P13 Social Network Analysis of Urban Church Food Pantries

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> Examining social networks helps to explain the connectedness of individuals, groups or communities, and is useful in demonstrating the potential that lies within and between networks. When evaluating social networks, relationships are viewed as "nodes" (eg individuals or points) and their connecting "ties" (eg the relationships between the nodes). Detailing food pantry and client "connectedness" through social network analysis can assist researchers and policymakers to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of the informal emergency food system. <h3>Objective</h3> The objective of the study was to examine the degree to which urban church food pantries are connected to the clients they serve using the social network theory. <h3>Study Design, Setting, Participants</h3> The research design was a population-based, cross-sectional study using a snowball sampling method of church food pantries in Nashville, Tennessee, from 2015–2018. The study population included 93 urban churches with 46 having on-site food pantries. <h3>Measurable Outcome/Analysis</h3> Zip codes for church-based pantries and clients served were collected via an electronic survey tool sent to urban churches. Social network ties between church food pantries and clients were analyzed utilizing UCINET 6 software. <h3>Results</h3> From the social network analysis a sociogram (eg visual matrix) was developed depicting 56 nodes (26 churches; 30 client zip codes) and 148 ties. Five large churches (membership ≥ 300), 13 medium-sized churches (membership = 100 to 299), and 8 small churches (membership ≤ 100) were identified within 23 zip codes. Large churches had 31 ties, medium-sized churches had 98 ties and small churches had 19 ties. Two central, medium-sized churches had the most ties with 20 and 30, respectively. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Although it was assumed that larger churches would have more social network ties, church size was not a limiting factor in serving urban areas through food pantries. Further research is needed to evaluate if current church food pantry social networks ensure vulnerable populations are being adequately served.