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Food Insecurity and Hunger in the U.S.: New Research
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FROM HARDSHIP TO HEALTH: IMPROVING FOOD
SECURITY IS LINKED TO MANY FORMS OF ECONOMIC
STABILITY
In our new report card, we examined the changes in food security status
among 913 families who participated in the Children’s HealthWatch survey at
least twice, (on average 12 months apart) and who reported being food
insecure in their first visit.
READ MORE
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ENDING HUNGER IN OUR CLASSROOMS:
EXPANDING “AFTER THE BELL” BREAKFAST
PROGRAMS FOR MASSACHUSETTS STUDENTS
School breakfast plays a critical role in improving health, closing the
achievement gap, and reducing hunger. This report card ranks 33 high
poverty districts in Massachusetts on their school breakfast
participation rates.
READ MORE
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THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIPPLE EFFECT
This report introduces the Subsidized Housing Availability Index (“SHA Index”)
as a tool to measure the need for additional housing subsidies, and to
understand the relationship between inadequate subsidies and the negative
consequences of housing insecurity.
READ MORE

MONITORING CHILDREN’S HEALTH ON THE FRONT LINES
OF CARE.
Children’s HealthWatch is a nonpartisan network of pediatricians, public
health researchers, and children’s health and policy experts committed to
improving children’s health in America.
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Our Policy Focus Areas
Children’s HealthWatch research and policy analysis specifically focuses on
the child health and developmental impacts of economic hardships with a
particular focus on food insecurity, unstable housing, health care hardships
and inability to afford adequate household energy.

Food Security
Consistent access to food for all family members is crucial for ensuring children are
healthy. Food and nutrition assistance programs are an essential cornerstone in
supporting the health and well-being of low-income families.
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Housing Stability
Stable housing supports healthy growth and development among young children, and
means families are not behind on rent, moving frequently, doubled up, overcrowded, or
homeless. Policies that create affordable housing options that provide access to safe,
stable housing help ensure young children and their families can thrive and be
successful in life.

Energy Security
Maintaining consistent utility services so homes are heated in the winter and cooled in
the summer is critical for children’s health and safety. Energy supports protect families
from the harmful health effects of having their utilities shut off.

Health Care Hardships
When families are forced to choose between paying for health care, such as medical
care and prescriptions, and other basic needs such as food, rent, child care, or utility
bills, that decision can have an effect on the health and wellbeing of young children.
Providing supports necessary to care for children, especially those with special health
care needs, is crucial for improving child health.

Poverty
Alleviating economic hardships for families with young children will require
comprehensive policy solutions including improvements to nutrition assistance
programs, increasing access to affordable housing, providing energy assistance,
making work pay through reducing cliff effects and increasing and expanding access to
the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, providing affordable child care to
all children, and supporting the health and development of all children.
Featured
All/Blog/News/Peer Reviewed Journal Articles/Publications
June 16, 2017
To support early childhood development, invest in housing
A growing body of research is demonstrating what we already intuitively…
June 16, 2017
To support early childhood development, invest in housing
May 31, 2017
How we can help families move from hardship to health
May 31, 2017
From Hardship to Health: Improving food security is linked to
many forms of economic stability
May 20, 2017
Silbert and Frank: Benefit to breakfast ‘after the bell’
April 25, 2017
Ending Hunger in Our Classrooms: Expanding “After the Bell”
Breakfast Programs for Massachusetts Students
May 31, 2017
How we can help families move from hardship to health
One of the most remarkable things about pediatric medicine is…
March 30, 2017
Bring us your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free: Caring
for children of immigrants
October 27, 2016
Hidden Food Stress in the United States
September 20, 2016
What if… the United States decided to proactively alleviate food
insecurity?
August 30, 2016
20 Years of TANF: Innovations Needed to Improve Health
July 27, 2016
What If… addressing food insecurity two generations at a time
June 16, 2017
To support early childhood development, invest in housing
A growing body of research is demonstrating what we already intuitively…
June 16, 2017
To support early childhood development, invest in housing
May 20, 2017
Silbert and Frank: Benefit to breakfast ‘after the bell’
April 10, 2017
Patients Prescribed Shelter and Medication Are Wary of Trump
Cuts
April 2, 2017
On the House: Pediatrician stresses link between health, having
stable housing
March 23, 2017
Kids Who Suffer Hunger In First Years Lag Behind Their Peers In
School
February 1, 2017
Association of Food Insecurity with Children’s Behavioral,
Emotional, and Academic Outcomes: A Systematic Review
ABSTRACT: Objective: Food Insecurity (FI) occurs in 21% of families…
February 12, 2016
Children with Special Health Care Needs, Supplemental Security
Income, and Food Insecurity
January 4, 2016
Trends in Household and Child Food Insecurity Among Families
with Young Children from 2007 to 2013
July 9, 2015
‘‘Do You Wanna Breathe or Eat?’’: Parent Perspectives on Child
Health Consequences of Food Insecurity, Trade-Offs, and Toxic
Stress
April 28, 2015
Development of an Index of Subsidized Housing Availability and
its Relationship to Housing Insecurity
February 17, 2015
Co-enrollment for Child Health: How Receipt and Loss of Food
and Housing Subsidies Relate to Housing Security and Statutes
for Streamlined, Multi-Subsidy Application
May 31, 2017
From Hardship to Health: Improving food security is linked to
many forms of economic stability
April 25, 2017
Ending Hunger in Our Classrooms: Expanding “After the Bell”
Breakfast Programs for Massachusetts Students
January 30, 2017
The Affordable Housing Ripple Effect: Improving Availability of
Subsidized Housing Increases Housing Stability
October 27, 2016
Hidden Food Stress: Underreported in National Data
September 20, 2016
Treatment Plan for Hunger: SNAP, WIC, and the Community
Eligibility Provision
August 23, 2016
Supporting Young Children with Disabilities: Solutions for
Improving Food Security
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How we can help families move from hardship to health
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