The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) plays a critical role in lifting children and families out of poverty, ameliorating the harmful effects of food insecurity. SNAP is the most effective government-run program to address hunger in the United States. It has been shown to improve child health, mental health, development, and growth, and to promote better academic outcomes and long-term economic self-sufficiency.
Despite its well-documented success, SNAP is once again on the chopping block. On October 5, 2017, shortly after the 40th anniversary of the implementation of SNAP, the House passed a budget resolution that would cut $150 billion from anti-poverty programs including SNAP. Furthermore, a significant shift to state authority over the program – in the form of block grants – has the potential to further reduce access to proper food and nutrition for poverty-impacted children and families. Among children in the United States already living in low-income households, these budget cuts place nearly half at risk of malnutrition and food insecurity. This brief highlights how food insecurity undermines learning outcomes and academic success.
Click below to download the policy brief.
