Open Hand Atlanta Inc

WE COOK. WE DELIVER. WE TEACH. WE CARE.

A. IN 2021, OPEN HAND PROVIDED 1,345,341 HOME-DELIVERED MEALS AND MARKET BASKET GROCERY BAGS TO APPROXIMATELY 4,530 CLIENTS. OUR SERVICE AREA INCLUDES BARROW, BARTOW, CARROLL, CHEROKEE, CLARKE, CLAYTON, COBB, COWETA, DEKALB, DOUGLAS, FAYETTE, FORSYTH, FULTON, GWINNETT, HENRY, LUMPKIN, MADISON, NEWTON, OGLETHORPE, PAULDING, PICKENS, POLK, ROCKDALE, SPALDING, AND WALTON COUNTIES.B. THE PREPARED MEALS PORTION OF THE PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR ONE, TWO OR THREE FRESHLY COOKED DELICIOUS, THERAPEUTIC MEALS, COMBINED WITH HEALTHY SNACKS OR SUPPLEMENTS, TO MEET THE DAILY NUTRITION NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE DEALING WITH A CRITICAL, CHRONIC, OR TERMINAL DISEASE, MANY OF WHOM ARE UNABLE TO PREPARE OR SHOP FOR HEALTHY FOOD DUE TO PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS. OTHER QUALIFYING INDIVIDUALS MAY INCLUDE DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF OPEN HAND CLIENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR HEALTH STATUS. NUTRITION EDUCATION IS DELIVERED ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH THE MEALS IN GROUP CLINICAL SETTINGS AS WELL AS VIRTUALLY VIA OUR TELENUTRITION PLATFORM. MENUS ARE DEVELOPED AND PRODUCTS ARE SELECTED BY OPEN HAND'S REGISTERED DIETITIAN NUTRITIONISTS (RDNS) AND INCLUDE THERAPEUTIC AND PREFERENTIAL MENU OPTIONS. CLIENTS ARE ABLE TO CUSTOMIZE THEIR MENU TO OPTIMIZE THEIR DAILY INTAKE.C. OPEN HAND'S MARKET BASKET PROGRAM PROVIDES A WEEKLY SUPPLY OF BOTH NONPERISHABLE GROCERIES AND FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES TO LOW-INCOME, MEDICALLY ELIGIBLE CLIENTS WHO ARE WELL ENOUGH TO PREPARE THEIR OWN HEALTHY MEALS WITH NUTRITION GUIDANCE PROVIDED BY OPEN HAND RDNS. THESE GROCERIES PROVIDE THE INGREDIENTS FOR 14 MEALS EACH WEEK AND INCLUDE RECIPES AND NUTRITION EDUCATION SO CLIENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE THEIR OWN HEALTHY MEALS.D. IN ADDITION, OPEN HAND PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 99,412 EMERGENCY NUTRITION SUPPLEMENTS (ENS), IN THE FORM OF EMERGENCY MEALS, SNACKS, AND NUTRITION SUPPLEMENTS, TO LOW-INCOME, MEDICALLY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS, OFTEN DURING EXTENDED WAITS FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE APPOINTMENTS. PATIENTS WHO HAVE HAD DENTAL PROCEDURES MAY ALSO RECEIVE MECHANICAL SOFT MEALS PROVIDED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. THE SUPPLEMENTS HELP TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE NUTRITION TO CLIENTS WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING WEIGHT LOSS OR CHEWING/SWALLOWING CHALLENGES.E. CENTRAL TO OPEN HAND'S COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO NUTRITION, CLIENTS ARE ASSESSED AT INTAKE AND OFFERED NUTRITION EDUCATION BY OPEN HAND RDNS, WHICH INCLUDES EVIDENCE-BASED EDUCATION IN A GROUP SETTING. IN 2021, OPEN HAND ATLANTA PROVIDED 10 CHRONIC DISEASE SELF-MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS AND BECAME TRAINED IN THE DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. THESE PROGRAMS ARE SIX WEEKS AND TEACH INDIVIDUALS THE TOOLS NEEDED TO BECOME EFFECTIVE SELF-MANAGERS IN THEIR HEALTHCARE. THEY LEARN TOOLS SUCH AS HEALTHY EATING, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, HOW TO USE THE MIND, STRESS MANAGEMENT, AND POSITIVE COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES. THE RDNS ALSO PROVIDE FOOD DEMONSTRATIONS AND NUTRITION SEMINARS FOR A VARIETY OF POPULATIONS ACROSS ATLANTA. IN ADDITION TO WORKSHOPS OFFERED, OUR RDNS PROVIDE CLIENT COUNSELING SESSIONS WHICH INCLUDE INDIVIDUALIZED NUTRITION ASSESSMENTS, DIAGNOSIS, EDUCATION, AND GOAL SETTING. F. OPEN HAND PROVIDED MEDICAL NUTRITIONAL THERAPY (MNT) TO 350 CLIENTS IN 2021, PRIMARILY THROUGH VIRTUAL NUTRITION CARE. MNT IS PRESCRIBED BY A CLINICIAN, TARGETS A SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONDITION, AND INCLUDES A NUTRITION DIAGNOSIS, THERAPY AND COUNSELING SERVICES - ALL PERFORMED BY OPEN HAND RDNS. DEFINED BY THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS, MNT INCLUDES A SPECIFIC PLAN OF ASSESSMENT, NUTRITION DIAGNOSES, INTERVENTION, EVALUATION/MONITORING, DOCUMENTATION, AND COMMUNICATION WITH CLIENT'S HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. THIS SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A NUTRITION-SENSITIVE CHRONIC DISEASE TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH THROUGH BETTER FOOD CHOICES AND BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. G. OPEN HAND IS ONE OF GEORGIA'S PARTNERS FOR THE NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED COOKING MATTERS NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM - SIX WEEKS OF CLASSES UTILIZING AN EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM ORIGINALLY DESIGNED BY SHARE OUR STRENGTH. IN 2021, THE OPEN HAND COOKING MATTERS TEAM TAUGHT 357 PARTICIPANTS HOW TO PREPARE HEALTHY, TASTY MEALS ON A LIMITED BUDGET, OFFERING PRACTICAL, HANDS-ON INSTRUCTION FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SUCH AS MEAL PREPARATION, GROCERY SHOPPING, FOOD BUDGETING THAT EMPOWERS PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE HEALTHIER CHOICES, EVEN WITH VERY LIMITED RESOURCES. COOKING MATTERS HELPS OPEN HAND ADDRESS THE CO-OCCURRING ISSUES OF FOOD INSECURITY, OBESITY, AND RELATED NUTRITION-SENSITIVE DISEASE, WHICH ARE OFTEN MORE COMMON AMONG AT-RISK, DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS. IN PAST YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENROLL SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PARTICIPANTS; HOWEVER, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC COMPROMISED PARTICIPATION RATES IN 2021.

GOOD MEASURE MEALS (GMM), OPEN HAND'S FEE-FOR-SERVICE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, OFFERS NUTRITIOUS, GOURMET-QUALITY MEAL PLANS TO PEOPLE WHO WISH TO MANAGE CHRONIC ILLNESSES SUCH AS DIABETES, HYPERTENSION OR OBESITY, AND PEOPLE LOOKING TO IMPROVE OR MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE THROUGH BETTER NUTRITION. THIS PROGRAM EXTENDS OPEN HAND'S MISSION ACROSS THE FULL SOCIO-ECONOMIC SPECTRUM, MAKING AN EVEN GREATER IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. IN 2021, OPEN HAND SERVED 682 CLIENTS A TOTAL OF 54,455 HEALTHY MEALS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. GOOD MEASURE MEALS ALSO PROVIDES CORPORATE WELLNESS TO CUSTOMERS ACROSS ATLANTA IN 2021, THE RDNS PROVIDED 28 NUTRITION PROGRAMS AND 48 NUTRITION CONSULTS EXPANDING VIRTUAL NUTRITION CARE TO THESE CUSTOMERS.

OPEN HAND'S SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM PROVIDES ONE OR TWO FRESHLY COOKED HEALTH-PROMOTING MEALS, COMBINED WITH SNACKS OR SUPPLEMENTS, TO MEET THE DAILY NUTRITION NEEDS OF HOMEBOUND SENIOR CLIENTS AND SENIORS IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS. IN 2021, OPEN HAND PREPARED AND DELIVERED APPROXIMATELY 24,257 TOTAL ANNUAL MEALS TO SENIOR CLIENTS IN SENIOR CENTERS. ADDITIONALLY, OPEN HAND PROVIDED NUTRITION EDUCATION AND WELLNESS COACHING TO APPROXIMATELY 715 SENIORS IN GROUP SESSIONS CONDUCTED IN SENIOR CENTERS AND SENIOR HIGH-RISE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE METRO-ATLANTA AREA.

IN 2021, OPEN HAND EXTENDED THE REACH OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE NUTRITION PROGRAMMING BY ACHIEVING SEVERAL KEY GOALS: A. OPEN HAND AND GOOD MEASURE MEALS SERVED A COMBINED TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 12,174 CLIENTS IN 2021. THIS INCLUDES MORE THAN 1,453,900 HOME-DELIVERED MEALS, MEALS PROVIDED IN A CONGREGATE SETTING, AS WELL AS EMERGENCY MEALS/SUPPLEMENTS. IN 2021, OUR REGISTERED DIETITIAN NUTRITIONISTS (RDNS) WORKED DIRECTLY WITH 1,221 CLIENTS, PROVIDING EXTENSIVE NUTRITION EDUCATION RANGING FROM CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT TO HEALTHY SNACKING OPTIONS TO INCREASE HEALTHY FATS INTO YOUR DIET, CONDUCTING VIRTUAL AND IN-CLINIC MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY (MNT, NUTRITION COUNSELING PRESCRIBED BY A PHYSICIAN). B. THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMMATIC MILESTONES WERE ACHIEVED IN 2021:1. PREPARED MEALS PROGRAM HELPING OUR CLIENTS BETTER MANAGE THEIR CHRONIC DISEASE BY PROVIDING MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS IS ALWAYS A PRIMARY FOCUS FOR OPEN HAND. IN 2021, APPROXIMATELY 51% OF OUR CLIENTS REPORTED SPENDING FEWER DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL, 61% REPORTED IMPROVEMENT IN AT LEAST ONE HEALTH INDICATOR AND 22% REPORTED THEY ARE MORE EASILY ABLE TO TAKE THEIR MEDICATIONS AS A RESULT OF RECEIVING PREPARED MEALS.OUR ANNUAL CLIENT SURVEY FOCUSED ON MEASURING THE IMPACT OF OUR SERVICES. IN 2021, 9% OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS SELF-IDENTIFIED AS PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS (WE BELIEVE THIS PERCENTAGE IS ACTUALLY HIGHER, BUT UNDERSTAND THERE IS STILL A STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH HIV RESULTING IN FEWER RESPONDENTS SELF-IDENTIFYING), 78% WERE SENIORS SERVED THROUGH OUR HOME DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAM AND 11% WERE PERSONS LIVING WITH OTHER CHRONIC ILLNESSES/DISABILITIES. OF THE CLIENTS WHO RESPONDED THAT HAD A CHRONIC CONDITION, 36% REPORTED THEY SAW AN IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR CHOLESTEROL LEVELS, 39% SAW AN IMPROVEMENT IN BLOOD PRESSURE, AND 37% SAW AN IMPROVEMENT IN BLOOD SUGAR. IN ORDER TO REACH ADDITIONAL CLIENTS, OPEN HAND MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS TO UPDATE OPERATIONAL PROCESSES TO FREEZE AND SHIP MEALS PROVIDING ACCESS TO MEDICALLY FRAGILE INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE STATE.2. AS A COMPONENT OF OUR MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL PROGRAM, OUR HOME-DELIVERED MEAL CLIENTS HAVE ACCESS TO OPEN HAND RDNS TO CONSULT WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR NUTRITION AND HEALTH AS IT RELATED TO THEIR CHRONIC DISEASE. AMONG THOSE THAT HAD SEEN AN OPEN HAND DIETITIAN IN 2021, 83% REPORTED A CHANGE IN THEIR NUTRITION-RELATED HABITS SUCH AS SHOPPING FOR HEALTHIER FOODS WHILE GROCERY SHOPPING, LEARNING HOW TO PREPARE HEALTHY MEALS ON THEIR OWN, OR LEARNING HOW TO READ NUTRITION FACTS AND INGREDIENT LABELS.3. MARKET BASKET PROGRAM DESIGNED BY OPEN HAND RDNS, THE MARKET BASKET PROGRAM IS AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION TO REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY, INCREASE INTAKE OF HEALTHY FOODS, AND INCREASE NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE IN HIGH-RISK ADULTS IN THE ATLANTA AREA. OPEN HAND VOLUNTEERS DELIVER PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WEEKLY MARKET BASKETS WHICH INCLUDE SEASONAL FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES AND NON-PERISHABLE ITEMS, ALONG WITH NUTRITION EDUCATION MATERIALS AND RECIPES RELEVANT TO THE CONTENTS OF THAT WEEK'S BASKET TO ENCOURAGE CONSUMPTION. OPEN HAND PROVIDED 109,382 MARKET BASKET MEALS TO AN AVERAGE OF 150 CLIENTS EACH WEEK IN 2021.4. PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM (PRX) ACROSS METRO ATLANTA AND SOUTH GEORGIA, OPEN HAND CONDUCTED 19 COHORTS OF PRX, WHICH INCLUDED COOKING MATTERS CLASSES CONDUCTED BY RDNS AND TRAINED EDUCATORS. THE PROGRAM CONCURRENTLY PROVIDED WEEKLY PRODUCE BOX DISTRIBUTION DURING THE SIX WEEKS OF CLASSES AND CONTINUED FOR 18 WEEKS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF CLASSES. THE PROGRAM GREW IN SOUTH GEORGIA AND EXPANDED THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VETERAN AFFAIRS WHOLE HEALTH INITIATIVE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION CLASSES TO INSECURE VETERANS. THE EVALUATION FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THE PRX PROGRAM SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED FOOD SECURITY BY OVER 10% AND ENHANCED HEALTHY EATING HABITS, INCLUDING AN INCREASE IN THE VARIETY OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CONSUMED ALONGSIDE A DECREASE IN CONSUMPTION OF FRIED FOODS AND SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES. WITH REGARDS TO FOOD CHOICES, CONFIDENCE WITH PROCURING AND PREPARING HEALTHY FOODS INCREASED BY OVER 10% ACROSS ALL COHORTS. LASTLY, WE'VE OBSERVED IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH AND WELLBEING OVER THE 6-MONTH PROGRAM, WITH 25% OF PARTICIPANTS LOWERING BLOOD PRESSURE BY ONE CATEGORY OR MORE.5. IN 2021, OPEN HAND ATLANTA CONTINUED WORKING ON A VIRTUAL NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM IN RURAL SENIOR CENTERS ACROSS GEORGIA. THIS PROGRAM, CALLED GEORGIANS RECEIVING INSIGHTFUL NUTRITION SEMINAR (OR GRITS) INCLUDES TWO TYPES OF NUTRITION EDUCATION FOR SENIORS INVOLVED IN THEIR LOCAL SENIOR CENTER. THE FIRST IS VIRTUAL INDIVIDUALIZED NUTRITION COACHING FOR SENIORS WHO ARE AT HIGH NUTRITION RISK. THESE SENIORS ARE ELIGIBLE TO TALK TO A RDN WHO PROVIDES MNT TO ASSIST WITH THEIR CHRONIC CONDITIONS, FOOD SECURITY, AND/OR SHOPPING ON BUDGET. THE SECOND PART OF THIS PROGRAM IS THE PROVIDE GROUP NUTRITION EDUCATION TO SENIORS AT THEIR SENIOR CENTERS. EACH GEORGIA SENIOR CENTER IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST 15 MINUTES OF NUTRITION EDUCATION TO THEIR SENIORS EACH MONTH. OPEN HAND'S EDUCATION PROVIDES 30-45 MINUTES OF ENGAGING NUTRITION DISCUSSION AROUND PREPARING MEALS ON A BUDGET, SLEEP AND NUTRITION, DIABETES MANAGEMENT, AND MANY OTHER TOPICS. THE RDN PROVIDES THIS LESSON VIA ZOOM AND PROVIDES PRE AND POST SURVEYS TO TEST KNOWLEDGE GAINED AND LIKEABILITY OF THE ZOOM LESSON.6. RECOGNIZING THAT NUTRITION IS CRITICAL FOR PATIENTS RECOVERING FROM HOSPITALIZATION, OPEN HAND ATLANTA PARTNERED WITH GRADY HEALTH SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE POST-DISCHARGE MEALS: 10-28 MEALS DELIVERED TO THE CLIENTS' HOME FOLLOWING A HOSPITALIZATION. PATIENTS WHO WERE FOOD INSECURE AND RECENTLY HOSPITALIZED WITH DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, OR COVID QUALIFIED. WE FOUND THAT THE 30-DAY HOSPITAL READMISSION RATE FOR PARTICIPANTS WAS JUST 10% AND THE COST SAVINGS RELATED TO COSTS OF CARE IN THE 30 DAYS AFTER ENROLLMENT WAS ON AVERAGE $6,093 PER PATIENT.7. GRAB & GO PRODUCTS IN 2021, GOOD MEASURE MEALS PARTNERED WITH GRADY HOSPITAL TO STAFF AND PROVIDE GRAB AND GO PRODUCTS FOR THE JESSE HILL MARKET LOCATED ON GRADY'S DOWNTOWN CAMPUS. THE ADDITION OF THE MARKET INCREASED ACCESS TO HEALTHY, AFFORDABLE FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION AMONG GRADY PATIENTS AND STAFF, AS WELL AS THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, OFFERING NUTRITIOUS, AFFORDABLE FOOD TO A WIDER POPULATION ALSO SERVES TO BENEFIT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.8. FOOD AS MEDICINE COALITION AS A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL FOOD IS MEDICINE COALITION (FIMC), OPEN HAND CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE WITH OUR FELLOW COALITION MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR FEDERAL FUNDING THAT SUPPORTS HOME-DELIVERED, MEDICALLY-TAILORED MEALS AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. IN 2021, OPEN HAND BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO BE ACCREDITED BY FIMC FOR MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE RIGOROUS STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE COALITION. THOSE STANDARDS INCLUDE MEETING SPECIFIC MEDICALLY APPROPRIATE NUTRITION TARGETS FOR ALL MADE FROM SCRATCH MEALS, STRICT QUALITY CONTROL MEASURES, THE OFFERING OF MEAL CHOICES BASED ON MENUS DESIGNED BY LICENSED RDNS TO MEET A VARIETY OF SERIOUS CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS, AND THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY (MNT) ADMINISTERED BY OUR RDNS. C. OPERATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY1. RELAUNCHED GOOD MEASURE MEALS WITH CUSTOMER ACCOUNT PORTAL IMPROVEMENTS AS FOLLOWS: A. SHORTENED THE ORDER TO DELIVERY WINDOW FROM SEVEN DAYS TO THREE.B. IN RESPONSE TO CUSTOMER REQUESTS, WE INTRODUCED HOME DELIVERY AND DISCONTINUED MEAL PICK-UP LOCATIONS.C. EXPANDED MEAL SELECTION INCLUDING PRESCRIPTION MEALS.D. ADDED OPTION TO PLACE ONE-TIME ORDERS.E. CREATED SPECIAL FEATURE MEALS. 2. PARTNERED WITH KNOWBE4 TO IMPLEMENT VITAL MONTHLY CYBERSECURITY TRAINING FOR STAFF.3. IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL COSTLY CYBERSECURITY INITIATIVES INCLUDING MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION (MFA) AND EMAIL ENCRYPTION WHICH WERE CRITICAL INVESTMENTS TO THE SAFETY OF OUR DATA.4. EXPANDED CUSTOM MEAL SELECTION FOR OPEN HAND CLIENTS IN THE ORDER PORTAL FROM A HANDFUL OF OPTIONS EACH DAY TO AROUND 80 CHOICES, MAKING US A LEADER IN THE INDUSTRY FOR VARIETY.5. SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED MEAL OPTIONS FOR CONGREGATE ORDERING FOR SENIOR CENTERS.6. USING MICROSOFT SHAREPOINT, INTERACTIVE QUALITY CONTROL (QC) CHECKLISTS, AUDITS, AND REVIEWS WERE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED7. USING MICROSOFT POWER BI AND THE SHAREPOINT QC DATA, DASHBOARDS WERE DEVELOPED WITH PERFORMANCE METRICS FOR EACH DEPARTMENT WHICH ARE UPDATED AND REVIEWED DAILY8. EXPANDED QUALITY MANAGEMENT TEAM WITH ADDITION OF AN AUDITOR AND SUPERVISOR TO PROVIDE MORE OPERATIONAL SUPPORT IN PROCESS AUDITS AND QUALITY CONTROLS