Search Results: MCHLine

Annotation: This report provides new estimates of National School Lunch Program participant characteristics using two national surveys, the 2001 Panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) and the 1990-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The report, which includes a summary, is divided into the following main sections: (1) participant characteristics from SIPP and NHANES, (2) participants by payment type compared across SIPP, NHANES, and Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) data, (3) distribution of payment types within demographic subgroups, and (4) distribution of demographic subgroups within payment types. Statistical information is presented in tables throughout the report. Rerences are included. The report includes one appendix: comparing SIPP and NHANES with FNS administrative data and the 1992 School Nutrition Dietary Assessment 1.

• Full Report
• Summary

Keywords: Adolescents, Children, Federal programs, Low income groups, Nutrition programs, School lunch programs, Statistical data, Surveys

Annotation: This issue brief provides an update on California's Express Enrollment (EE) Program -- an effort to enroll uninsured children into health insurance through other public program gateways, specifically, school lunch programs. The brief, which includes an executive summary, reviews the pilot program implemented within school districts and counties, describing activities to date and the program's overall effectiveness. The brief also applies lessons learned from EE to current and future state efforts to use public programs to enroll uninsured children into health coverage. Endnotes are included.

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Keywords: California, Children, Eligibility, Enrollment, Health insurance, Low income groups, School lunch programs, State programs, Uninsured persons

Annotation: This report tells the stories of schools and school districts that have implemented innovative strategies to improve the nutritional quality of foods and beverages sold outside of Federal meal programs. Topics include the importance of healthy eating for children and adolescents, how schools can support good nutrition, and the process of change and school nutrition policies. Stories are divided into six chapters based on the primary approach used to promote healthy eating. A variety of support materials are also included. Stories are also accessible via an online interface that may be searched by category, location, grade, and keyword.

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Keywords: Adolescent nutrition, Child nutrition, School food services, School lunch programs, Schools

Annotation: This issue brief summarizes recent studies conducted by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., for the Department of Agriculture to assess National School Lunch Program (NSLP) policies on program integrity and access. The brief discusses improving the process of approving children for inclusion in the NSLP, eligibility requirements, using income data from other programs to establish eligibility, and future directions for policy. References are included. Statistical information is presented in figures throughout the report.

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Keywords: Child health, Eligibility, Low income groups, National programs, Nutrition, Public policy, Research, School lunch programs

Annotation: This report consists primarily of tables that explore the various policy solutions that many states have employed related to student health and nutrition. The information comes from state statutory law. The tables provide information about the following for each state: (1) state has created a task force or committee to improve nutrition, fitness, or both in schools; (2) state has set nutritional standards for school meals beyond federal reguations; (3) state law restricts the sale of competetive foods; (4) state addresses employment of a physical activity coordinator, a nutrition specialist, or both; and (5) state mandates physical activity requirements. An overview is included.

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Keywords: Food, Nutrition, Physical activity, Public policy, School age children, School health, School lunch programs

Annotation: This manual explains the basics of after-school nutrition programs. The manual offers a step-by-step guide for how to access funding for these programs and provides information on the resources available to after-school programs for nutrition education. The manual discusses (1) why children need after-school programs, (2) why nutrition is crucial to after-school success, (3) how federal child nutrition programs can help, (4) what health and safety requirements apply, (5) how to participate in the National School Lunch Program, (6) how to participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, (7) how to participate in summer nutrition programs, and (8) how to provide nutrition education. The manual includes one appendix: state child nutrition agencies.

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Keywords: Child health, Child nutrition programs, Federal programs, Financing, Nutrition, Nutrition education, School age child care, School age children, School breakfast programs, School lunch programs, State agencies

Annotation: This report provides information on the federal summer nutrition programs, which are designed to provide children from low-income families with the kind of nutritious meals and snacks during the summer that they receive throughout the school year. The report presents major findings, describes the programs and why they are important, discusses national and state trends in program participation and children who are not being served, presents ideas for increasing participation, and offers a conclusion. Statistical information is presented in several tables in the appendices. In addition to these tables, the appendices include a discussion of improvements to the Summer Food Service Program enacted by the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, three model programs, and technical notes.

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Keywords: Child health, Child nutrition programs, Community programs, Federal programs, Low income groups, Nutrition, Participation, School age children, School breakfast programs, School lunch programs, Snacks, State programs, Trends

Annotation: This report, the first of two volumes, presents the results of an evaluation of two approaches tested in the National School Lunch Program Application/Verification Pilot Projects. Topics include the impacts of upfront documentation and graduated verification methods on deterrence of ineligible families, barriers for eligible families, and accuracy among certified students in school lunch programs. The report, which includes an executive summary and a summary of findings, is divided into the following sections: (1) study background, (2) characteristics of the pilot and comparison districts, and (3) impacts of the pilot project. Statistical information is presented in figures and tables throughout the report. The report concludes with a list of references.

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Keywords: Barriers, Child nutrition programs, Data, Eligibility determination, National programs, Pilot projects, Program evaluation, School food services, School lunch programs

Annotation: This report, the second of two volumes, presents the results of an evaluation of two approaches tested in the National School Lunch Program Application/Verification Pilot Projects: upfront documentation and verification. This volume provides a detailed description of the methods used to conduct the study, and presents tabulations that supplement and extend the analyses reported in Volume 1. It is divided into the following sections: (1) comparison site selection and recruitment, (2) sample design and sample selection, (3) survey data collection, (4) comparing planned and actual sample sizes and precision, (5) updating meal price status, (6) survey weighting procedures and population estimates, (7) weighting methodology, (8) impact and analysis estimation methods, and (9) supplementary tabulation. Statistical information is presented in figures and tables throughout the report. The report also includes an evaluation postcard and references.

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Keywords: Child nutrition programs, Data collection, Data collection, National programs, Pilot projects, Program evaluation, Research methods, School food services, School lunch programs, Surveys

Annotation: This report documents results from California's Express Lane Eligibility (ELE) initiative through the school lunch program, which has been piloted in 72 schools and 5 school districts in the state. ELE is an enrollment strategy that targets large numbers of uninsured children, who are eligible for Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, where they can be found, in other public programs like the School Lunch Program and the Food Stamp Program. The report provides background; explains how the program works, the design choices that went into its makeup, and how it began; presents early implementation results; and offers 10 guideposts for any state seeking to navigate the complexities of ELE. The report concludes with acknowledgments and endnotes.

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Keywords: California, Children, Eligibility, Enrollment, Food Stamp Program, Low income groups, Medicaid, School lunch program, Schools, State Children's Health Insurance Program, State programs, Uninsured persons

Annotation: This report summarizes the results of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Implementation Study, a descriptive study of the operations of the SFSP at the state and local levels. The study addressed the following three major research questions: (1) How does the SFSP operate at the state, sponsor, and site levels? (2) What factors affect participation by sponsors and children? And (3) what is the nutritional quality of meals served, and what is the extent of plate waste? Section topics include study objectives and design, program characteristics, program administration, outreach and participation, meal service, and conclusions on administration simplification, expanding participation, improving meals, and reducing waste. References conclude the report. Statistical data are presented in table and figure formats throughout the report.

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• Final Report

Keywords: Outreach, Participation, Program evaluation, School food services, School lunch programs

Annotation: This report to Congressional requesters discusses the following questions: (1) What is known nationally about the extent to which schools and school food authorities are meeting United States Department of Agriculture nutrition requirements and promoting healthy eating among students?; (2) What barriers do schools and school food authorities face in serving nutritious food and encouraging students to make healthy eating choices?; and (3) what steps have schools and school food authorities taken to overcome the barriers to serving nutritious food and encouraging students to make healthy eating choices? The appendices include letters of comment from the Departments of Health and Human Services and Education.

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Keywords: Food habits, National programs, Nutrition, Nutrition education, Program evaluation, School age children, School lunch programs

Annotation: This report identifies four sets of California initiatives (Healthy Start, Proposition 10 -- First 5 California, the National School Lunch Program, and Health Coordinators) on which policymakers and schools could build school-based programs to help families obtain health insurance. The report discusses guidelines for building a school-based program, funding sources for school-based programs, California initiatives, and recommendations. The report also includes a conclusion.

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Keywords: California, Child health, Children, Enrollment, Families, Health insurance, Healthy Start, Initiatives, Low income groups, School lunch programs, Schools, Uninsured persons

Annotation: This report highlights ideas and solutions shared at the Healthy Schools Summit convened in October 2002 in Washington, DC. The report sets forth the Action for Healthy Kids vision for creating health-promoting schools that support sound nutrition and physical activity. The report includes the following sections: (1) letters from Dr. David Satcher and Mrs. Laura Bush, (2) the shape of our nation's children: an epidemic of overweight and obesity, (3) charting a healthier course for students, (4) commitment to change, (5) building the link between health and achievement, (6) schools: the ideal setting for change, (7) nutrition: letting students practice what they're learning, (8) physical activity and physical education: learning in action, (9) state teams: mobilizing to take Action for Healthy Kids, (10) Healthy School Heroes: leading the way, and (11) Healthy Schools Summit Agenda. The report also includes references and a list of steering committee members.

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Keywords: Child health, Child nutrition, Conferences, Nutrition education, Obesity, Physical activity, Physical education, School health education, School lunch programs, Schools, Students

Annotation: This report provides a brief examination of health insurance enrollment outreach initiatives that are occurring at the state and local levels linked through Head Start and school lunch programs. Chapter topics include the basic concept of program linkage; how targeted outreach linkage works; funding issues; potential challenges and benefits; and profiles from selected state programs. The appendices include survey information and selected state case studies. A glossary of acronyms and a list of additional resources are also provided. Statistical information is represented in figures and tables throughout the report.

Keywords: Enrollment, Head Start, Health insurance, Medicaid, Outreach, School linked programs, School lunch programs, State children's health insurance programs, State programs

Annotation: This policy brief summarizes two studies of children's nutrition done to describe the diets of school-age children as of the mid-1990's, to examine relationships between the children's participation in the school meal programs and dietary intake, and to examine changes in their intake between 1989-1991 and 1994-1996.

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Keywords: Adolescents, Nutrition, Nutrition research, School age children, School lunch programs

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Keywords: California, Eligibility, Nutrition programs, School linked programs, School lunch programs, State Children's Health Insurance Program

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Keywords: Children, Enrollment, Families, Food Stamp Program, Government programs, National programs, National Survey of Americas Families, National surveys, School Lunch Programs, Unemployment Compensation Program, Uninsured persons, WIC Program

Annotation: This report reviews the use of private food establishments and caterers by schools participating in federal programs for school meals. It examines the 1) extent to which schools use private companies to operate their lunch program and the the impacts that the use of these companies has on the National School Lunch Program, 2) terms and conditions on contracts between schools and food service companies, and 3) extent to which fast foods and vending machines are available in schools participating in the program and the types, brands, and nutritional content of the fast foods most commonly offered.

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Keywords: Child nutrition programs, Contract services, Food service, Public private partnerships, Role, School food services, School lunch programs

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• Link

Keywords: Child nutrition, Nutrition programs, School lunch programs, Supplemental food programs