August 30, 2024

Food insecurity remains a pressing issue, particularly for households with children. Recent research underscores the profound impact that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have on both immediate and long-term outcomes for children, particularly regarding their educational success.

According to a blog post by Brynne Keith-Jennings, Senior Research Analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, increasing SNAP benefits can significantly impact children’s well-being and academic performance. The post highlights that food insecurity among children can lead to reduced intake of essential nutrients, health problems, and behavioral issues. These challenges can, in turn, negatively affect children’s test scores, high school graduation rates, and future earnings. Historical data shows that raising SNAP benefits during economic downturns, such as the Great Recession, led to improvements in food security and children’s health. As Keith-Jennings notes, boosting SNAP benefits would help mitigate food insecurity and support better educational outcomes for children in struggling families. Read more

Complementing this, Joseph Llobrera’s analysis shows that despite a general decline in food insecurity among households with children to a two-decade low in 2021, disparities remain. While relief efforts like expanded SNAP benefits and the Child Tax Credit contributed to this decline, 12.5% of households with children were still food insecure, and 6.2% had food-insecure children. The expanded benefits and relief measures have been crucial in mitigating food hardship, but as Llobrera emphasizes, ongoing support is necessary to sustain progress and address persistent inequities. Read more

In conclusion, the evidence clearly supports the role of SNAP benefits in not only alleviating immediate hunger but also in fostering long-term educational success and health for children. Continued investment in SNAP and related relief measures is essential to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive academically and beyond.