FRAC News Digest - November 12, 2004

The weekly Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) News Digest highlights what's new on hunger, nutrition and poverty issues at FRAC, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around the network of national, state and local anti-poverty and anti-hunger organizations, and in the media. The Digest will alert you to trends, reports, news items and resources and, when available, link you directly to them.

Issue 42, November 12, 2004

Food Stamp Participation Increases in August 2004 To More Than 24.6 Million Persons
USDA Releases 2003 Food Stamp "Characteristics" Study
Food Stamps Recipients Can't Afford Heart-healthy Meals
Resources Online for Feeding Homeless Children and Youth
Changes on Congressional Agriculture Committees Likely after Election
Vending Machines Aid Schools' Cash Flow but Shortchange Students' Health
Communities Design for Healthier Lifestyle with Public-Private Help
Surge of Children in Poverty Hurt by Cuts to Head Start
Understanding and Preventing Obesity in Young Kids, Live Online Chat, 11/17
Illinois: Federal Meals and Snack Program Expands to More Children
Virginia: Participants Try Eating on Food Stamp Budget of $2.55 a Day
Massachusetts: Federal Food Programs Help Ease Hunger
Tennessee: Food Stamp Program Transitional Benefits Implemented
Colorado: Computer Snafus Continue - Many Could Wait Months for Food Stamps, Medicaid
Indiana: The Lines of Hungry People Keep Growing
Florida: Uninsured Children Caught as Employers Juggle Health Costs

1. Food Stamp Participation Increases in August 2004 To More Than 24.6 Million Persons

(Food Research and Action Center, November 2004)

Participation in the Food Stamp Program in August 2004 (the latest data available) increased by 217,639 persons from the previous month, to 24,612,845 persons. Participation in August 2004 rose in 48 states compared to a year earlier. The August 2004 level of Food Stamp Program participation represented a rise of nearly 2.3 million persons compared to August 2003, and 7.7 million more persons than July 2000, when program participation nationally reached its lowest point in the last decade. Food stamp participation nationally has risen in 41 of the last 45 months.

http://frac.org/html/news/fsp/08.04_FSP.html

2. USDA Releases 2003 Food Stamp "Characteristics" Study

("Characteristics of Food Stamp Households: Fiscal Year 2003," Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, October 2004)

USDA has posted online the annual report on food stamps use. The report found that in FY 2003 about 21.3 million people living in 9.2 million households received food stamps in the United States in an average month. Most were children (51 percent) or age 60 or older (9 percent). Working-age women represent 28 percent of the caseload, while working-age men represent 13 percent. Over one fourth (28 percent) of food stamp households have earnings, up from 19 percent in 1990. The majority of food stamp households do not receive cash welfare benefits, down from 42 percent in 1990. Twenty-eight percent received Supplemental Security Income. Almost one quarter (23 percent) received Social Security benefits. Less than 12 percent of food stamp participants live above the poverty line. The average food stamp household possesses few resources and are small, having only about $154 in countable resources and an average household size of 2.3 people.

http://tinyurl.com/3spjf

3. Food Stamps Recipients Can't Afford Heart-healthy Meals

("People on food stamps can't afford heart-healthy meals," American Heart Association, November 9, 2004)

Most food stamp beneficiaries cannot afford heart-healthy food options, according to a study of low-income, African-American-residents in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood. A family of four in Roxbury would need to spend $227 a month in excess of food stamp benefits to make heart-healthy foods part of their daily diet, researchers said. A senior living alone would need at least $100 extra. The average monthly food cost was $242 for a senior living alone and $692 for a family of four. Maximum food stamp benefits in Massachusetts are $139 for individuals and $465 for a family of four. The researchers conducted two sets of extensive focus group testing with six African-American women who had children under age 18 and six African-American women age 65 and older living alone. “At current funding levels, low-income people will have a very hard time accessing the kind of foods they need for a heart-healthy diet," said Rachael S. Fulp, M.P.H., director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease in Women at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

http://tinyurl.com/3nty2

4. Resources Online for Feeding Homeless Children and Youth

("Federal Resources for Feeding Homeless Children and Youth," Food Research and Action Center)

Programs that feed homeless and runaway children received a boost when the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act became law. FRAC has put online for homeless, runaway and domestic violence shelters that serve youth an Outreach Tool Kit on how to maximize federal funding. The kit includes program information, outreach and training materials, a brochure that organizations can use, research, background information and links to other important information and organizations.

http://frac.org/html/federal_food_programs/programs/homeless/homeless_index.html

5. Changes on Congressional Agriculture Committees Likely after Election

("After Election, Changes Are Likely for Agriculture Committees," Wisconsin Ag Connection, November 4, 2004)

The election results from November 2 will mean changes on the Congressional agricultural committees. Republican gains in the U.S. Senate give the GOP a two-seat advantage in all committees. The new chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to be Saxby Chambliss of Georgia since Pat Roberts of Kansas likely will remain chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa will remain the ranking Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee. Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia will remain House Agriculture Committee chair. Rep. Charles Stenholm of Texas, the ranking Democrat on the panel, lost his re-election bid. His replacement is expected to be Rep. Colin Peterson of Minnesota.

http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-national.cfm?Id=1155&yr=2004

6. Vending Machines Aid Schools' Cash Flow but Shortchange Students' Health

("As obesity rates rise, schools reconsider vending-machine contracts," KRT Wire, November 1, 2004)

Over half of all high schools and junior high schools nationwide have deals with soft-drink companies or vendors, according to the Institute of Medicine. The contract deals are lucrative for schools, but the impact on students' health has raised concerns. Since forty percent of children's daily food intake occurs while in school, campuses are being implicated in the rising rate of childhood obesity. "A lot of kids don't even have time for breakfast, then they eat a crappy lunch here," said Diana Frey, a junior at Montgomery-Blair High School in Silver Spring. "That's a good eight hours without eating anything healthy at all." Schools meals served as part of the National Lunch and Breakfast programs must meet nutrition guidelines established by the Department of Agriculture, but foods in vending machines and a la carte lines need not. One ironic result is that low-income students who eat subsidized meals tend to eat better than their wealthier peers, according to Margo Wootan, the nutrition policy director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/politics/10072253.htm

See the study "Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance," by the Institute of Medicine
http://www.iom.edu/report.asp?id=22596

7. Communities Design for Healthier Lifestyle with Public-Private Help

("$2.8 Million Public-Private Partnership to Examine How Surroundings can Encourage Active Lifestyles," National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, November 4, 2004)

A new $2.8 million effort by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will examine how better community design encourages people to be more physically active in their daily lives. NIEH will conduct a five-year evaluation of the impact local design and transportation changes have on physical activity and obesity in communities across the country. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Active Living by Design Program will support 25 community partnerships to design and implement community design and communications strategies that increase physical activity.

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/oc/news/actlife.htm

8. Surge of Children in Poverty Hurt by Cuts to Head Start

("Head Start program crippled by cuts in funding," Rockdale Citizen, November 2, 2004)

Nationally, more than 660,000 poor children who are eligible for Head Start cannot receive services because of inadequate funding, according to a National Head Start Association (NHSA) 2004 survey. Based on NHSA’s analysis of U.S. Census data, only 20 percent of eligible U.S. children up to 5 years of age are actually in the Head Start and Early Head Start programs. According to NHSA, this low percentage of children being served is caused by declining financial support for the program and the recent surge of children living in poverty. "When these children cannot attend Head Start...They also miss the literacy experience. We also serve three meals in a family-style setting, provide dental services and field trips," said Dr. Brenda Taylor, Head Start director for the Partnership for Community Action Inc. in DeKalb, Georgia.

http://www.rockdalecitizen.net/archive/2004/2014.htm

9. Understanding and Preventing Obesity in Young Kids, Live Online Chat, 11/17

("Understanding and Preventing Obesity in Young Kids," Connect for Kids)

On Wednesday, November 17 at 1:00 PM ET, Connect for Kids will host a live online chat on obesity and overweight in kids aged 6 and younger. Irene Chatoor, MD, an early childhood expert from the Children's National Medical Center, will be answering questions along with Marlene Schwartz, Ph.D., a Yale obesity and overweight researcher. Send your early questions and comments for the experts to rob@connectforkids.org

http://www.connectforkids.org

10. Illinois: Federal Meals and Snack Program Expands to More Children

("Gov. Blagojevich expands program to feed up to 40,000 additional Illinois children," Illinois Government News Network, November 4, 2004)

An expansion of the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program will allow 19,000 more family child care home providers in Illinois to receive federal reimbursement for the cost of providing healthy meals and snacks to an additional 40,000 young children. Previously, only providers licensed through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) received federal reimbursement to feed children in their care. License-exempt, family day care home providers were denied access to the program and had to pay for children’s food out of their own pockets. Now, all license-exempt providers serving children enrolled in the state's child care subsidy program will have access to meal reimbursement and other benefits, including meal planning and nutrition guidelines. “What’s important here is that kids are getting healthy meals," said Interim State Superintendent Randy Dunn. Child Nutrition Programs are federally funded and administered by the Illinois State Board of Education. The expansion will come at no cost to the state.

http://tinyurl.com/6n47z

11. Virginia: Participants Try Eating on Food Stamp Budget of $2.55 a Day

("Trying to eat on $2.55 a day," Roanoke Times, November 11, 2004)

By the second day of her new diet, Donna Thompson was already feeling the effects. She had a headache from not drinking her usual coffee with cream and sugar that morning. And she missed fresh vegetables. Thompson was participating in the Poverty Diet project, sponsored by the Richmond-based Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. The project asks participants to live for three days on the average food stamp benefit for Virginians - about $77.47 a month, or $2.55 a day. Food stamps are designed to supplement low-income households' budget for food, but in many cases, food stamps are the bulk of the family's budget for food. "The idea is to make you very conscious of choices people have to make," said Susie Fetter, a Roanoke resident and board member of the Virginia Interfatih Center.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke%5C13707.html

12. Massachusetts: Federal Food Programs Help Ease Hunger

("Status Report on Hunger in Massachusetts, 2004," Project Bread)

Project Bread has released its second annual status report on hunger in Massachusetts. The report documents the extent of food insecurity and hunger, examines the surge in demand for emergency food, and reviews the importance of government-sponsored nutrition programs in solving hunger. With poverty rising in Massachusetts, more people than ever are relying on emergency food pantries and soup kitchens, the report finds. The highest rates of hunger and food insecurity occur among low-income families with children. Demand for emergency food in Massachusetts has increased 38 percent in the last four years. Universal breakfast programs should be part of a comprehensive hunger-prevention strategy, the report recommends. Furthermore, boosting participation in federal nutrition programs can help low-income residents battle hunger and food insecurity.

http://www.projectbread.org/media/Status04.pdf

13. Tennessee: Food Stamp Program Transitional Benefits Implemented

("State program helps poor," Nashville City Paper, November 10, 2004)

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) has implemented a Transitional Food Stamp Program to prevent poor families moving off welfare from losing food stamp benefits and risk falling back into welfare. Previously low-income families that were moving from unemployment to jobs risked losing food stamps, or at least had their benefits reduced because of their increased income. Unexpected costs such as a car repair would force families that live paycheck to paycheck back on to welfare. Now they will receive five months of transitional benefits. A policy that made persons owning cars worth more than $4,650 ineligible for food stamps also has been changed, further easing the transition for families. Now the rules on assets will be aligned with Tennessee's Medicaid and TANF asset rules.

http://tinyurl.com/7ytqr

14. Colorado: Computer Snafus Continue - Many Could Wait Months for Food Stamps, Medicaid

("Needy could wait months for welfare benefits," Rocky Mountain News, November 6, 2004)

Some needy Colorado families will have to wait until May or June for the welfare benefits they should have received this fall, say county officials. Colorado's new computer system for processing applications has been plagued with glitches and has created a backlog. State officials introduced the $200 million online Colorado Benefits Management System September 1, despite pleas from counties to delay the rollout until more bugs were resolved. In Jefferson County, the social services agency is giving families grocery cards for local supermarkets who "have been without food for a good while." Workers are giving emergency food stamps to families in greatest need, "but we're having problems getting those through the system, too," Katrina Seymour, spokeswoman for Arapahoe County Social Services said. As the backlog of Medicaid applications grows, workers are asking families if their medical problems are emergencies, so they can be moved to the top of the list.

http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_3309398,00.html

15. Indiana: The Lines of Hungry People Keep Growing

(" 'The lines keep growing'," Bloomington Pantagraph, November 7, 2004)

Frail elderly women, working parents who cannot afford food, the unemployed, and men on disability are all lining up outside Clare House, a food pantry. Twice a week, the pantry distributes grocery bags with about four meals inside. "The lines keep growing," said Tina Sipula, founder of Clare House, comparing demand with the pantry's first food drive in 1995. A former school teacher, Sipula started Clare House more than 25 years ago as part of a network of 100-plus Catholic Worker houses that serve the poor in North America and Europe. Dorothy Day began the Catholic Worker Movement to feed the hungry during the Great Depression.

http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/110704/new_20041107030.shtml

16. Florida: Uninsured Children Caught as Employers Juggle Health Costs

("Who will insure our kids?," Miami Herald, November 1, 2004)

As health care insurance premiums have soared almost 50 percent in the past four years, many South Florida employers either have dropped coverage for employees' dependents or made it so expensive that their workers cannot afford it. The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce has urged companies to enroll low-wage workers in taxpayer-funded government programs. The chamber warned that uninsured children are more likely to miss school, and sick children mean employees are more likely to miss work. Last year, the shift from private to government insurance became so pronounced that the state had to cap enrollment in Healthy Kids, a public program designed for uninsured children who do not qualify for Medicaid insurance. Legislators were angered by the shift. The cap left 90,000 children stranded on a waiting list. State records show that Wal-Mart and Publix are the leading private employers of Healthy Kids parents.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/10061420.htm