Children’s HealthWatch Hunger Vital Sign

In 2010, Drs. Erin Hager and Anna Quigg and the Children’s HealthWatch team developed the Hunger Vital Sign, a 2-question screening tool based on the US Household Food Security Scale to identify young children in households at risk of food insecurity. It measures families’ concerns about and access to food, much the way health care providers check other key vital signs, such as pulse and blood pressure. Healthcare providers, social service providers, community-based outreach workers, teachers and anyone who works with young children can use the Hunger Vital Sign to identify young children and families who may need assistance.