About New York State
Food as Medicine
Our Background: The NYS Food as Medicine Project
The New York State Food as Medicine (FAM) Project was launched in June of 2022. Over the course of 18 months, The Food Pantries for the Capital District convened a steering committee and five work groups to develop a set of fifteen policy and practice recommendations aimed at coordinating the effort to institutionalize funding for FAM programs into NYS Medicaid. This project was funded by the New York Health Foundation and completed in partnership with the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation (CHLPI) of Harvard Law School.
One of the fifteen recommendations called for the development of a statewide coalition of food as medicine stakeholders to advise on FAM policy and practice. Thus, the New York State Food as Medicine Coalition was born.
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Learn more about the project on The Food Pantries for the Capital District's website.
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Where We Are Now:
The New York State Food as Medicine Coalition
Born out of the NYS Food as Medicine Project, the Coalition builds on the foundation laid by this initiative to create a network of stakeholders across New York State to work together for the advancement of food as medicine policy and practice.​ Our Coalition members come from all sectors of the food as medicine landscape, including academia, government, healthcare, managed care organizations, non-profit, for-profit, lived experience, and more.
Through the work of six subcommittees, we focus on areas such as policy and advocacy, research and evaluation, education of the medical community, mentorship and outreach, FAM program implementation, and membership growth.
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By working collectively the NYS FAM Coalition aims to ensure that food as medicine becomes a standard part of care across New York State, ultimately leading to healthier communities and a more equitable food system for all.
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Interested in joining the effort?
Our Mission:
We are a statewide coalition of Food as Medicine stakeholders promoting communication and collaboration, serving as a resource and partner to decision-makers on food as medicine topics, best practices, and policy initiatives to integrate food as medicine into New York State policy and practice. 
Our Vision:
Food As Medicine will be sustainably integrated into the New York State healthcare system and available to all New Yorkers, regardless of their ability to pay, to improve health outcomes.
Our Core Values:
Guided by the principles of Fidelity, Equity, and Dignity (FED), the Food As Medicine Coalition strives for a healthier, more equitable New York through food-based interventions.
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Our core values are:
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Fidelity: We are committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based food programs with proven effectiveness. We uphold excellence and transparency in all aspects of our work, ensuring accountability and integrity.
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Equity: We believe access to healthy food is a fundamental right, not a privilege. We champion diverse representation and actively seek input from people with lived experience. We prioritize healthy equity, centering communities, food systems, and cultural appropriateness. We advocate for not only healthy food but also healthy food systems that prioritize fair labor practices and sustainability (akin to the GFPP model). We honor existing expertise and programs, promoting collaboration and avoiding duplication of efforts.
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Dignity: We treat everyone with compassion and respect. We empower individuals and communities to make informed choices about their health and well-being through food. We embrace the complexity of food and health systems, fostering interdisciplinary and multi-sectorial collaboration to address the unique needs of the diverse communities across New York State.
Together, these values guide our mission-driven collaboration, fostering open communication, trust, and continuous learning and improvement. We are committed to social change and empowerment, honoring the lived experiences of participants and practitioners.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section is currently under construction.
​To submit a question for our FAQ section, please reach out to: vic@thefoodpantries.org