Identifying gaps in the food security safety net: the characteristics and availability of summer nutrition programmes in California, USA

Abstract

ObjectiveThe US Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option (summer nutrition programmes (SNP)) aim to relieve food insecurity for children and teens during summer months. More needs to be known about when and where SNP are available, and how availability varies by community characteristics, particularly in rural areas where food insecurity and reduced food access are more prevalent.DesignThe present study examined the geographic availability of SNP and summer meal uptake rates in 2016, using state-wide administrative claims data.SettingPublic schools and SNP in California, USA.ParticipantsSchools (n 8842) and SNP (n 4685).ResultsUrban counties were more likely than rural counties to have higher summer uptake rates, calculated as the percentage of summer meals served relative to eligible students utilizing school meal programmes during the academic school year, but uptake overall was low at 18·2 % of target populations. Geographic availability analyses showed that 63·9 % of public urban schools had an SNP available within 1·6 km (1 mile), but availability was significantly higher within the proximity of larger, higher-poverty high schools with diverse or majority non-White students, and those with higher school-year breakfast participation rates. Availability of an SNP within 16 km (10 miles) of rural schools averaged 68·1 % but was significantly higher around larger schools, higher-poverty schools and those with diverse or majority non-White students.ConclusionsWhile many communities have SNP available, much more work is needed to increase the availability of these programmes to reduce summer food insecurity for children, particularly in rural communities.

Addressing Food Insecurity through a Health Equity Lens: a Case Study of Large Urban School Districts during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Although our study is the first to look at the spatial distribution of pandemic school meal site locations in large urban areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, our results could be interpreted in the context of previous work examining meal site placement during school closures. One previous study examined the placement of summer meal sites [ 25 ] and found that urban summer meal sites were more prevalent in larger, higher poverty, and majority non-White high schools. We found similar patterns during the response COVID-19 pandemic, with more sites in the larger, higher poverty and higher minority areas.…”

“…Finally, we sought to understand how social and economic resources may be leveraged to facilitate access to school meals for those in greater need, such as provision of financial and logistical support to families [ 34 , 42 ]. High poverty is linked with greater food insecurity [ 25 , 42 ], thus providing greater resources to families may help offset other costs, potentially mitigating the effect of COVID-19 on food insecurity. We recognize that the SSO and SFSP initiatives are developed with the sole purpose to offset food insecurity and thus are grounded following a health equity approach.…”

“…Furthermore, the pressure on schools to re-open in the fall of 2020 is increasing, adding to the precarious state of school nutrition programs and meal service during the pandemic. Data regarding how school districts implemented emergency school meal programming will provide a better understanding of “gaps in the food safety net” [ 25 ] and help address areas for future improvement for schools as they consider reopening or continuing their emergency food service programming. Accordingly, we sought to address two aims in this case study: Investigate the emergency school meal service strategies adopted by four of the largest school districts in the USA at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Feeding Students During COVID-19—Related School Closures: A Nationwide Assessment of Initial Responses

“…14 This is particularly important when targeting populations with low-income and that identify as racial/ethnic minorities, whose meal participation might be negatively impacted by lack of transportation or child care; public safety concerns including COVID-19; or the chilling effect of the Public Charge Rule, which now makes participating in the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, among other federal social assistance programs grounds for denying a lawful path to citizenship. 15…”

Leveraging Implementation Science in the Public Health Response to COVID-19

“…Another challenge is transportation, particularly in rural areas. 45,46,48,49 Additional barriers include a lack of awareness of site locations among families and a lack of cultural inclusivity. 50 Although implementation strategies have been identified to address these barriers, few have been empirically tested for effectiveness in controlled studies.…”