Electronic Report from the Economic Research Service United States Department www.ers.usda.gov of Agriculture Background Report on the Contractor and Cooperator Use and Impact of Food Report No. 4 Assistance Programs on January 2005 Indian Reservations By Kenneth Finegold, Nancy Pindus, Laura Wherry, Sandi Nelson, Timothy Triplett, and Randy Capps, The Urban Institute ERS project representative: Victor Oliveira,
[email protected], 202-694-5434 Abstract The report reviews existing data sources and prior research on six programs operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provide food assistance to American Indians living on or near reservations. The purpose of the review is to help identify future research needs and opportunities to exploit administrative data systems and recurring national surveys. The programs covered are the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), the Food Stamp Program (FSP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Research topics of continuing importance include the impacts of reservation food assistance on health and nutrition, the characteristics that make nutrition education effective on reservations, the dynamics of program participation, and the contribution of tribal administration to program coordination. This report was prepared The Urban Institute under a cooperative assistance agreement with the Economic Research Service.