Good nutrition forms the foundation for children’s well-being and academic achievement, impacting their future health and economic productivity. However, in the US, 15.8 million children live in homes experiencing food insecurity.
Many of these children rely on National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs to meet their daily food needs. Despite the efforts and importance of these nutrition safety nets, school meals may not always reach all students in need, and students may be at increased risk when school is out of session.
In this webinar recording, Alisha Gaines, PhD, Cornell University Division of Nutritional Sciences, discussed a variety of innovative school-based programs with unique partners across the nation that address childhood hunger outside of the cafeteria.
Learning objectives:
- Describe the childhood food insecurity and hunger problem in the US.
- Describe school-based programs operating outside the cafeteria that address student hunger.
- Identify resources for potential programming opportunities in your area.
Resources
US food insecurity
Statistics
Consequences
- Child food insecurity increases risks posed by household food insecurity to young children’s health. http://jn.nutrition.org/content/136/4/1073.abstract
- Child hunger and long-term adverse consequences for health. http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=383521
- Does food insecurity affect parental characteristics and child behavior? http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/655821
School nutrition safety net
School meals programs
School meals reach food insecure children
- naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/42320/PDF
School meals participation
- http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/child-nutrition-tables
- frac.org/pdf/2014_summer_nutrition_report.pdf
Community Eligibility Provision
USA Today article
Teacher food spending
Backpack programs
Examples
- Backpack Buddies – https://www.facebook.com/Anderson-County-Backpack-Buddies-145049475555464/timeline/
- Weekenders Program – http://www.feedingal.org/main/food-bank-programs/#backpack
Toolkits
- Colorado – http://www.hungerfreecommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/HFC-Toolkit-for-starting-a-BackPack-Food-Program.pdf
- Northwest Harvest – http://www.northwestharvest.org/stuff/contentmgr/files/0/39781e61c4c57c9e406256bdcb32d540/files/how_to_start_a_backpack_program.pdf
Feeding America network
- http://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/we-feed-children/backpack-program/
- http://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/
School food pantries
Examples
- California – http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/04/05/public-school-dinners-pantries/70389176/
- Iowa – http://www.foodbankiowa.org/Programs/SchoolPantry.aspx
Feeding America network
- http://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/we-feed-families/school-pantry-program/
- http://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/
Food drives
Examples
- New Jersey – http://studentschangehunger.org/about/
- Oregon – http://engage.oregonfoodbank.org/site/TR?fr_id=1050&pg=entry
Resources
Food recovery
Legal protection
Examples
USDA Resources
- Food Waste Challenge – http://www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste/resources/K12_schools.html
- Food recovery webinars – http://www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste/webinars.html
Other resources
- http://www.sltrib.com/news/2245379-155/schools-combat-hunger-by-serving-breakfast
- http://www.conagrafoods.com/news-room/news-Kids-Set-out-to-Make-Their-Mark-on-Child-Hunger-During-National-Service-Month-2031917
- www.fns.usda.gov/pressrelease/2015/005315
- http://www.worldfoodprize.org/documents/filelibrary/documents/iowa_hunger_summit/iowa_hunger_directory/downloadable_resources/Iowa_Educators_Fighting_Hunger_6300333BB6716.pdf
- http://www.ysa.org/10wayhunger