Child Nutrition: Programs, Problems, and Possibilities
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A Hunger Free Community Report CHILD NUTRITION: PROGRAMS, PROBLEMS, AND POSSIBILITIES Courtney Colwell Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellow ProjeCt BreaD February 2019 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was supported by the feedback provided by multiple staff members at Project Bread including Sarah Cluggish, Erin McAleer, and Leran Minc. Many thanks to Emily Broad Leib of the Harvard Food Law & Policy Clinic and Jon Wogman of the Congressional Hunger Center for their vital input as well. I would also like to express my gratitude for the members of Project Bread who agreed to be interviewed for this report: Rosemarie Caward, Holly Grace, Sam Icklan, and Krissy Scommegna. The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program is a social justice program that trains, inspires, and sustains leaders. Fellows gain field experience fighting hunger and poverty through placements in community based organizations across the country, and policy experience through placements in Washington, D.C. The program bridges community-based efforts and national public policy, and fellows develop as effective leaders in the movement to end hunger and poverty. Project Bread is one of the leading state-wide anti-hunger organizations in Massachusetts. They provide access to food for people who are hungry today while working to break the cycle of hunger through advocacy, education, and community action. 2 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ 2 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................... 5 PART 1: SCHOOL DAY ....................................................................................................................... 6 The National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program ................................................ 6 The Need: Why School Lunch?............................................................................................................. 6 NSLP Program Basics: History, Operation, Capacity .......................................................................... 6 NSLP Evidence of Effectiveness ........................................................................................................... 9 The Need: Why School Breakfast? ....................................................................................................... 9 SBP Program Basics: History, Operation, Capacity ........................................................................... 10 SBP Evidence of Effectiveness............................................................................................................ 12 Suggested Program Improvements ..................................................................................................... 13 NSLP Best Practices from Other States .............................................................................................. 17 SBP Best Practices from Other States ................................................................................................ 19 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program ................................................................................................... 21 The Need: Why Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program .......................................................................... 21 Program Basics: History, Operation, Capacity .................................................................................. 21 Evidence of Effectiveness ................................................................................................................... 22 Suggested Program Improvements ..................................................................................................... 23 Best Practices from Other States ........................................................................................................ 23 Special Milk Program .......................................................................................................................... 24 The Need: Why Special Milk Program ............................................................................................... 24 Program Basics: History, Operation, Capacity .................................................................................. 24 Evidence of Effectiveness ................................................................................................................... 25 Suggested Program Improvements ..................................................................................................... 26 Best Practices from Other States ........................................................................................................ 26 Sidebar: USDA’s Schools/Child Nutrition Foods Programs .............................................................. 27 PART 2: OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME ................................................................................................... 28 Summer Food Service .......................................................................................................................... 28 The Need: Why Summer Food Service ................................................................................................ 28 Program Basics: History, Operation, Capacity .................................................................................. 28 3 Evidence of Effectiveness ................................................................................................................... 30 Suggested Program Improvements ..................................................................................................... 31 Best Practices from Other States ........................................................................................................ 34 Afterschool Nutrition ........................................................................................................................... 36 The Need: Why Afterschool Meals?.................................................................................................... 36 Program Basics: History, Operation, Capacity .................................................................................. 36 Evidence of Effectiveness ................................................................................................................... 37 Suggested Program Improvements ..................................................................................................... 38 Best Practices from Other States ........................................................................................................ 39 PART 3: EARLY CHILDHOOD ........................................................................................................ 40 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) ...................... 40 The Need: Why SSNP for WIC ........................................................................................................... 40 Program Basics: History, Operation, Capacity .................................................................................. 40 Evidence of Effectiveness ................................................................................................................... 42 Suggested Program Improvements ..................................................................................................... 43 Best Practices from Other States ........................................................................................................ 44 Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program ................................... 45 The Need: Why WIC FMNP ............................................................................................................... 45 Program Basics: History, Operation, Capacity .................................................................................. 45 Evidence of Effectiveness ................................................................................................................... 46 Suggested Program Improvements ..................................................................................................... 47 Best Practices from Other States ........................................................................................................ 48 Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) ................................................................................. 49 The Need: Why CACFP? ................................................................................................................... 49 Program Basics: History, Operation, Capacity .................................................................................. 49 Evidence of Effectiveness ................................................................................................................... 51 Suggested Program Improvements ..................................................................................................... 52 Best Practices from Other States ........................................................................................................ 53 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 55 Appendix: List of All Suggested Program Improvements .................................................................. 56 Endnotes .............................................................................................................................................