HungerNetOhio #7.5: "Suffer the children..."

O.K., it's an ironic play on words: “Suffer the children…” (Mark 10.14) is neither a sadistic appeal nor sad statement of fact. Translated into today's lingo, it actually means “permit” them access to something special. Originally a confrontation, it was about not obstructing their path to Jesus--the caregiver.  Used more broadly, it admonishes us, don't stand in the way of the innocent from receiving the caregiving they rightfully deserve. And it is intended here to be more than an attention-grabber; rather an appeal for moving legislation that will permit greater commitment to child nutrition.

According to the USDA nearly one in four children in the United States is food insecure. Child nutrition programs offer the healthiest and most nourishing meals that many children receive each week. For many poor children, they may be their only fully balanced meals.

Moreover, there are many poor children who do not have access to nutrition programs at all. This is particularly true for children living in low-income and rural areas where breakfast, child care and after school, or summer and weekend food programs are not available to them.

Anti-hunger advocacy groups are uniting in the call to complete a strong and fully funded child nutrition reauthorization bill before the end of this year. Early this month, reflecting an overwhelming effort by church and other advocates to gain their support, 221 members of the House of Representatives endorsed a letter urging support to achieve the President's commitment of $10 billion in additional funding for child nutrition over 10 years.

Action on this legislation has shifted to the Senate where we are asking them to bring the bill (S. 3307) to the floor with the full funding increase proposed by the President and on a schedule that assures that this year it can fill the gaps in access that remain for millions of our nation's poorest children.

We now need broad public outcry about our intolerance for kids going hungry in order to ensure that this year's bill provides more low-income children with access to programs and makes progress toward ending child hunger.

SHORT CUT:
For those who insist, "JUST TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"

LONG SUIT:
For those who plead, "GIVE ME MORE DETAILS"

What's the Level of Need for Supplement Food for Children?

Millions of low-income children benefit from the healthy food provided by the child nutrition programs. Schools, after school and summer programs, and child care providers also benefit from the valuable funding that helps cover the costs of providing nutritious food to hungry children.

o According to the latest USDA data, 12.6 million (17.2 percent) children lived in households facing a constant struggle against hunger.
o In 2007, 13.3 million children, or 18 percent of all children under age 18, lived in poverty.
o During the 2006-2007 school year, 8.1 million low-income children received free or reduced-price breakfast and 17.9 million low-income children received free or reduced-price lunches.
o In July 2007, 2.8 million low-income children received summer meals.
o 8.3 million women, infants and children participated in the WIC program in 2007 - of that, 2 million were women, 2.1 million were infants, and 4 million were children under five.

What is the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act?

The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act authorizes all of the federal school meal and child nutrition programs, which provide funding to ensure that low-income children have access to healthy and nutritious foods. The child nutrition programs touch millions of children each day, and improve educational achievement, economic security, nutrition and health.

Although these programs are permanently authorized, every five years Congress reviews them through the reauthorization process. This reauthorization provides an opportunity to improve and strengthen these programs so they better meet the needs of our nation's children.

The reauthorization amends two existing statutes: The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry S. Truman in 1946, created the National School Lunch Program “as a measure of national security, to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation's children.” Twenty years later, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 into law, which established the School Breakfast Program. Not long after, programs such as the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and other child nutrition programs were added to the National School Lunch Act.

What child nutrition programs are up for review?

o The National School Lunch Program guarantees that millions of low-income children receive a healthy lunch during their school day. All children can participate in the program, but low income children qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Children who qualify for free or reduced price school lunch also qualify for the School Breakfast Program.

o The School Breakfast Program ensures that children across the country can get a healthy breakfast at school. As with the case of school lunches, children are eligible for free, reduced price or paid breakfasts based on their families' incomes.

o The Child and Adult Care Food Program reimburses child care centers, Head Start Programs, family child care homes, homeless shelters and after school programs for snacks and meals served to children. Generally, children under the age of 12, as well as certain disabled adults can participate, but homeless shelters and after school programs can serve children 18 and under.

o The Summer Food Service Program ensures that children (18 and under) who depend on school lunch and breakfast during the school year still have access to free, nutritious meals and snacks during the summer when school is out. It provides reimbursements to schools, local government agencies and private nonprofit organizations that serve free meals and snacks to children at sites located in low-income areas or that serve primarily low-income children.

o The After school Snack and Meal Program bridges the hunger gap between lunch and dinner for children who participate in after school programs. It provides federal funds to private nonprofit and public organizations (including schools) so they can serve nutritious snacks and, in eight states, meals as part of after school programs.

o The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and access to health care to low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to age 5. The monthly WIC food package is a combination of foods that improve nutrition for pregnant women, new mothers, and children.
FRAC 101: Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act
o The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program issues coupons to WIC recipients that can be used to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables at participating local farmers' markets.

o Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program provides fresh fruit and vegetable snacks to children during the school day. Only elementary schools in which at least 50 percent of the students are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals can apply to participate in the program.

o The Special Milk Program supports serving milk to children in schools and child care institutions that do not participate in other nutrition programs.

What is the timeline for Child Nutrition Reauthorization?

The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-265) was set to expire on September 30, 2009. The School Breakfast, National School Lunch, and Special Milk Programs are authorized permanently and will continue without any Congressional action. Child Nutrition Reauthorization groundwork has begun with a series of USDA “listening sessions” in each of the nine USDA regions. Congress began its process with the start of the 111th Congress in early 2009, extending the termination date until September 30, 2010.

Who has legislative responsibility for Child Nutrition?

In the Senate, the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee has jurisdiction over the programs: Domestic and international nutrition and food assistance and hunger prevention; school and child nutrition programs; local and healthy food initiatives; futures, options and derivatives; pesticides; and general legislation. Members include:  Sen.Sherrod Brown, Chairman; Sen. Richard Lugar, Ranking Member; Sen. Patrick J. Leahy; Sen. Thad Cochran; Sen. Max Baucus; Sen. Mitch McConnell; Sen. Tom Harkin; Sen. John Cornyn; Sen. Debbie Stabenow; Sen. Robert Casey; Sen. Amy Klobuchar; Sen. Michael Bennet; Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

(simply google their name for information about contacting each of them)

PRIMARY REFERENCES AND LINKS

2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization http://www.schoolnutrition.org/content.aspx?id=2402

Current Child Nutrition Initiatives: http://frac.org/Legislative/action_center/current_childnutrition_bills09.htm

U.S. Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: http://ag.senate.gov/site/legislation.html

Brown Joins National Anti-Hunger Organizations To Release "Roadmap To End Childhood Hunger"
http://brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press_releases/release/?id=12FA9CA6-1B75-45E9-8F3D-EC877045A5A2

Child Nutrition Advocacy Generators:

Bread for the World:  Monica Mills; www.bread.org

Food Research and Action Center (www.frac.org/Legislative/action_center)

Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, Lisa Hamler-Fugitt;
Lisa@oashf.org; www.oashf.org

McGovern/Emerson letter on Child Nutrition Reauthorization (House of Representatives)
7 May 2010; <Keith.Stern@mail.house.gov>
http://mcgovern.house.gov/uploads/Child%20Nutrition%20Programs%20Reauthorization.pdf

Hunger Network in Ohio
82 East 16th Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43201
Phone: 614-424-6203
E-mail: info@hungernetohio.org