Childhood Hunger

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Summary:

State Fiscal Crisis Brings Harsh Health and Nutrition Impact. California is leaving millions of federal dollars unspent by not providing these meals to needy children and teens.

July 1

Summer School Cuts Threaten Children With Hunger

Contact: Matt Sharp, California Food Policy Advocates, 213.482.8200

Los Angeles, CA — According to a new report released today, reductions in summer school - up to 70% in many school districts - due to the state budget crisis mean that 300,000 children who ate lunch at school last July will have severely reduced access to free, nourishing lunches this summer.

While the summer lunch program operates at community sites as well as at schools, over 80 percent of the meals are served in conjunction with summer school. Studies have pinpointed the positive affect these summer meals have on academic achievement as well as children’s nutrition and health. The summer lunch program is particularly critical for the state’s 2 million children who rely on free breakfasts and lunches at school during the regular school year. Child hunger is highest during the summer months when low-income children are unable to rely upon the free school meals they receive during the academic year.

The new data released today in School’s Out…Who Ate? 2009 is from an annual report published by California Food Policy Advocates, a statewide nutrition policy organization. The report includes county specific statistics based on CFPA’s analysis of data provided by the California Department of Education.

According to the report, 541,248 low-income youth in California participated in the USDA-subsidized meal programs on any given day in July 2008. Although the entire state saw an overall decline in participation from 2007 to 2008, individual county performance varied. CFPA’s press page has links to a table comparing individual county performance data.

At a time when low-income Californians face high unemployment rates, proposed reductions in numerous public programs and financial instability, summer nutrition programs must be strengthened to ensure that low-income youth get proper nourishment at summer school, summer enrichment programs, or community sites. “California is leaving millions of federal dollars unspent by not providing these meals to needy children and teens,” says Matthew Sharp of California Food Policy Advocates (CFPA) and co-author of the School’s Out…Who Ate? 2009.

“California communities can and should do better at ensuring that low-income children get the healthy meals they need during the summer,” said Kenneth Hecht, Executive Director of CFPA. “Policymakers must take steps to provide low-income children with nourishing meals during summer months, beginning with preserving summer school and ensuring meals are served to children from throughout the neighborhood.” Other recommendations for federal, state, and local policymakers are contained in the report.

More information on summer lunch programs: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer/ & http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sf/

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