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Abstract
Food insecurity (FI) affects a substantial proportion of U.S. households with children and is linked to adverse physical, developmental, cognitive, and social outcomes. Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) may be at heightened risk due to added household financial burdens. This study assessed: (1) whether a single item from the USDA 6‑Item Short Form can effectively screen for FI, and (2) which household and family characteristics predict FI. Parents of preschoolers attending a community health screening in Tillamook, Oregon completed surveys on food security, CSHCN status, and household factors. Analyses included ROC curves, chi‑square tests, and multivariate logistic regression (SPSS 15.0). Findings aim to inform practical FI screening in primary care and identify high‑risk families for targeted support.