SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Janesville is implementing a new food resource program for patients, thanks to a special collaboration with Everyone Cooperating to Help Others (ECHO).
“We know that people need access to nutritious foods in order to maintain optimal health,” said SSM Health Community Health Director Megan Timm. “Unfortunately, this is a struggle for so many in our community.”
Currently, the SSM Health Basket of Hope program is being piloted in the Family Birth Suites. New moms who share a need for food are now being sent home from the hospital with a week’s worth of emergency groceries.
After receiving a Basket of Hope bag, patients are offered education about local resources that can help with more-permanent food security options. An SSM Health Community Health worker also checks in to ensure they are doing well.
There are plans for the Basket of Hope program to be offered to other hospital patients in the future.
“ECHO is excited to partner with SSM Health on the creation of the Basket of Hope program and ensure new families have access to adequate food resources,” said ECHO Executive Director Jessica Locher.
