Nutrition, food insecurity, and housing instability studies by Daphne Hernandez, PhD, MSEd, FAAHB

Health Outcomes Post-Eviction Moratoria (HOPE-M)

Principal Investigator: Daphne Hernandez, PhD, MSEd, FAAHB
Co-Investigator: Annalynn Galvin, PhD, RN (UTHealth Houston, Cizik School of Nursing), Wenyaw Chan, PhD and Jack Tsai, PhD, MSCP (UTHealth Houston, School of Public Health), Timothy Thomas, PhD (University of California – Berkeley), and Elizabeth Mueller, PhD, MCP and Heather Way, JD (University of Texas – Austin)
Funding: NINR (R01NR021156)
Overview: The HOPE-M study focuses on the treat of eviction and mental health. This study will examine the exposure of strong local eviction mortarium compared to exposure to a weak local eviction moratorium on mental distress in the presence of ongoing economic disruptions. The study will also investigate how decisions are made to attempt to avoid eviction and how this contributes to psychosocial distress.

Evaluation of Food Security Scales among Hispanic Parents: A Cognitive Interview and Psychometric Properties Study

Principal Investigator: Daphne Hernandez, PhD, MSEd, FAAHB
Co-Investigator: Rickelle Richards, PhD, MPH, RD (Brigham Young University), Wenyaw Chan, PhD (UTHealth Houston, School of Public Health)
Funding: NICHD (R03HD109782)
Overview: This study will integrate how Spanish-speaking immigrant parents with low or limited English proficiency conceptualize their food insecurity experiences to inform the development of a comprehensive food insecurity measure.

Exploring Food Pantry Clients’ Use of “Choice’” and “Non-choice”

Principal Investigator: Daphne Hernandez, PhD, MSEd, FAAHB
Co-Investigator: Allison N. Marshall, PhD, MPH, MSSW (UTHealth Houston, Cizik School of Nursing)
Funding: Feeding America
Overview: The study compares the pantry utilization, food insecurity, economic hardship, and health among clients who attend pantries where food boxes are pre-prepared to pantries where clients choose their own foods from available supplies.

Exploring the feasibility of using interprofessional education to deliver Nourishing Smiles to underserved adolescents in Houston area schools

Principal Investigator: Daphne Hernandez, PhD, MSEd, FAAHB
Co-Investigators: Margo Melchor, EdD, MED, RDH, (UTHealth Houston, School of Dentistry); Allison N. Marshall, PhD, MPH, MSSW, (UTHealth Houston, Cizik School of Nursing); John Wesley McWhorter, DrPH, MS, RD, LD, CSCS, (UTHealth Houston, School of Public Health); Maja Djukic, PhD, RN, FAAN, (UTHealth Houston, Cizik School of Nursing); Allison Edwards, DrPH, MS, RN, CNE, (UTHealth Houston, Cizik School of Nursing)
Funding: SOD-CSON Joint Seed Award Program
Overview: Through short lectures, videos, and hands-on activities, this seven-week program provides under-resourced high school students with the opportunity to build oral hygiene and nutrition literacy skills. Learn more.

Houston-area Opportunities for Student Training in Obesity & Nutrition (HOUSTON) Academy 2.0

Principal Investigator: Daphne Hernandez, PhD, MSEd, FAAHB
Co-Investigators: John Wesley McWhorter, DrPH, MS, RD, LD, CSCS, and Dolores Hernandez Woods, MA, RDN (UTHealth Houston, School of Public Health)
Funding: Research and Extension Experiential Learning for Undergraduate (REEU) Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2022-68018-36607
Overview: Houston-area Opportunities for Undergraduate Student Training in Obesity & Nutrition (HOUSTON) Academy 2.0, is a 12-month interprofessional training program for undergraduate students who are interested in a health care profession. The program provides nutrition education, applied research, and community engagement opportunities led by nursing, dental, medicine, and public health scientists and professionals at The University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston (UTHealth - Houston). Undergraduate students selected for the program are provided with a scholarship. Learn more.

Research Resources