|
New summer supper program in New Haven:
Sponsored by the Connecticut Food Bank, Summer Suppers provides youngsters, ages 12 to 15, with a hearty meal at the end of a long summer day. Held Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at a central New Haven location from July 6 to August 27, 2009, the program offers an optional hour-long education activity focused on good nutrition (courtesy of CitySeed of New Haven) and an early evening meal at 4:30 p.m. Community leaders are invited to share the meal with the young people and learn more about the issues and concerns of New Haven's youth. Visit:
|
|
|
| What are your hopes for Child Nutrition Reauthorization? |
|
Please share with us on our blog!
| |
|
Listening Session with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
An Event of the CT Campaign to End Childhood Hunger
In case you missed it, on June 15, 2009 End Hunger CT! in collaboration with many other partners (listed below) organized a Child Nutrition Reauthorization Listening Session with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. Were were very pleased to have a state children's champion in our presence, Represenative Toni Walker. The very successful event highlighted current status and programs improvements possible for federal Child Nutrition Programs through the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2009.
-Photos courtesy of CT Food Bank
What is Child Nutrition Reauthorization? Click here.
Programs set for renewal are as follows:
National School Lunch Program
School Breakfast Program
Summer Food Service Program
Child and Adult Care Food Program
Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) |
Over 200 audience members heard recommendations for improving program access, participation, and nutritional quality from program directors, parents advocates, and even students. We were fortunate to have Ellen Teller, the Governmental Affairs Director from FRAC speak to the current legislative climate for the bill and the importance of conintuing to share stories and reccomendations that speak to its importance with our elected officials.
With input from National, State, and local organizations and individuals, EHC! has created a document laying out our hopes for Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization 2009. Please e-mail dcrayco@endhungerct.org for a copy of the EHC! Child Nutrition Reauthorization recommendations paper.
Many thanks to our key partners:
Connecticut Food Bank
New Haven School Food Services
School Nutrition Association of CT (SNACT)
Opportunity Knocks
Middlesex Coalition for Children
Community Renewal Team, Inc.
Interested in viewing the event? You can find it here on the CT-N website! |
Summer Food is Heatin' up
Statewide, hunger affects tens of thousands of children who are used to getting free or reduced-price meals at school. The federal Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) fills this gap by providing free meals to kids 18 and under at schools, parks, recreation centers, and summer camps.
According to a recent report by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), an average of 2.9 million children were served nationally in July last summer, a 1.7% increase over the previous summer.
There is no doubt hunger will hit families even harder due to the poor economy. Fortunately, this year, there are more program sponsors and sites where kids can go for a no cost meal-sometimes breakfast, lunch-or even supper.
To find a site nearest you, please call United Way 2-1-1 or End Hunger CT! at (860) 560-2100 ext. 303.The Summer Food Service Program is administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education and funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service.
 End Hunger CT! cannot stress enough the importance of spreading the word about summer food. Contrary to popular belief, summertime is the most pressing season for food banks-not the holiday season. In the summer months, donations from organizations and individuals tend to be lower while the need is higher due to the absence of school meal program and the strain that places on a family's food budget. With close to 450 summer food sites throughout the state, there are plenty of places for children to go for free breakfast, lunch, or sometimes even supper-that's if they know about it! Please visit our website or visit infoline.org for site locations and times.
Frequently asked questions:
Does my child have to be a resident of the town to participate in its summer feeding program?
No, as long as a child is 18 or under they may participate in any open summer feeding program.
Do I need to fill out forms?
No, there are no participant forms required in Summer Food. The sponsor of the program handles all of the necessary paperwork involved and is approved for service with the CT State Department of Education.
Can I come and pick up a meal for my child and leave?
Meals are required to be consumed on the premises; however, many sites have activities or programs that your child may wish to participate in.
|
SNAP Changes That Will Make a HUGE Difference
By now, most people have heard that SNAP is the new name for the food stamp program, but did you know that a lot more than the name has changed?
As of July 1, 2009, the State of Connecticut has implemented options resulting in some major program changes. These changes make the program available to more people than ever before. The primary changes are in income qualifications, asset rules and interview requirements.
The gross income limits have been raised to 185% of the Federal Poverty Index for all households. This eliminates the need to pass both a gross and a net income test. Most households, whose gross monthly incomes fall with the ranges below, qualify for benefits
New gross monthly income limits:
Household Size As of July 1, 2009 Household of one: $1,671 monthly Household of two: $2,248 monthly Household of three: $2,823 monthly Household of four: $3,400 monthly Maximum benefits:
Household of one: $200 monthly Household of two: $367 monthly Household of three: $526 monthly Household of four: $668 monthly The changes don't end there. In addition, there is no longer an asset limit for most households. While homes, motor vehicles and tax protected bank accounts, such as IRA's were already exempt, the limit on cash savings has also been eliminated.
Another important leap forward in making the SNAP program more accessible is the waiver of face-to-face interviews at the Department of Social Services. SNAP applicants can now be interviewed by telephone, saving many the time and difficulty of a visit to the Department of Social Services. To learn more about these changes and the SNAP program in general, feel free to call (860-560-2100) or visit our website at www.endhungerct.org. ________________________________________________
SNAP Statewide Collaboration
On June 18th EHC! convened the first statewide SNAP Improvement meeting at the Lyceum in Hartford CT. Representatives from the USDA, DSS, WIC, The Department of Public Health, CAHS, The Children's Trust Fund, Connecticut Legal Services, and the Department of Corrections, and others were in attendence.
Following the lead of our New England states, the meeting focused on policy changes available to the state, partnering on SNAP changes, working collaboratively as well as hosting an open forum.
EHC! is excited to get the news out about changes in the SNAP program to an ever larger group while showing our state and federal partners there is support for the changes.
| |
Children's Health and the Recession: The Programs that Protect Children and Stimulate the Economy
Resources on the effect of the recession on children's health, particularly concerning food insecurity have recently been published on the already noticeably affect the recession is having on children's health. There are many federally funded programs that can help children, and their families, weather this storm but they need legislative support.
Right now there are summer feeding sites all over Connecticut, feeding children when school is out. Let us all keep in mind the programs that are federally funded (the added bonus of encouraging economic activity while feeding kids) and really need promotion, some extra - usually minimal - state funding to keep our children healthy.
The End Hunger CT! website has information on all of the Children's Nutrition Programs - school meals, school breakfast, summer food, afterschool snacks, WIC, and Child and Adult Care Feeding Programs.
If you know of people in need please steer them to 2-1-1 where they will find the closest summer feeding site to them - any child under age 19 can eat for free.
Don't forget that the SNAP/Food Stamp Program has increased the income limits (and no assets are counted) to many people who were not eligible for the program - used to tie families over the rough patch - may be now. Constituents can see if they are eligible by going to www.ctfoodstamps.org or calling toll-free 866-974-SNAP
Resources:
Children's HealthWatch publications:
Food Insecurity Rates Rise Steeply With Recession http://www.childrenshealthwatch.org/upload/resource/Rise_FI_Brief.pdf
Even Very Low Levels of Food Insecurity Found to Harm Children's Health http://www.childrenshealthwatch.org/upload/resource/chwbrief_FI.pdf
Report by Dr. John Cook (Children's HealthWatch researcher) for Feeding America
Child Food Insecurity: The Economic Impact on Our Nation http://www.childrenshealthwatch.org/upload/resource/FA_Report_july2009_full.pdf
We must work together to improve the health of the children in Connecticut - and we can do it at minimal costs to the state. These children's nutrition programs need to be at the center of any budget discussions and public policy. |
|
Save the Date!!
CT Family Economic Security Conference
Monday, October 19, 2009
Hartford Marriott Downtown
Prospering Communities, Thriving Families
"Building Foundations for a New Prosperity"
Organizing Sponsors:
CAFCA, CAHS, CWEALF/CWCT, CT Council of Family Service Agencies,
CT Voices for Children, End Hunger CT!, LARCC/CABHN
|
End Hunger CT! would like to extend an immense amount of gratitude to CT Food Bank, Foodshare, and all anti-hunger walkers for their support through the Walks Against Hunger. We couldn't continue to "make room at the table" without your dedication to this important and achievable task to create a hunger-free Connecticut.
Thank you all!
| |
|
|
Lucy Nolan
End Hunger CT! Inc. |
|
|
