Direct certification simplifies the process of certifying certain children for free school meals by eliminating the need for households to apply. The 2004 Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act required all local educations agencies (LEAs) to establish a system of direct certification by...

The Food Stamp Program provides assistance to millions of families each month. This report examines how long families tend to receive food stamps, and what circumstances lead them to enter and exit the program. About half the families that begin receiving benefits participate for eight months or...

This report contains the initial findings of the committee charged with identifying the nutrients and food groups that should be given priority attention when changes are recommended in WIC food packages. The committee recommends that vegetables, fruits, and dairy products be given priority. The...

Using 2005 data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Third School Nutrition Dietary Assessment survey, this study examines the contribution of school meals to the food and nutrient intake of children in food-secure, marginally secure, and food-insecure households. The study finds that...

Historically, low-income seniors age 60 and older who qualify for benefits in the Food Stamp Program (FSP) participate at extremely low rates. To identify effective strategies for increasing participation among this population, the U.S. Department of Agriculture funded the Elderly Nutrition...

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food assistance to more than 47 million low-income Americans every month. It aims to reduce hunger by facilitating beneficiaries’ access to enough food for a healthy, active lifestyle, otherwise known as "food security." Our study...

This report presents participation rate estimates that measure the effectiveness of SNAP from 2005 to 2007 and estimates participation rates for the “working poorâ€â€”those eligible for SNAP who live in households in which someone earned income from a job. It also provides details...