ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To conduct a nationwide assessment of child nutrition administrative agencies' responses to meal service provision during coronavirus disease 2019-related school closures. DESIGN: Systematic coding of government websites (February-May 2020) regarding school meal provision in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia, 5 US territories, and the US Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Education. PARTICIPANTS: All US jurisdictions (Nâ¯=â¯57). VARIABLES MEASURED: Seven coding criteria were established to assess the strengths and weaknesses of jurisdictions' responses derived from emergency declarations, school closure announcements, and government websites on emergency school meals. ANALYSIS: Descriptive analyses. RESULTS: Most jurisdictions mentioned school meal provisions in school closure announcements (76.4%), provided easily interpretable information and/or maps about meal sites (57.9%), and included detailed information about school meal provisions in their coronavirus disease 2019 landing webpages (nâ¯=â¯26, 51%). Fewer provided updated and comprehensive implementation guidance (39.3%), referenced school closures in emergency declarations (37.5%), had clear communication/outreach to families (21.4%), or partnered with antihunger organizations (11.6%). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Understanding initial jurisdictions' approaches are critical to current and future emergency planning during school closures and reopening to help address food insecurity better, limit disease transmission, and prevent health disparities, particularly among at-risk populations.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Food Assistance , Food Insecurity , Food Services/organization & administration , Schools , Adolescent , Child , Food Assistance/legislation & jurisprudence , Food Assistance/organization & administration , Humans , SARS-CoV-2Subject(s)
Food Assistance/organization & administration , Food Services/organization & administration , Food Supply , Health Policy , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Coronavirus Infections , Food Assistance/legislation & jurisprudence , Food Supply/legislation & jurisprudence , Humans , Meals , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral , Rural Population , SARS-CoV-2 , Schools , United States , Vulnerable PopulationsABSTRACT
Research conducted before coronavirus disease-2019 illustrated high rates of food insecurity among college students. The pandemic has likely increased student food insecurity because of factors like unemployment and closure of campus resources, and many students cannot access federal food assistance because of long-standing student restrictions. This perspective reviews federal legislation on college food insecurity introduced in the 116th legislative session (2019-2020) immediately before coronavirus disease-2019 in the US, as well as pandemic-related stimulus bills and their implications for future policies and practice. Food insecurity promises to become more pressing as colleges try to reopen and the country grapples with economic recovery.