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"We're Trained to Survive": Using Human-Centered Design to Learn Veterans’ Experiences Seeking Food Assistance


by Nipa Kamdar, PhD, RN, FNP-BC
Seminar date: 7/17/2024

Description: Approximately 1 in 5 Veterans experience food insecurity. Yet, little is known about how to best assist them. Thus, using the human-centered design framework, this study aimed to examine how Veterans are currently accessing programs like charitable food distributions and federal assistant programs. Using thematic analysis of 30 interviews with Veterans who experienced food insecurity, study investigators built a journey map to describe their contributing circumstances and how they were identified for unmet needs, connected with and obtained assistance. Investigators learned that what seemed like a straight-forward process was complicated and, for many, cyclical. They also identified multiple opportunities to improve care and services provided to Veterans.

Intended Audience: Clinicians and other frontline staff, community organizations, and others working to address social needs among Veterans and their families.

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DOWNLOAD: PDF handout | Audio only (mp3) | transcript not yet available


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