|
Our Vision
All children in Nebraska will have sufficient food to meet daily nutritional requirements and achieve normal growth and development.
The Issue
Nutrition serves as the foundation for children’s health, academic achievement and overall development. Good nutrition can prevent illnesses and encourage proper physical growth and mental development.
Being undernourished can inhibit a child’s ability to focus, absorb information and exhibit appropriate behavior at home and school. Many families that suffer from food insecurity are skipping meals to make up for the inability to purchase food.
Supplemental food programs that include access to nutritious foods and education can assist families in providing healthy food for their children:
WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children)
WIC provides foods such as milk, cereal, cheese and juice through vouchers while educating mothers on the nutritional needs of their families. Learn More
Food Stamps
Food Stamps are coupons provided by the government to low-income individuals and families to be redeemed for food items in retail food stores. Learn More
School Breakfast
The USDA provides financial support to all school lunch and breakfast programs. During 2006-2007, 692 schools participated in the school breakfast program. Learn More
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
The SFSP was created to meet the nutritional needs of children and low-income adults during the summer. In 2006, an average of 7,378 children per month participated. Only 22 Nebraska counties participated. Learn More
What We Are Doing
 Promoting Positive Legislation
- In 2008, Voices for Children helped to pass LB 171, which provides resources and funding towards improving the food stamp program.
- In 2007, Voices for Children helped to pass legislation (LB 73) which provides at least $.05 to all schools for each school breakfast served.
- Voices for Children continues working to reverse potential reductions of federal funding for nutrition programs.
What You Can Do
- Find out the needs of students at schools in your area and, where appropriate, urge the schools to start a school breakfast program.
- Volunteer with food banks or meal programs that provide food for families in need.
- Know where your political candidates stand on issues like food stamps and school breakfasts and make informed voting decisions.
- Write to your legislator regarding important issues. See our Legislative Agenda.
|
$1
spent on WIC saves both the mother and child $1.77-$3.13 on health care
Source: USDA
44,740
women and children per month on average were served by WIC programs in 2008
62,518
children ages 0-17 received food stamps in June 2008
112,950
children were found eligible for free or reduced priced lunch at school
Source: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, 2008
Our Publications
Kids Count 2007 Report
Related Links
Center on Hunger & Poverty www.centeronhunger.org
Food Research and Action Center www.frac.org
|
