Course Work

HSS 130 / PSY 130

The Problem of Hunger

in the U.S.

3 credits, Spring course

This course is offered every Spring, and fulfills General Education requirement for Social Sciences. The purpose of this course is to provide students an opportunity to learn about the problem of hunger from a multidisciplinary perspective. Students are exposed to information about the prevalence of hunger as well as to the research on the effects of hunger in populations at risk. Further, the course requires that students develop skills to critically assess and analyze the various causes of hunger. Finally, students are challenged through practical experience as well as through theoretical discussions to evaluate existing strategies used in the fight against hunger and to develop their own strategies for ending hunger in America. This course provides the foundation for those interested in completing a minor in Hunger Studies.

PSY 489/HSS 470/PSY 692

Students can enroll in undergraduate and graduate level independent study courses to examine various topics related to hunger, malnutrition and poverty. Individual topics are determined based on the student's interest in consultation with faculty. For more information contact Professor Gorman, kgorman@uri.edu.

Courses offered in the past have included:

Interdisciplinary Field Experience, &
Seminar in Food, Hunger, and Nutrition

PSY489/HSS470

Participation in a community-based research or outreach project with populations living in poverty plus interdisciplinary seminar facilitated by faculty and staff in the URI Partnership in Food, Hunger and Nutrition (will meet 3 hours 4 times during the semester, day and time to be determined).

Service learning participation will provide students from various disciplines with coordinated opportunities to work together on research or in the provision of services to low-income Rhode Islanders.

Food and Human Rights: Hunger and Social Policy

HPR 201

The paradox of hunger in a world that is rich with food and food sources has gotten scant attention in the recent past.

L to R: Professor Emeritus of Political Science Art Stein;

Ben Cohen, Co-founder Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream;

Center Director and Professor of Psychology, Kathleen Gorman

at the 2004 URI Honors Colloquim

To focus on this paradox, the Fall 2004 URI Honors Colloquium explored the following questions:

What is the meaning of food and what role does food play in our lives: culturally, ethnically, spiritually?
What is the experience of those facing hunger and food insecurity?
What are the causes that contribute to large percentages of children experiencing hunger and food insecurity and why are these numbers growing?
How do political and economic decisions, personal perceptions, and religious mandates affect those experiencing hunger in the U.S. and worldwide?
What is the current response to hunger and why has it failed?
Whose responsibility is it to end hunger?
Is there, or should there be, a right to eat?

Advocacy and Social Policy

PSC 375

The class was designed to provide students with hands-on experience in the legislative process. Students are exposed to background information in a platform of issues, trained in some basic organizing skills, and provided with opportunities to use these skills. The platform content is focused on basic needs for low-income Rhode Islanders. Substantive background on these core issues and the policies currently in place that address these issues is provided. The skills and experiences, while focused specifically on these issues, are applicable to any issues so that students who complete this course will be knowledgeable about the advocacy process in general and hence, able to use these skills regardless of the issue.

Anti-Hunger Leadership Training Program

Certificate Program offered through Feinstein CCE, on a intermittent basis.

Purpose: to build the capacities of the anti-hunger movement in Rhode Island by providing training to anti-hunger leaders and advocates. These trainings will provide participants with the necessary background and skills to strengthen efforts to solve the problems of hunger in RI.

Target Audience: advocates, volunteers, or paid staff interested in and/or currently working with populations experiencing hunger and food insecurity.

Requirements: The Leadership Training is comprised of 8 seminar sessions in the evenings over a 10-week period. Class sessions are approximately 3 hours in duration. In order to complete the certificate program, attendance is mandatory for all sessions (up to one session may be made up with permission from the instructor). Participants will be required to read the provided materials, and engage in assigned activities on a weekly basis. The certificate will be awarded upon receipt of a final project in writing.

Have you heard about snap?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Program is the new name for the Food Stamp Program.

Learn more about the SNAP Outreach Project or to access a benefits application:

www.eatbettertoday.com

What's new at the hunger center

The Restaurant Meals Program comes to Rhode Island

Now there is a way for homeless, elderly, and disabled SNAP recipients to buy hot, prepared meals. The Restaurant Meals Program uses the same SNAP benefits and EBT cards to allow certain low-income individuals to buy low-cost meals at participating locations. Eligible individuals are the homeless, elderly, and disabled who may not have access to food storage or preparation.

For more information about the Restaurant Meals Program, visit www.snaprmp.org.

For more information about the Restaurant Meals Program in RI, visit www.eatbettertoday.com