Social Needs Screening and Uptake Patterns of a Produce Prescription Program in an Urban Pediatric Primary Care Clinic

Top Things to Know

Relying solely on social needs screeners to identify families for PRx programs may exclude those who could benefit nutritionally.

Caregivers who responded “maybe later” were more likely to enroll, suggesting that food-related interventions should remain available over time.

Families with public insurance and those identifying as Hispanic or non-Hispanic Black were more likely to enroll, indicating that systemic inequities may shape both food insecurity and engagement with nutrition-based interventions.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

This study examined whether caregivers’ responses to a social needs screener predicted enrollment in a pediatric produce prescription program called Fresh Connect (FC). Among 1,005 families screened, 6% requested help with food, and 20% ultimately enrolled in FC. Surprisingly, caregivers who answered “yes” to wanting help with food were not significantly more likely to enroll in FC than those who said “no” (aOR 1.04, 95% CI 0.56–1.96). However, those who responded “maybe later” had significantly higher odds of enrollment (aOR 3.18, 95% CI 1.22–8.28), suggesting that ambivalence may reflect openness to future support. Public insurance status and race/ethnicity (Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black) were also associated with higher odds of enrollment. The findings highlight a disconnect between expressed need and program uptake, raising questions about the effectiveness of social needs screeners in guiding food assistance referrals.