The hunger vital sign

CHILDREN’S HEALTH WATCH  Policy Action Brief

The Hunger Vital Sign: A New Standard of Care for Preventive Health

Nathan Goldman, Policy Intern; Richard Sheward, MPP, Senior Policy Analyst; Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, MPH, Research and Policy Director; Maureen M. Black, PhD, Principal Investigator; Megan Sandel, MD, MPH, Principal Investigator; John Cook, PhD, MAEd, Principal Investigator; and Sharon Coleman, MS, MPH, Statistical AnalystMay 16, 2014Children's HealthWatch Policy Action Brief

Drs. Erin Hager and Anna Quigg and the Children’s HealthWatch team developed the Hunger Vital Sign, a 2-question screening tool based on the US Household Food Security Scale to identify young children in households at risk of food insecurity.

The Hunger Vital Sign measures families’ concerns about and access to food, much the way health care providers check other key vital signs, such as pulse and blood pressure. Healthcare providers, social service providers, community-based outreach workers, teachers, and anyone who works with young children can use the Hunger Vital Sign to identify young children and families who may need assistance.

To read The Hunger Vital Sign, click here.