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Addressing the Interconnection Between Maternal Health, Mental Health, and Food Insecurity: A Holistic Approach to Public Health and Community Nutrition

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

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Music City Center, Room 101

Proficiency: Intermediate knowledge/experience

Tracks: Behavioral and Mental Health, Public Health & Community Nutrition

CPE: 1.0

Description

Maternal health, mental health, and food insecurity remain a growing concern in rural, underserved communities due to a combination of healthcare access barriers, limited resources, and socioeconomic challenges. However, many dietitians may not be fully aware of how closely maternal health, mental health, and food insecurity are interconnected. This session will focus on the critical public health issues of maternal health, mental health, and food insecurity, particularly within rural and underserved communities. These issues are deeply interconnected, with maternal health complications, which often worsen because of poor nutrition and mental health struggles. Food insecurity further compounds these challenges by limiting access to nutritious foods, which can negatively impact both maternal and mental health outcomes. The session will explore the current landscape of these public health challenges, highlighting how they disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and discussing the barriers to accessing mental health services, and nutritious food in underserved areas. Attendees will learn about innovative community-based interventions, strategies for integrating mental health and nutrition support into maternal health care, and the importance of a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to tackling these complex issues. The session aims to inspire dietitians in community public health to collaborate and implement solutions that address these challenges comprehensively.

Planned with the Public Health/Community Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group

Learning Objectives

  • Describe maternal health, mental health, and food insecurity as critical public health challenges, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
  • Explain strategies to improve maternal health outcomes, including community-based programs, improved access to healthcare, nutrition education, and better integration of services.
  • Discuss strategies for engaging communities, advocating for policy change, and collaborating across sectors to address these complex public health concerns.

Performance Indicators

  • 1.7.4 Implements strategies and creates culturally sensitive and diverse resources to support diverse populations.
  • 2.2.2 Recognizes the importance of differences, orientation, social and cultural norms that may have an impact on individuals, groups and plans of nutrition care, services or education.
  • 5.1.4 Aligns work with organizational policies, strategic plans, mission statements, and visions.

Speakers

  • Andrea McDonald photo

    Andrea McDonald

    Assistant Director/ Professor, School of Public and Allied Health, Prairie View A&M University

    Dr. Andrea McDonald is an Assistant Professor and Director in the School of Public and Allied Health at Prairie View A&M University, where she serves as the curriculum chair. She holds a Ph.D. in Health Education from Texas A&M University, as well as a master’s degree in human sciences concentration in Dietetics and a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics, Foods, and Nutrition from Prairie View A&M University. Her research focuses on food preparation literacy, health disparities, mental health, and school health, with expertise in community health needs assessment, strategic planning and qualitative methods such as photovoice and grounded theory. Dr. McDonald is a recipient of research and special projects funding totaling more than 9 million dollars collectively from various agencies such as Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), Department of Health and human services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. She is the current chair-elect for the Public Health/Community Nutrition Practice Group (PHCNPG) and a member of the American Academy for Dietetics and Nutrition.
  • Sharon McWhinney photo

    Sharon McWhinney

    Professor, Human Nutrition & Dietetics, Prairie View A&M University

    Sharon L. McWhinney, PhD., RD is Professor Emerit of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Prairie View A&M University, and a graduate of Texas A&M University, College Station. She has contributed to the body of knowledge through teaching, research, publishing peer-reviewed journal articles, scientific presentations at national and international conferences, reviewing and editing textbooks, and conducting community workshops. Dr. McWhinney has been actively involved in professional organizations including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), the American Society of Nutrition (ASN), the Institute of Food Technology (IFT), and the American Public Health Association (APHA). She served as a didactic program director (DPD), dietetic internship (DI) director, and research scientist over the course of her career. She has worked closely with students study abroad programs and currently serves on the external examination review board of The University of Technology Jamaica. Dr. McWhinney is the recipient of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR)-HBCU Faculty Scholar Award and has received numerous research and special projects funding from agencies including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institution of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Education, and the Department of Health & Human Services. Dr. McWhinney has used her ability in public health, nutrition, food, and dietetics to train and mentor a vast population of students while promoting programs to enhance the health and well-being of diverse populations at the university and community levels, as well as national and internationally.
  • Alefiya Faizullabhoy photo

    Alefiya Faizullabhoy

    Senior Manager, Nutrition and Dietetics, Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Northwell Health

    Alefiya Faizullabhoy, MBA, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, FAND is the Senior Manager, Nutrition and Dietetics for a large Maternal Fetal Medicine practice that serves different clinic locations and is associated with the largest health care system in New York State. Alefiya has a strong clinical background in nutrition with a focus on diabetes, pre-diabetes, and weight management. She has worked in different care settings and with many different populations. She has presented at many well attended interdisciplinary and community conferences and is author and co-author on diabetes related topics and been a podcast speaker. Alefiya also serves as adjunct lecturer at the School of Population Health at Hofstra University, and is guest lecturer at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. She is the ADCES liaison to AND, and is on the ADCES National Board where she serves as Director. Alefiya is a 2025 diets panelist for US News and World Report and was recently recognized in Today’s Dietitians 2025 16th Annual Showcase of 10 RDs who are making a difference!

Moderator

  • Beth Cordova photo

    Beth Cordova

    Dietetic Internship Director, PHFE WIC

    Beth Cordova, MPA, RDN, received both her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and her Master of Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach. She has been working at the PHFE WIC Program since 2002, currently serving as the Dietetic Internship Director. She currently serves as Treasurer for the California Academy of Nutrition, Past Chair for the Public Health Community Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group. Beth considers it an honor and a privilege to serve future dietetic professionals.

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