In addition to studying and evaluating the effects of the food and nutrition assistance programs on these vulnerable populations, the Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program at ERS studies program outcomes, the macroeconomy, program operations and integrity, and food security in the United States. More overview...

features
ERS's new magazine, Amber Waves, has several articles on food assistance topics, including dynamics of food insufficiency, design and administration of USDA's food assistance programs, emergency food providers, food security in the United States, how much food stamps reduce child poverty, the economic consequences of changing food stamps to cash, and balancing food costs with nutrition goals in WIC.

The Emergency Food Assistance System: Findings From the Provider Survey, Volume I: Executive Summary—Findings of the first comprehensive government study of the Emergency Food Assistance System (EFAS) suggest that public and private food assistance may work in tandem to provide more comprehensive food assistance than either provides by itself. About 5,300 emergency kitchens provide more than 173 million meals a year, and 32,700 food pantries distribute about 2.9 billion pounds of food a year (roughly 2,200 million meals).

Use of Food Pantries by Households With Children Rose During the Late 1990s—Although the percentage of U.S. households using food pantries declined roughly 10 percent from 1996 to 2000, the number of visits to food pantries actually increased 2 percent from 1998 to 2000. Households with children accounted for the entire increase in number of visits. Two-parent families made over 20 percent more visits over the 2-year period, and single-parent families also turned to food pantries more often but at a smaller rate of increase. These increases occurred when Food Stamp Program participation was on the decline as a result of a strong U.S. economy and welfare reform legislation, suggesting that not all households that left the program achieved self-sufficiency.

recommended readings
Examining the Well-Being of Children—Articles in this issue of FoodReview discuss the well-being of America's children, children's diet quality, the problem of overweight children in America, foodborne disease among children, the economics of breastfeeding, and food assistance programs that help children and their families.

Household Food Security in the United States, 2001—Eighty-nine percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year 2001. This report, based on data from the December 2001 food security survey, provides the most recent statistics on the food security of U.S. households, as well as on how much they spent for food and the extent to which food-insecure households participated in Federal and community food assistance programs.

Food Stamp Participation by Eligible Older Americans Remains Low—This article from the September 2002 issue of FoodReview finds that although the Food Stamp Program has special provisions to facilitate participation by low-income Americans age 60 and older, only about a third of eligible people in this age group join the program. No other age group participates at such a low rate. Commonly cited barriers to participation include pride, confusion about program rules, lack of transportation, and difficulty in using Electronic Benefit Transfer technology. Comparisons of demographic characteristics of program participants and nonparticipants among eligible older Americans show that those with the most severe concerns about health and food security are likely to join the program.

Seniors' Views of the Food Stamp Program and Ways To Improve Participation—Focus Group Findings in Washington State: Final Report—This report explores factors that influence Food Stamp Program (FSP) participation among the elderly and identifies ways to improve their participation. While many seniors felt the FSP provided a valuable benefit, many felt that the benefit levels were too low to make the effort of applying worthwhile. Two important barriers that seniors believed they faced when applying for food stamps were the stigma attached to receiving what they see as welfare and misinformation about food stamp rules. Many seniors also felt the application, eligibility, and certification processes were overly complicated and intrusive.

See all recommended readings…

recommended data products
FANRP Project Database—Provides details on FANRP research projects, both past and ongoing, including the project's objective, funding level, researchers, and expected completion date.

National data useful in food and nutrition assistance research—Brief descriptions of national surveys and data sets with links to their sources. Surveys and data sets relevant to the use of food assistance programs by vulnerable populations include:

• Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID)—An ongoing longitudinal survey, begun in 1968, of a representative sample of U.S. individuals and their families. Data include participation in the Food Stamp Program, WIC, and the National School Lunch Program, as well as information on food security and healthy eating habits.
• Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort (ECLS-K)—An ongoing longitudinal study that follows a nationally representative sample of about 22,000 children from kindergarten through fifth grade. It contains information on participation in Federal food assistance programs and household food security.
• Current Population Survey (CPS)—A large, nationally representative monthly survey of about 50,000 households. The March CPS Supplement provides detailed data on annual income, which are used to calculate State and national poverty estimates, and on food assistance program participation.

newsletters
Sign Up Now—Keep current on activities in the Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) by subscribing to our free e-mail notification service. You will receive announcements of our latest reports and other news. You can also get the latest on other activities at ERS. To become a subscriber, please submit this short application form. Be sure to check "Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs" under Particular Topic Areas to receive information about FANRP activities.

related links
U.S. Census Bureau—Collects data and issues reports on poverty, an important measure of the Nation's economic well-being.

Food and Nutrition Service—Administers USDA's food assistance programs and provides program guidelines, data, and research on the Food Stamp Program, WIC, and child nutrition programs.

for more information, contact: Laura Tiehen
web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
page updated: October 10, 2003