Institute of Rural Health Awarded Nearly $500,000 to Improve Maternal Health and Food Security in Southeast Idaho

Idaho State University's Institute of Rural Health is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $499,465 in federal funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in order to establish the Idaho Maternal Produce Prescription Program (IMP3). This new initiative will expand access to nutritious foods and nutrition education for pregnant women and their families in underserved communities throughout Southeast Idaho.  

The funding was awarded through HRSA's Maternal Produce Prescription Program, a federal initiative designed to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by addressing nutrition insecurity and increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The award supports the first year of a proposed four-year project, with additional funding in subsequent years dependent on federal appropriations and program progress.  

Lead Grant Project Coordinator, Kailey Blood shared that this program "aims to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among enrolled women and their families, provide nutrition education, and strengthen the relationships between healthcare providers, community organizations, and local food systems.”  

Through IMP3, the Institute of Rural Health will collaborate with healthcare providers and community-based organizations to identify eligible participants and connect them with resources. Participants will receive produce prescriptions in the form of prepaid cards or local farmers market vouchers to purchase eligible fruits and vegetables. The program will also incorporate nutrition education to help families build sustainable, healthy eating habits.  

"We are so excited about this program because it addresses a resource gap and area of need for Southeastern Idaho. I am looking forward to collaborating with each of the communities in the following counties: Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Butte, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida, and Power” said Aubree FitzGerald, Grant Project Coordinator. 

The program aims to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, improve household food security, and support positive maternal health and birth outcomes. By combining nutrition resources with healthcare and community support, IMP3 will seek to address both immediate nutritional needs and longer-term health outcomes. 

“Good nutrition is foundational to good health,” Health Resources and Services Administration Administrator Tom Engels said in a press release. “Through the new Maternal Produce Prescription Program, we are helping pregnant and postpartum women and their families get fruits and vegetables. Across HRSA, we are expanding access to nutrition services in health centers, strengthening nutrition support for people with HIV, and helping make nutrition a more integrated part of healthcare, including through telehealth. These are practical steps to help Americans live healthier lives.”  

As the program moves into implementation, the Institute of Rural Health looks forward to strengthening existing relationships and developing new partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations, and other stakeholders committed to improving maternal and family health throughout Southeast Idaho. 

For more information about IMP3 or potential opportunities for collaboration, contact the project team via email at imp3@isu.edu or by phone at (208) 282-4436.