Child Hunger Ends Here – Omaha Metro Omaha-Council Bluffs Douglas – Sarpy – Pottawattamie Counties Learning together to put the HERE in Child Hunger Ends Here

1 in 5 kids in Nebraska and western Iowa is at-risk of hunger. That means Kade lives in a home that doesn’t have consistent access to food throughout the year. Kade

While poverty is not the same as hunger, both are related, and exist, in our own back yard. April 15, 2007 Henry J. Cordes and Cindy Gonzalez and Erin Grace Omaha in Black and White: Poverty amid prosperity Omaha is known far and wide as the home of Warren Buffett, one of the wealthiest men on the planet. It boasts the headquarters of five Fortune 500 companies, the most for any U.S. city its size. But the Omaha metropolitan area also has another economic distinction: home to one of the poorest black communities you'll find anywhere in America. Among America's 100 largest metro areas, Omaha has the third-highest black poverty rate. Worse yet, its percentage of black children in poverty ranks No. 1 in the nation, with nearly six of 10 black kids living below the poverty line. *According to Map the Meal Gap, 30,000 is the approximate number of food-insecure children in Sarpy, Douglas and Pottawattamie counties. When we looked into a solution, we quickly saw the complexity. Identifying and feeding 30,000* kids each day costs millions, is not sustainable and will not end the issue. We knew it would take food and more to end food insecurity (aka ‘hunger’).

So, we started a collaborative, community-based initiative designed to help our neighbors. We made some progress, and learned driving big-scale change is a slow build. We knew we had more to learn.

In a company climate that values simplicity, accountability, and continuous improvement, a slow build was not enough, even though we have made great strides. Through the ConAgra Foods Foundation, we have invested millions of dollars in hunger solutions across the country over two decades. We have fed more kids, put money into research so that we invested our dollars even better, and piloted innovative programs that have had a greater impact. But there is more work to do. The ConAgra Foods’ Foundation is Feeding America’s Leadership partner in the fight against child hunger. Our dilemma: Our CEO asked us to ‘end’ child hunger in our backyard, a systemic social issue that is both complex and long term.

We asked some tough questions. How do we implement a complex, communitywide plan, when we don’t control all the elements in the community “classroom”? In the community, where are the tools, systems or organizations to align or hold people accountable to work toward a common goal?

We looked to our internal problem- solving process as a place to start. Problem-Solving Model As a company, we solve problems every day. Could we leverage a systematic problem-solving approach -- outside our walls, and learn from others in the community who do this work on a regular basis?

Gundersen, October 2012 We hired an expert to do some analysis, and teach us where to focus our efforts. Research said investing in these 5 areas could lead to a significantly improved outcome: SBP & School Breakfast & Lunch Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Input Annual Food Insecurity Metric Factors Outside our control reduced food insecurity

Then we developed a plan. We are building a two-pronged system that includes solutions for kids and the households in which they live. Make sure kids get the food they need in and out of school: Breakfast Lunch After school meals Weekends Summer vacation Make sure households have the tools and resources needed to keep a roof over head and food on the table: SNAP – Food Stamp access Budgeting skills Pantry services, including food and beyond (i.e., job training, clothing and more).

Introducing Initiative Over 3 years Invest more than $4 million (about $1.5M each year) In the 5 programs that evidence says will reduce food insecurity By 10% (of the approximate 30,000 kids that are Food Insecure)* Child Hunger Ends Here – Omaha Metro *plus other new, measured behavior changes at the community level, leading to a potential definition of community food security Plan

We decided on Year 1 investments: Kids get the food they need to learn and thrive in school and out of school. In school & after schoolSummer & weekends We signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Omaha Public Schools. We will provide cash grant incentives for all OPS, in particular Title 1 schools, to implement breakfast after the bell. Breakfast after the bell, also known grab-N-go, is shown to increase student participation. School breakfast also is a sustainable program. We are investing in the Food Bank for the Heartland to make sure kids get meals when they are out of school during the summer months. The investment will help the Food Bank identify and initiate at least 6 new summer feeding sites, and serve 20,000 more summer meals The program also is federally reimbursable as long as it meets certain standards. After-bell breakfast leads to higher attendance, reduced absenteeism, better focus and more. Summer feeding sites typically include an enrichment activity plus food, making summer more nourishing for kids. We also are investing in the Food Bank for the Heartland to increase after-school meal service sites by 50 percent. The Federal Summer Feeding Program does not cover parent meals, but we will expand that so kids can eat with parents.

And Year 1 at the household: Households need tools to break the cycle and make a difference for families. Food Stamps Invest in Food Bank and three largest pantries for food stamp outreach workers. Streamline referral services at the pantries. Budgeting Skills Expand capacity of Creighton Financial Hope Collaborative. Train community partners to become financial coaches. Teach more families the budgeting skills they need. Collaboration Invest in the three largest pantries Together (“Together”), Heart Ministry Center (the “Center”), and Heartland Hope Mission (“Heartland Hope”) to collaborate and deliver efficient, unduplicated services.

We will measure the impact in the community, and engage national experts in the process! The Omaha-Metro area is the classroom for our ‘natural experiment’ where we work with the experts (Drs. Bertmann, Gundersen, Pinard and Yaroch) to test approaches and put food-insecurity/hunger tools ‘to the test’ using a rigorous Intervention-Control group design. Check

We are learning from other national/local partners as well as leaning on our internal expertise, consultants and know-how! Continuous Improvement Lean Manufacturing Six Sigma

We stand by our claim—Child Hunger Ends Here! Not just a call to action, but an authentic action. Success Criteria

Under the framework of a Coalition for a Strong Nebraska, All Nebraskans should have the opportunity for a great start, ‘the good life,’ and an even better future. we are doing out part, across the river into Iowa. and plan to extend

Ultimately, we know it takes a lot to help a family succeed. We can’t do it alone; ConAgra Foods is a catalyst for all of us to learn and succeed together.

to our Year 1 partners for taking this learning journey together. Thank You Financial Hope Dr. Craig Gundersen Dr. Amy Yaroch C.P.S. Team

We welcome others to learn with us, work alongside us and collaborate to make a difference. is investing in the infrastructure, tools and measurement to engage the community to elevate our children, families and fellow neighbors. To join us on this journey contact