In the News

NUTRITION  

All children in Nebraska should have sufficient food to meet daily nutritional requirements and achieve normal growth and development.

By the numbers

Under-nutrition during any time in a child’s life can have detrimental effects on cognitive development and later productivity as adults. It impacts a child’s school performance (concentration and ability to perform tasks) and behavior. While Nebraska ranks below the national average in households experiencing food insecurity (inconsistent access to meals and nutritious food), we have a higher rate than our surrounding states such as Iowa and the Dakotas. Supplemental food programs have been proven effective in offsetting under-nutrition and food insecurity for children.

There are several programs that provide supplemental foods such as:

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

WIC provides supplemental foods such as milk, cereal, cheese, and juice through vouchers while educating mothers on the nutritional needs of their families.

Participation has increased steadily over the past eight years (1998-2005). In 2005, an average of 40,252 women and children were served by Nebraska WIC programs. Participation in the program helps ensure children's normal growth, reduce levels of anemia, increases immunization rates, improves access to regular health care and improves diets. Children participating in WIC also demonstrate better cognitive performance. National studies have shown Medicaid costs reduced on average between $12,000 and $15,000 per infant for every very low birth-weight (less than 1500 grams) prevented.

Food Stamps

Food Stamps are coupons provided by the government to low-income individuals and families. The coupons can be redeemed for food items in retail food stores.

Studies show that families are suffering food insecurity and are skipping meals to make up for their inability to purchase food. Both the USDA and former President Clinton expressed concern for the lack of food stamp utilization by those who need it. In 1999, the Clinton administration addressed and changed some of the rules surrounding the approval process for receipt of food stamps.

In 2005, the use of Food Stamps rose from previous years. There were 60,672 children ages 0-17 found eligible to receive food stamps.

School Meals

The USDA provides financial support to all school lunch and breakfast programs regardless of the school';s location or the income of the families served by that school. A school only needs to apply to receive USDA reimbursement for the meals. Due to the fact that children concentrate better, behave better, and perform better when they are well nourished and not hungry, the Nebraska Unicameral passed legislation in Spring 2000 to encourage schools to serve breakfast. This legislation allocated a reimbursement to schools of $.05 per school breakfast served, supplementing the federal per-meal reimbursement already established. Voices for Children was instrumental in getting this legislation passed.

During the 2004-2005 school year 657 schools in 248 districts participated in the school breakfast program. A monthly average of 30,148 children benefited from receiving free or reduced priced breakfasts.

Links

     Center on Hunger & Poverty
      www.centeronhunger.org

     Food Research and Action Center
     www.frac.org