Authors: Tara L. Maudrie, PhD, MSPH (Sault Ste Marie Nation of Chippewa Indians), Cassandra J. Nguyen, PhD, Dane Hautala, PhD, Maisie Conrad, MSPH, Valarie Blue Bird Jernigan, DrPH, MPH (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), Kerry Hawk Lessard, MAA (Descendant of Ft Peck and Assiniboine Sioux Tribes), Jessica Dickerson, MSW (Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina), Victoria M. O’Keefe, PhD (Citizen of Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and Member of Seminole Nation), and Joel Gittelsohn, PhD

Journal: American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research

Publication Year: September 2025

Keywords: COVID-19, Culturally Informed Care, Health Care Access, Mental and Behavioral Health, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), Traditional Healing, Food insecurity, food security, UIO, Native American Lifelines, USDA, traditional foods, cbpr, community based participatory research

Abstract: A mixed methods community-based participatory research study was conducted with Native American Lifelines of Baltimore to:

(1) understand prevalence, correlates, and lived experiences with food insecurity and

(2) explore the effects of and potential solutions to food insecurity. An online survey was completed by 250 American Indian and Alaska Native adults, and a subset of survey respondents (N=11) completed interviews. Quantitative analysis revealed food insecurity prevalence of 28% and increased odds of food insecurity with higher levels of food stress and COVID-19 hardships. Qualitative inquiry revealed harmful long-term effects of food insecurity on eating behaviors and several food sovereignty oriented solutions to food insecurity.

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Type of Resource: Peer-reviewed journal article