Participating Partners
In September of 2025, I helped the the Medicaid Food Security Network (MFSN) create a briefing on the complimentary roles of three major U.S.A. food assistance programs. I provided design strategy, long form report design, and data visualization. Read the client’s testimonial about working together.
In the face of sweeping changes to these government-funded food assistance programs, the team at MFSN sought to craft a visual and written explainer on how the three programs can be used in tandem to keep families fed in times of need.
After MFSN drafted first copy, I reviewed the brief to find opportunities to insert visuals. We settled on three main storytelling components: a priming graphic showing the combination of the three programs benefiting families; an anecdotal story constructed to showcase to the different programmatic functions; and a visualisation of the anecdotal story as a “map” of a family navigating increased need.
I worked with MFSN and supporting partners of the brief, HealthBegins and ___ to specify the type of anecdote that would most efficiently explain the potential of these programs to readers. Once the three programs had offered their ideal metrics for the family story and written the story draft, I helped select what items should go into the visual representation and how they could be framed .
The first explinary graphic represents the thesis of the brief; that the three programs (SNAP, WIC, and MTG) work together in addition to income to keep
families fed.
The story and secondary graphic are set up as an anecdote and an accompanying “map” of the story. The graphic highlights life events as well as milestones in the process of program participant’s, Amelia’s, enrollment in the three programs.
The full brief can be read here.
Client Testimonial
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Client Testimonial ~
Stephanie [was] an absolute rockstar in supporting our paper for the MFSN about the complementarity of SNAP, WIC, and other Food is Medicine programs. She designed three unique pieces—two killer graphics and one beautifully crafted paper—and brought them together into something truly cohesive and stunning. This was no small task! Through every revision, timeline shift, and new round of feedback, Stephanie showed patience, kindness, and flexibility. She was not only receptive to all our feedback but also offered thoughtful, creative suggestions that made the final product even stronger. The design is amazing, it’s polished, beautiful, and captures what we were looking for. Despite all the logistical hurdles, Stephanie carried out the project with poise and calm, making it all effortless. This resource wouldn’t exist without her creative vision and collaboration, and our whole Medicaid Food Security Network and partners at HealthBegins and CHCS are very excited. Stephanie’s extremely timely contributions enabled the Health Systems team to publish this brief at a time that coincides with a key convening on Food is Medicine. Stephanie went above and beyond to not only do what we asked, but be a thought partner in co-developing graphics about inherently difficult-to-convey concepts.”
Julian Xie, MD, MPP
Director of Medicaid and Benefits Integration
Medicaid Food Security Network