FHCHC’s Food as Medicine Program Partners with CT Foodshare to Address Food Insecurity in New Haven

Fair Haven Community Health Care (FHCHC) and Connecticut Foodshare collaboration will help combat food insecurity and improve health outcomes for patients across the New Haven community.
The Connecticut Foodshare weekly donation of 500-600 pounds of food per week directly support FHCHC’s Food as Medicine program, an initiative designed to address the connection between nutrition and chronic disease. Through this program, patients experiencing food insecurity receive access to fresh, healthy food alongside medical care, nutrition counseling, and ongoing support.
The need is significant. Approximately 32% of FHCHC patients screened positive for food and financial insecurity, and 67% of all patients fell below the federal poverty level. In addition, nearly 31% of adult patients experienced chronic illness in 2024— conditions often closely linked to diet and limited access to nutritious food.
“Access to healthy food is a critical part of healthcare,” said Dr. Suzanne Lagarde, FHCHC CEO. “We are deeply grateful to Connecticut Foodshare for their partnership and commitment to our community. This support allows us to address food insecurity not just as a social issue, but as a healthcare priority.”
FHCHC integrates medical, behavioral health, dental, and pharmacy services to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care. The Food as Medicine program is directed by a licensed Registered Dietitian who works with patients and their families to develop nutrition plans tailored to their medical needs. The focus is often on conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart-disease and obesity, where nutrition plays a critical role in prevention and management. Patients receive guidance on meal preparation specific to their condition and access healthy foods that support their dietary goals.
By combining nutrition education with access to healthy foods, FHCHC and Connecticut Foodshare are working together to improve health outcomes, reduce the long-term impact of chronic disease, and address food insecurity in the community. In addition, FHCHC partners with local community organizations like CitySeed and Haven’s Harvest to further expand access to fresh, nutritious food and strengthen community-based support. For more information about Fair Haven Community Health Care and its Food as Medicine program, call 203-777-7411.
About Fair Haven Community Health Care
FHCHC is a federally qualified community health center (“FQHC”) established in 1971 in New Haven, CT by local activists. A nationally recognized leader in addressing health disparities in an urban community, FHCHC offers high quality, comprehensive health care to medically underserved and uninsured families. FHCHC serves over 38,000 patients at over 168,000 appointments/yr. Over three hundred clinicians and staff ensure that patients have access to high quality care (prenatal through geriatric). FHCHC provides a full spectrum of primary medical care, mental health services, wellness support, pharmacy and dentistry at 21 locations in the greater New Haven area. FHCHC has recently been awarded the Silver Award for Health Center Quality Leaders from the Federal Health Resources & Services Administration. FHCHC has also been recognized as a “patient centered medical home” by both The Joint Commission and by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.fhchc.org.