Staff Spotlight: Sofía I. Morales
Sofía I. Morales, MPH, CPH
Program Manager, Research and Evaluation
Meet Sofia Morales, MPH, CPH, and learn how SWAP is transforming New Haven's food system and promoting health equity!
At the heart of New Haven, a novel nutrition intervention program is changing the way charitable food systems operate. Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP), developed by the Institute for Hunger Research & Solutions at CT Foodshare and University of Connecticut Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health, is an evidence-based nutrition intervention that encourages the procurement, donation and selection of healthy foods in food banks and pantries. CARE is supporting the implementation of SWAP in food pantries in New Haven, paving the way for a more equitable food system and improved health outcomes for low-income and marginalized populations.
Logo of Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP)
Sofia I. Morales, MPH, CPH, the Program Manager of Research and Evaluation at CARE, explains that SWAP aims to address health inequities stemming from limited access to nutritious foods for individuals and families facing food insecurity. The program operates on the principle that easy-to-understand food labeling and guidelines can transform the policy, systems, and environment of food banks and pantries.
By promoting the procurement, donation, and selection of healthier foods, Morales believes that SWAP is working towards reducing the incidence of chronic diseases and fostering health equity: "Our goal is to support the implementation of evidence-based, healthy nutrition standards in key institutions across New Haven, increasing the number of places offering healthier foods and improving access to nutritious options for low-income and marginalized populations, to ultimately reduce the incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases."
“Our goal is to establish evidence-based, healthy nutrition standards in key institutions across New Haven”
The project's collaborative approach brings together pantry partners in New Haven with a community member who is a trained nutritionist, and staff and students from CARE. Morales emphasizes the importance of partnerships: "The project relies on a collaborative approach, where CARE works closely with pantry partners to tailor the intervention to each pantry's needs and the communities they serve."
Through community engagement strategies, CARE aims to foster trust and collaboration, co-designing strategies with pantry partners to implement and sustain the SWAP program. Morales reflects on the impact of SWAP: "The implementation of SWAP across these pantries has enabled us to establish evidence-based, healthy nutrition standards in key institutions and promote equitable access to nutritious foods for the New Haven community." So far, SWAP has successfully been implemented in seven pantries across the greater New Haven area, serving over 18,000 clients annually.
“SWAP has successfully been implemented in seven pantries across the greater New Haven area, serving over 18,000 clients annually.”
Despite facing challenges, such as limited resources at the pantry level and the need for broader systems-level change, SWAP continues to make a significant impact on the New Haven community. Morales, inspired by her commitment to food justice and health equity, is proud to be part of a team that advocates for equitable access to healthy foods and improved nutrition-related health outcomes: "I believe that access to healthy foods is a fundamental human right, and it is essential for preventing chronic diseases and improving health outcomes, particularly for marginalized and low-income communities."
"I believe that access to healthy foods is a fundamental human right, and it is essential for preventing chronic diseases and improving health outcomes, particularly for marginalized and low-income communities.”
As SWAP continues to expand its reach, it serves as an example of how evidence-based nutrition interventions can transform charitable food systems and promote a more just and equitable food landscape. With programs like SWAP, we are one step closer to achieving health equity and well-being for all.
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