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For Immediate Release
October 5, 2012
Austin
Clinic Writes Prescriptions for
Fruits and Vegetables (FVRx)
Austin, TX—10/5/12 “I am cooking more fruits and vegetables,” Maria
Gonzalez nodded, when asked about the impact of the Fruit & Vegetable
Prescription Program (FVRx) on her family’s lifestyle. “Now my daughter is
eating vegetables, when before,
she wasn’t eating vegetables at all. This program makes vegetables more
available to my family, making it the easy choice for
them.”
WHAT: An innovative project
combining the health intervention of fruit and vegetable prescriptions with
cooking classes for pregnant mothers
is finding success thanks to People’s Community Clinic (PCC), Sustainable Food
Center (SFC) and their funding partners, St. David’s Foundation and Wholesome
Wave.
WHY: Recognizing
that pregnancy affords a valuable opportunity to encourage women to
make behavior changes that improve immediate health outcomes and reduce the
risk of future chronic disease in both mother and child, PCC has launched the
Prenatal and Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Project in collaboration with
the Wholesome Wave Fruit & Vegetable Prescription Program and SFC. This
unique pilot aligns with the Centers for
Disease Control’s Measures Project for
Obesity Prevention by encompassing strategies that promote
the expanded availability and consumption of fruits and vegetables, improved
use of farmers’ markets, and increased support for
breastfeeding.
WHO and WHEN: Three groups of ten
women each (approximately 30 total patients), recruited from the same geographic
area are currently receiving nutrition-related information
and peer support through group activities that will complement their regular
prenatal visits to the clinic. Additionally, during the prenatal visits for the 30 participants, PCC doctors and nurse
practitioners issue FVRx prescriptions monthly for
six months as part of the patient’s routine care.
“We
are delighted to support efforts by
these innovative local nonprofit organizations to foster healthy eating habits
in our community! Kudos to People’s Community Clinic and Sustainable Food Center
for partnering to create this unique
and promising new program,” said Earl Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer of St.
David’s Foundation.
Clients are available for
interviews upon request.
About People’s Community Clinic
PCC’s mission is to
improve the health of medically underserved and uninsured Central Texans by
providing high quality, affordable
health care. As the medical home for 11,000 low-income patients, the Clinic delivers
a comprehensive, holistic approach to primary care that covers the lifespan and
improves the health and well-being of our community. http://www.austinpcc.org/
About Sustainable Food
Center
SFC cultivates a healthy
community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to
nutritious, affordable food. www.sustainablefoodcenter.org.
Media Contact:
Susan Leibrock
Community
Relations Director, SFC
512-983-0630
(cell)
susanl@sustainablefoodcenter.org
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