In Humana’s Bold Goal work to care for vulnerable individuals, it is partnering with Feeding Tampa Bay, Reach Up and the University of South Florida to test the feasibility of a pregnancy and nutrition education program for underserved, minority women and children.
The six-week program uses a closed Facebook group to provide nutrition education, food delivery, safe baby content and the ability to develop social support networks with other women in the program. The nutrition education content, Cooking Matters, is specifically tailored to families supporting children birth to age 5, who receive U.S. Department of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
Expectant mothers in their first or early-second trimester were invited to participate. Those who accepted worked with Feeding Tampa to enroll and participate.
Feeding Tampa Bay ensured the participants received weekly deliveries of food they will use to participate in virtual cooking classes with other participants on the private Facebook group. USF faculty leads efforts to support participants (expectant mothers) through Facebook discussions and resources.
“This program will help us to evaluate the feasibility of expanding our benefit offerings to include programs like this for our members,” said Katie Ames, Associate Director, Florida Medicaid Operations at Humana. “We hope that it helps expectant moms create healthy habits and gives them needed support during a pivotal time in their lives.”