Food is not merely a source of nutrients; it can be tied to personal, cultural, religious, racial, and political identities. Many cultures and populations have linked food with medicine for centuries, and the distinction between food and medicine varies between cultures and time periods.
Ensuring cultural sensitivity in FIM and food assistance programs remains a major challenge that can limit the effectiveness of these programs. Multiple authors have highlighted approaches for ensuring cultural sensitivity in FIM interventions, including the following:
HHS resources have described qualities and actions that partners in different sectors contribute to help build a stronger, more integrated health and social care system that supports Food Is Medicine interventions.
This call to action [PDF - 875 KB]
complements the companion U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health, highlighting the critical need to develop well-coordinated health and social care systems to better address HRSNs, and describes actions the federal government is taking to promote this transformation.
This brief identifies methods and emerging strategies [PDF - 1,489 KB] to engage people with lived experience in federal research, programming, and policymaking. It draws on lessons learned from federal initiatives across a range of human services areas to identify ways that federal staff can meaningfully and effectively engage people with lived experience.
This tip sheet provides key considerations for how organizations can identify potential diverse external partners, conduct outreach to them, and build and sustain productive relationships with them.
This resource summarizes the ways [PDF - 12.2 MB] in which health care systems, public health practitioners, and public health allies can partner to support food and nutrition security in their communities through programs, policies, and practices.
It is written through the lens of supporting actors to work together to address diet-related health disparities, including health care systems and payors, state health agencies, local health departments, and other public health allies such as universities, community-based organizations, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grantees.
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