This year, NACHC has partnered with the Elevance Health Foundation to explore how Community Health Centers (CHCs) are turning Food for Health (F4H) concepts into real-world programs in their communities. As healthcare organizations increasingly recognize the role of nutrition in preventing and managing chronic disease, many are asking a key question: how can food be effectively integrated into care delivery?
NACHC defines Food for Health (F4H) as healthcare-integrated strategies and interventions that improve access to nutritious food to prevent, manage, and treat disease. These interventions were first implemented in 1966 by Dr. Jack Geiger, one of the founders of the health center movement, who wrote prescriptions for food so that patients suffering from malnutrition could access healthy meals. His approach has become an enduring symbol of F4H in action, long before the term existed.
CHCs are uniquely positioned to implement and lead these programs from five foundational areas:
- Deep community roots and trust. CHCs understand their patients and local food landscape, governed by patient-majority boards that strengthen their community connection.
- Existing screening infrastructure. Many centers already use PRAPARE®, electronic health record (EHR) tools, and/or community health worker (CHW) interviews to identify nutrition-related needs.
- Multidisciplinary teams. CHCs bring together CHWs, dietitians, social workers, and providers—creating the ideal ecosystem for F4H integration.
- Community tailored care. From indigenous food integration in Hawaii to healthier cooking education in Connecticut, CHCs design programs that resonate with their communities.
- Mission-driven flexibility. Even without formal reimbursement, many centers are implementing F4H programs through grants and local partnerships because it aligns with their mission to serve the whole person.
To see how these strengths translate into practice, NACHC hosted a recent webinar in partnership with the Elevance Health Foundation. The session featured two CHCs, The Wright Center in Pennsylvania and Valley Health Systems in West Virginia, sharing their experiences implementing F4H initiatives.
The webinar highlighted successful F4H models in action and explored key implementation factors, including partnerships, workflow integration, staffing, and financing. Centered on the needs of patients and communities, these examples demonstrate how CHCs are bringing F4H concepts into real-world care.
Valley Health Systems (VHS) addresses their patients’ needs in rural West Virginia through a Medically Indicated Food Box program. This program targets patients with chronic health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as those who have self-reported food insecurity. In partnership with Facing Hunger Foodbank, food boxes are delivered, at no cost, to VHS locations throughout the month for distribution to patients. Health center staff utilize a registry to coordinate delivery days with patients to ensure their boxes are received, and needs are met. The food boxes consist of canned goods, peanut butter, cereal, fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as frozen proteins (e.g., turkey, chicken, lean beef).
VHS serves over 100,000 patients annually, making it the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in West Virginia. Patients can be referred by staff to the food box program and other supporting services such as nutrition counseling. Patient care teams monitor patients on an on-going basis for medication adherence, often impacted by access to food, and improved clinical outcomes. VHS prides themselves on being a trusted partner with their patients and communities they serve.
The Wright Center (TWC) continues to lead the way in addressing whole person health by leveraging robust community partnerships to drive its F4H initiatives. Through strategic collaborations with local YMCAs, the Fresh Food Farmacy, and the Fork Over Love partnership with Luzerne County restaurants, the center has successfully implemented nutritional food drives, meal giveaways, and in-house food donations. These initiatives have yielded significant clinical outcomes, particularly BMI improvement and diabetes management. In Fiscal Year 2025 alone, 615 patients achieved documented weight loss totaling 7,738 pounds, while 811 patients were successfully connected to vital food resources.
To sustain this clinical momentum, TWC has embedded F4H educational resources directly into the EHR, providing clinicians with tailored digital resources for every patient at the point of care. Additionally, the center sees approximately 1,000 patients annually for specialized medical nutritional therapy. The organization is deeply committed to the future of Lifestyle Medicine, boasting several American College of Lifestyle Medicine board-certified physicians. The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education is actively championing this shift by integrating Lifestyle Medicine directly into the residency curriculum, ensuring the next generation of physicians is equipped to treat the root causes of chronic disease.
NACHC continues to advance F4H program design and support CHCs in addressing community needs nationwide. Through grant-funded partnerships like the Elevance Health Foundation, NACHC is developing tools and resources to further support CHCs in this work. In collaboration with the Elevance Health Foundation, NACHC will also launch a new series of engaging, easy-to-access microlearning resources focused on key F4H topics. Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to explore these quick learning experiences.