Building Data Capacity to Transform How We Fight Hunger in Hawai‘i

Hawai‘i needs more timely, quality, local data to better understand food security and the related challenges of households statewide. Our partners at Hawai‘i Foodbank - the largest food bank in the state - aspire to be a source of this information so that all concerned with supporting households in need have timely information to do so. While they currently track, report and share data on the number of people served and pounds of food distributed, they have identified an opportunity to collect data to better understand the circumstances of those seeking food assistance - data that will inform better responses to food insecurity and related challenges in Hawai‘i.

Expanding data collection in this way will equip stakeholders with new information that enables more responsive community support, and better decisions about how best to address food insecurity across our communities. When we have more timely, local data to understand the needs of our communities, we are able to develop programs and policies that achieve better outcomes for households across the state. From this shared aspiration, Hawai‘i Data Collaborative is thrilled to be partnering with Hawai‘i Foodbank to adopt Service Insights – a platform designed specifically for collecting food assistance data that yields community insight – across a network of over 200 partner agencies on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i.

What is Service Insights?

Photo credit: Hawai‘i Foodbank

Service Insights, a data system hosted by the national organization Feeding America, is a tailored solution for food banks that streamlines the experience of individuals receiving food assistance, while enabling consistent data collection across food distribution sites to better understand the communities being served. Chris Rainwater, Feeding America’s Service Insights Research Manager, explains:

At its core, Service Insights is simply getting to know neighbors so we can ensure we are meeting their unique needs, and that resources are accessible to everyone. There is a movement across the charitable food system to start thinking about outcomes rather than just our output. We’ve talked in pounds for decades but now the narrative is shifting to where those pounds are going, who are they going to, and if those pounds are healthy foods that connect with each community.

Hawai‘i Foodbank, the Feeding America partner for the State of Hawai‘i, will be working with its over 200 partner agencies to adopt the Service Insights platform on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i, and Maui Food Bank is planning a pilot site on Maui as well. This presents an exciting opportunity for food banks in Hawai‘i to move toward a more streamlined and fully digitized approach to data collection, improving the experience of those seeking food assistance while ensuring that collected data is utilized to provide better support going forward.

The Importance of Quality, Timely Data

The richness of data collection that Service Insights allows - while preserving and protecting the privacy of community members - will yield insights into food security at a level of detail and timeliness unprecedented in Hawai‘i. Although food distribution sites across Hawai‘i have been collecting data in the communities they serve for years, data collection is burdensome and often involves using written logs or basic spreadsheets - formats that make it challenging to gain broader insight.

While prudent, the transition to a fully tech-enabled system will require a significant amount of effort from food distribution sites with staff and volunteers needing to learn a new system while working to address the concerns of those visiting the site for assistance. Recognizing those challenges, the Service Insights platform has been designed to be as straightforward and user-friendly as possible, with a streamlined interface and the ability to record a visit simply by scanning a client’s unique QR-coded card. Preconfigured tablets are being distributed to each site, along with substantial training, to ensure everything works from day one and the relationships between the agency and clients are not disrupted by technology.

This transition represents a significant amount of work for Hawai‘i Foodbank as well. With many hands involved in distributing food to communities in need, staff will need to work closely with distribution partners to train and provide technical support for a seamless transition to the new system. There will also be a significant level of effort internally, as food bank staff become familiar with this new data resource and adjust internal processes to make full use of the insight potential.

Photo credit: Hawai‘i Foodbank

Lastly, it is important to note that one of Hawai‘i Foodbank and Feeding America’s greatest priorities with Service Insights is data privacy, as both organizations are fiercely committed to ensuring that above all, client data is secure and protected. Controlled, secure access to one cloud-based platform provides for secure data storage and access. When used for analysis purposes, data will exclude identifying information prior to analysis, with the results of such analyses shared only in aggregate. Further, clients who do not want to share their information are free to opt-out and will not be turned away from receiving food.

An Opportunity to Transform Hawai‘i’s Household Need Data Landscape

The impact of drawing insights using local, timely data from Service Insights cannot be overstated. Chris explains, “Service Insights will allow us to start addressing the accessibility of food…It means something totally different to know where people are picking up food versus [understanding] how far they are driving for resources.” As Service Insights is rolled out to food distribution partners, timely, comprehensive data insights will be readily accessible to the Hawai‘i Foodbank and its partners for the first time via dashboards and one-click reporting. Equipped with this tool, local food providers will be able to

• identify gaps in service where there is high need;

• support more efficient allocation of resources based on actual need;

• track food preferences and culturally-relevant foods across communities; and,

• allow for easy and accurate reporting when applying for funding.

Ease of reporting will enable Hawai‘i Foodbank to share aggregate data with other stakeholders, enabling all those working to address community need to gain a deeper understanding of the communities they serve and make better data-guided decisions.

We’re excited to be working alongside Hawai‘i Foodbank who are eager to invest time and resources to make community data more accessible in the efforts to address hunger. This project perfectly aligns with HDC’s mission to improve the data that informs how we as a state understand and respond to household and community need. We hope this will be a model of what is possible when we support non-profit capacities to collect, use and share data that speaks to Hawai‘i’s pressing challenges. Stay tuned as the work continues!