CHILDREN’S HEALTH WATCH Policy Action Briefs
The SNAP Vaccine: Boosting Children’s Health, February 2012
New research by Children’s HealthWatch finds that SNAP significantly decreases family and child food security. The analysis also showed that compared to children who are likely eligible but not receiving SNAP, children receiving SNAP were less likely to be underweight or at risk for developmental delays. The medical evidence shows that SNAP is an effective vaccine for supporting the healthy minds and bodies of our future leaders—our children.
The SNAP Vaccine: Boosting Children’s Health
Household Hardships, Public Programs, and Their Associations with the Health and Development of Very Young Children: February 2012
Insights from Children’s HealthWatch, . Katherine M. Joyce, MPH, Amanda Breen, Ph.D. Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, MPH, John T. Cook, Ph.D, M.A.Ed., Kathleen W. Barrett, MSE, Grace Paik, Natasha Pishi, Bianca Pullen, Ashley Schiffmiller, Deborah A. Frank, MD. Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy For Children at Risk: Vol 3: Issue 1, Article 4.
Overcrowding, Frequent Moves Harmful to Children’s Health, November 2011.
Overcrowding, Frequent Moves Harmful to Children’s Health
Real Cost of a Healthy Diet: 2011, November 2011
In new research conducted at the Philadelphia site of Children’s HealthWatch, we replicated the 2008 study Coming Up Short: High Food Costs Outstrip Food Stamp Benefits, examining the affordability and accessibility of healthy food in three types of stores in Philadelphia. The study showed that families of four who receive the maximum SNAP benefit experience a $2,352 annual shortfall and that more than a third of the food items were missing across all store types. Protecting SNAP’s existing entitlement structure is critical to ensuring that families continue to get the support they need to provide healthy food for their children.
Real Cost of a Healthy Diet: 2011
Boost to SNAP Benefits Protected Young Children’s Health, October 2011.
Children’s HealthWatch research shows that the SNAP benefit increase instituted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act protected young children’s health. In the two years after the benefit increase, children in families receiving SNAP were significantly more likely to be classified as ‘well children’ than young children whose families were eligible for but did not receive SNAP. Sustaining the April 2009 benefit increase will promote the health and well-being of America’s youngest and most vulnerable children.
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US Housing Insecurity and the Health of Very Young Children, June 2011.
Diana B. Cutts, MD, Alan F. Meyers, MD, MPH, Maureen M. Black, PhD, Patrick H. Casey, MD, Mariana Chilton, PhD, John T. Cook, PhD, Joni Geppert, MPH, RD, LN, Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, MPH, Timothy Heeren , PhD, Sharon Coleman, MPH, MS, Ruth Rose-Jacobs, ScD, and Deborah A. Frank, MD. American Journal of Public Health. Published online ahead of print June 16, 2011. Volume published in August 2011.
Federal Programs that Protect Young Children’s Health, June 2011.
Research has shown that children who suffer from poor nutrition, unstable housing and inadequate home heating have a greater likelihood of poor health, a higher risk of developmental delays, and in some cases, an increased risk of hospitalization. Fortunately, our country has a number of highly effective programs, including SNAP, WIC, LIHEAP and subsidized housing, that help protect brain and body growth in very young children.
Too Many Hurdles: Barriers to Receiving SNAP Put Children’s Health at Risk, March 2011.
Research by Children’s HealthWatch shows that young children in families that did not receive SNAP due to administrative and other difficulties were more likely to be child food insecure (sometimes called child hunger) and significantly underweight for their age (an indication of under nutrition). These young children were also more likely to live in households that were struggling to put food on the table (houshold food insecure) and living in crowded/doubled up conditions or moving frequently. Our previous research has shown that children in food-insecure households whose families participate in SNAP are significantly more likely to be in good or excellent health than children in similar families that do not have access to the program. Removing barriers to accessing SNAP can protect the health of America’s children.
LIHEAP Stabilizes Family Housing and Protects Children’s Health, February 2011.
Research by Children’s HealthWatch shows that the federal government’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program protects very young children from the risk factors for poor child health that are associated with energy insecurity. Energy insecure families are more likely to move frequently, experience food insecurity, and have poor child health outcomes. LIHEAP attenuates these risks, helping to stabilize families’ housing and to protect children’s health and growth.
Cover of Behind Closed Doors ReportBehind Closed Doors: The hidden health impacts of being behind on rent, January 2011.
New research by Children’s HealthWatch finds that families who are behind on rent are more likely to have children in fair or poor health, at risk of developmental delays, and a mother who has symptoms of depression compared to families who are not behind on rent. Strikingly, the negative health impacts of being behind on rent are similar to families experiencing homelessness. The policy implications of these findings call for investments in affordable housing opportunities and rental assistance programs for families and their very young children.
Food Insecurity Among Children: A Look at Baltimore City, January 2011. Healthy Moms: Improving the Quality of Life for Baltimore City Mothers, January, 2011.
October 2010
Children of Immigrants: Healthy Beginnings Derailed by Food Insecurity
U.S.-born children of immigrant mothers are more likely to be breastfed, have a healthy birth weight, and live with two parents than children of U.S. -born mothers. Despite this healthier start, young children of recent immigrants are more likely to be in poor health and food insecure. Food insecurity plays a significant role in harming the health of young children of immigrants. Though immigrant families have higher rates of poverty and food insecurity, because of regulatory barriers and confusion about eligibility, children of immigrants are less likely than those of U.S.-born parents to receive important nutritional and health benefits beeded for healthy growth and development.
Children of Immigrants: Healthy Beginnings Derailed by Food Insecurity.
September 2010
Earning More, Receiving Less: Loss of Benefits and Child Hunger
New research from Children’s HealthWatch shows that increases in income that trigger loss of public assistance benefits can leave young children without enough food to eat. Families hat have been cut off from SNAP or TANF when their income exceeds eligibility limits are more likely to experience levels of food insecurity that require reducing the size or frequency of children’s meals compared to those currently receiving benefits. Previous research has demonstrated that both SNAP and TANF reduce the likelihood of food insecurity. Income eligibility guidelines should be re-examined to ensure that a modest increase in income does not disqualify a family from the benefits they need to keep their children healthy and well-fed. Families that successfully increase their earnings should not find themselves worse off due to a resulting loss of benefits.
Earning More, Receiving Less: Loss of Benefits and Child Hunger
*June 2010. *
Healthy Families in Hard Times: Solutions for Multiple Family Hardships
New research by Children’s HealthWatch finds that the cumulative effects of multiple hardships on young children, including a lack of nutritious food, unstable housing and inadequate home heating and cooling, decrease the chances of normal growth and development in very young children. The research shows that the greater the level of hardship experienced, the less likely a child was to be classified as ‘well’ on a composite indicator of well-being.
Healthy Families in Hard Times: Solutions for Multiple Family Hardships
January 2010.
Child Care Feeding Programs Support Young Children’s Healthy Development
Children’s HealthWatch finds that toddlers receiving meals from their child care provider are in better health than those who must bring meals from home. The Child and Adult Care Feeding Program (CACFP) is the nation’s only nutrition program for young children in child care. Children’s HealthWatch identified a group of children in it’s dataset that are very likely receiving CACFP meals. Children in participating child care centers or family child care homes are in better health, have decreased risk for hospitalization, and are at healthier heights and weights for their age than children whose meals are supplied from home. Changes to CACFP that expand access, reduce barriers and ensure that providers have the resources they need to provide healthy meals are beneficial for young children’s health and growth.
Child Care Feeding Programs Support Young Children’s Healthy Development
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