Reimagining Food Equity: A Multilevel Health Framework.

This article focuses on promoting food equity (FE) as a critical social determinant of health (SDOH) essential for achieving health equity and environmental sustainability, aligning with the Grand Challenges for Social Work. It expands the concept of food security by emphasizing community collaboration, cultural preferences, and sustainable food systems, and presents the Social Work Health Impact Model (SWHIM) as a framework for social workers to engage in multilevel interventions—from clinical practice to policy advocacy—to address food insecurity and promote FE. The article highlights federal nutrition programs like WIC and SNAP, local food system initiatives, and the need for enhanced social work education to prepare professionals for expanded roles in advancing FE. It also calls for interdisciplinary collaboration and research to develop culturally responsive, sustainable food systems that reduce health inequities and environmental impacts.