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A Safety Net Unraveling: Feeding Young Children During COVID-19
Katherine W Bauer1, Jamie F Chriqui1, Tatiana Andreyeva1
1Katherine W. Bauer is with the Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor. Jamie F. Chriqui is with the Division of Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, University of Illinois, Chicago. Tatiana Andreyeva is with the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, University of Connecticut, Hartford. Erica L. Kenney is with the Departments of Nutrition and Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Virginia C. Stage is with the Department of Nutrition Science, College of Allied Health Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. Dipti Dev is with the Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Laura Lessard is with the Department of Behavioral Health & Nutrition, University of Delaware, Newark. Caree J. Cotwright is with the Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens. Alison Tovar is with the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston.
Insights
COVID-19 closures disrupted early child-care programs, impacting millions of low-income children relying on the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for nutrition. Increased investment in CACFP is crucial for child well-being.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Child Development
- Nutrition Policy
Background:
- COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread closures and capacity reductions in early child-care and education (ECE) programs across the US.
- Millions of young children, particularly 4.6 million low-income children, depend on ECE programs for essential meals and snacks funded by the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the impact of ECE program disruptions on child nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of federal waivers and existing food programs in mitigating food insecurity among children served by CACFP.
Main Methods:
- Review of federal policies and waivers related to CACFP during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Analysis of early evidence on the operational capacity of ECE programs to distribute food.
- Assessment of the role of fragmented food programs in addressing nutritional gaps.
Main Results:
- Most ECE programs lacked the capacity to continue food distribution despite federal waivers.
- A fragmented system of federal, state, and local programs emerged to fill the nutritional gaps.
- Significant challenges were observed in maintaining consistent food access for vulnerable children.
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the ECE system and its ability to support child nutrition.
- Greater investment in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is essential for ensuring the nutrition, health, and development of young children.
- Policy interventions are needed to strengthen ECE infrastructure and food access for children during public health crises.
Abstract:
The emergence of COVID-19 in the United States led most states to close or severely limit the capacity of their early child-care and education (ECE) programs. This loss affected millions of young children, including many of the 4.6 million low-income children who are provided free meals and snacks by their ECE programs through support from the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).Although Congress swiftly authorized waivers that would allow CACFP-participating ECE programs to continue distributing food to children, early evidence suggests that most ECE programs did not have the capacity to do so, leaving a fragmented system of federal, state, and local food programs to fill the gaps created by this loss.Critical steps are needed to repair our nation's fragile ECE system, including greater investment in CACFP, to ensure the nutrition, health, and development of young children during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
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