Investment aims to address food insecurity for Nevadan youth
Food insecurity remains a pressing issue in Nevada, with 1 in 5 children and 456,700 people altogether experiencing hunger.1 Access to healthy food is a social driver of health (SDOH) that can impact a person’s short and long-term health outcomes.2 As part of our commitment to addressing social needs that impact the health of Nevada communities, UnitedHealthcare Health Plan of Nevada Medicaid has invested $668K in The Just One Project to provide residents with fresh and accessible groceries.
The Just One Project
The Just One Project is a non-profit organization that serves as Southern Nevada's largest mobile food pantry, dedicated to increasing access to food, resources and services for underserved Nevadans.3 The organization offers various food programs, housing insecurity programs, self-sufficiency programs for youth, financial literacy and English language programs for adults and connections to behavioral health services.
UnitedHealthcare Health Plan of Nevada Medicaid's investment supports three no-cost community markets that provide nutritious groceries to students and their families in Title I schools within the Clark County School District (CCSD). Since launching in August 2023, these school-based markets operate year-round, aiming to address food insecurity for up to 500 families. The markets feature fresh groceries, produce, recipes, nutritional advice and household items. Families visiting the market can also access The Just One Project’s Community Connect services, which include homelessness prevention assistance, rapid rehousing and other supportive services.
Additionally, the investment supports Groceries on the Go, a mobile grocery store pilot program that delivers nutritious ingredients directly to communities in food desert areas within Las Vegas. Individuals experiencing food insecurity and living in areas without access to fresh foods can use EBT benefits, cash or food vouchers provided by The Just One Project to purchase food from the mobile grocery store. This program aims to overcome transportation barriers to nutrition and teach household food budgeting skills.
Community impact
With Nevada ranking 45th in the nation in food sufficiency for children, The Just One Project plays a critical role in improving long-term health outcomes for Nevadan youth.4 Access to nutritious foods helps children achieve a healthy weight, strengthen bones, support brain development, and boost immunity.5 Brooke Neubauer, founder and CEO of The Just One Project, spoke of the program’s goal to support families’ whole-person needs, stating that the no-cost markets save individuals an average of $250 per visit.
By targeting food insecurity, UnitedHealthcare Health Plan of Nevada Medicaid aims to positively impact the health of kids and families in Nevada. The collaboration with The Just One Project has helped hundreds of families access fresh groceries and connections to local resources right in their own neighborhoods. For more information on how UnitedHealthcare Health Plan of Nevada Medicaid is supporting the whole-person needs of kids in Nevada, visit the plan’s website.
