June 2003
In
recent weeks, the Administration has begun to provide some indications of its
priorities for Child Nutrition reauthorization. These potential priorities present both threats and opportunities
to better nutrition for the millions of children in need.
1.
The President’s proposal to quadruple the number of children subject
to income verification before they can eat a school lunch is costly and
misguided. The Administration has questioned whether
too many children are receiving free or reduced-price lunches at school and is
considering proposing that a full 12% of children, up from a current 3%, be
subject to an income verification process. This jump would increase the
administrative costs for schools, at a time when many schools are struggling
for basic funds. It would also set up
barriers to school lunch that would keep out too many qualified children. More study is needed to determine if this
problem even exists and, if so, to develop targeted solutions.
2.
The President’s proposal to
create a single, year-round, seamless School Nutrition program is a
breakthrough. Schools have long struggled to feed children
in need by juggling a separate school lunch, school breakfast, summer food, and
after-school snack program. Providing
schools with one program to administer will increase their efficiency and
cost-effectiveness. One program will
also allow schools to better meet the responsibility of providing their
students with the healthy meals they need year-round.
3.
The President should propose
a parallel program for charities, congregations, and public agencies: a Community Child Nutrition Program. Charities and congregations struggle to navigate the maze of
child nutrition programs, too, including summer food, child care food, and
after-school snacks. More Food Banks,
Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs, and Parks and Rec Departments would be able to
offer food for children if there was one, seamless program. A new Community Child Nutrition Program
would allow more children to receive healthy meals after-school, in the summer,
during school vacations, and year-round.
4.
The President should
recognize the gravity of the childhood obesity epidemic and the environmental
nature of its causes. The Administration’s proposal should extend the Secretary of
Agriculture’s current authority in order to eliminate competitive foods from
the entire school campus throughout the full school day.
5.
The President should
identify resources to expand School Breakfast, WIC and other valuable
investments in children’s nutrition. The
President has asked for no new money to feed children, despite a call from
hundreds of groups across the country to invest $1 billion annually. With these funds:
·
School
breakfast could be expanded to serve all children who are eligible to eat a
free or reduced-price lunch.
·
WIC
could provide more mothers and young children with food and nutrition services.
·
The
quality of food in kids’ meals could be improved, to help increase child health
and reduce childhood obesity.
For more information on Child
Nutrition Reauthorization, visit the Western Region Anti-Hunger Consortium
at www.wrahc.org
or contact Linda Stone at linda@wrahc.org.