Laura Czapiewski, “College Food Insecurity: An International Struggle”
Mentor: Shabnam Nikravan, Public Health
Poster #42

The public health problem this hypothetical program is aiming to address is food insecurity. Food insecurity refers to the lack of access to food and/or nutritious food which prevents someone from reaching quality health and wellbeing. Nationally, many students in college, at both the undergraduate and graduate level, struggle with food insecurity. This problem is reflected in University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students, especially international students. International students are any students who received a majority of their education outside the United States or require a student visa to study at UWM. This hypothetical program will aim to reduce food insecurity in international students. This program will be based out of the UWM Food Center and Pantry (FCP). Data from the food pantry will be assessed along with research about this issue at other universities to create a modified version of intervention mapping. This hypothetical program will be based on the social capital theory and social networking theory. A logic model was created to evaluate the inputs, outputs, outcomes and impacts of this program. The goal will be to reduce food insecurity by strengthening the knowledge of American food terminology while expanding the amount of cultural foods available at the pantry. Along with increasing resources on local grocery stores. With a strong community of international students, the program will be promoted based on the social networking theory. With the program running out of the food pantry, students will have a common social support location. By creating the plans for this program, there is substantial evidence of the potential impact it could have. If this program assesses the needs of the community and responds to those needs, the goals can be met. By creating a support system through the food pantry and creating resources within it, food insecurity in international students will decrease.