Childhood Food Insecurity in the U.S.: Trends, Causes, and Policy Options

Abstract

In 2012, nearly 16 million U.S. children, or over one in five, lived in households that were food-insecure, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture defines as “a household-level economic and social condition of limited access to food.” Even when we control for the effects of other factors correlated with poverty, these children are more likely than others to face a host of health problems, including but not limited to anemia, lower nutrient intake, cognitive problems, higher levels of aggression and anxiety, poorer general health, poorer oral health, and a higher risk of being hospitalized, having asthma, having some birth defects, or experiencing behavioral problems. Many government programs aim explicitly to reduce food insecurity, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). (Other social safety-net programs—for example, the Earned Income Tax Credit—can also help alleviate food insecurity by increasing household income.) The fact that food insecurity remains so high even though the government spent over $100 billion on the various federal food-assistance programs in fiscal year 2012 poses a significant policy challenge. Food insecurity rates remain stubbornly high for a number of reasons. One is that we don’t fully understand what causes food insecurity or how food assistance and other programs can help alleviate it. Food insecurity has been researched extensively, and this research has helped policy makers and program administrators better address the problem. However, relatively little research has looked at what causes food insecurity among children in the first place, or the effectiveness of public policies, especially on more severe forms of food hardship. In this policy report, we highlight new research that seeks to fill this gap. Much of this work comes from the Research Program on Childhood Hunger at the University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research, which was underwritten by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Food insecurity and housing instability in vulnerable families

“…Examples of such programs are school meals programs through the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Reviewing the literature on the causal effects of these programs, Gundersen and Ziliak (2014) conclude that the most credible evaluations of these programs show evidence of their effectiveness in reducing child food insecurity. These programs should also improve the food security of parents since the programs free up resources that would be spent on providing nutrition to children.…”

“…Reviewing the literature on the determinants of food insecurity, Gundersen and Ziliak (2014) list the following factors that increase the risk of child food insecurity: poor maternal mental health, single parenthood, drug use and abuse, unstable family structure with a non-resident father, being an immigrant, paternal incarceration, and noncenter based child care. In addition, economic hardship and low-income are also strongly correlated with household food insecurity (Coleman-Jensen et al 2015).…”

“…This indicates that food insecurity increases the risk of housing instability through a combination of material hardship and a lack of instrumental support. A stronger social safety net through public assistance programs, which are effective in reducing food insecurity (Borjas 2004;Gundersen and Ziliak 2014;Meyers et al 2005;Ziliak 2015), would reduce material hardship and strengthen social networks and support, resulting in a lower risk of housing instability.…”

Factors Associated with Continued Food Insecurity among Households Recovering from Hurricane Katrina

“…A recent literature review completed by Gunderson and colleagues found that food-insecure children are more likely to experience “anemia, lower nutrient intake, cognitive problems, higher levels of aggression and anxiety, poorer general health, poorer oral health, and higher risk of being hospitalized, having asthma, having some birth defects, or experiencing behavioral problems” [17]. …”

Children Receiving Free or Reduced-Price School Lunch Have Higher Food Insufficiency Rates in Summer,

“…In 2012, 20% of households with children (16 million children) lacked consistent access to adequate food (5). Research consistently suggests that there are negative consequences from inadequate nutrition on various aspects of child well-being, including physical and mental health, behavior problems, and educational achievements (1,(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). In response, multiple nutrition assistance programs have been implemented at different levels (e.g., individual, household, school, and community) to protect children from the adverse impacts of food insufficiency.…”