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Troubled times for Washington families
Many families are struggling more now than ever to make ends meet. Washington has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country and housing and utility costs are skyrocketing. When families are forced to make choices between paying rent and buying enough healthy food to feed their children, school meal programs become a lifesaver. For many children, free school meal programs provide up to 60% of their nutritional intake. When school lets out for the summer families struggle even more to put healthy food on the table. It comes as no surprise that demand at food banks rises significantly during the summer months.
Washington also has one of the highest rates of hunger in the country, based on recently analyzed 1997-1999 US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data. Research on food insecurity and hunger in immigrant populations indicates that children in immigrant households are more likely to experience hunger than children in non-immigrant households. Rates of hunger are also higher in rural areas outside of the Puget Sound area. Rural Latino children are particularly vulnerable, with twice (2.8%) the rate of hunger than rural white children (1%). The latest census data shows that Washington’s largest community of color is Latino at 7.5%. In a few counties in Eastern Washington, Latinos now outnumber whites.
Child nutrition safety net
Fortunately, in many communities across Washington, free summer meals are available through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). USDA administers the program at the federal level, providing funding to reimburse schools; units of local, municipal, county, tribal, or state government; camps; and private nonprofit organizations. The program is administered at the state level by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Participation in this program has continued to grow in Washington, with 118 sponsors serving over 30,071 children last summer at 573 sites. This summer there are 8 new sponsors with 13 new sites. Overall, there are 120 sponsors with 586 total sites. Child participation in the program has increased by over 2,000 since 1997. The program also brings federal dollars into communities. If all of Washington’s eligible children were served thirty meals a summer (a six week program), an additional $19 million could be brought into the state.
Kids can’t eat red tape
There is a national push to increase participation in the Summer Food Service Program. In January USDA launched its 2002 Outreach Initiative that has included creating a website with resources for sponsors, communities and advocates.
Significant efforts are also underway to cut the amount of red tape that sponsors have to deal with in order to run the program. They include:
- Expansion of a pilot project called the Seamless Summer Food Waiver, which allows school sponsors to operate the SFSP under the same guidelines as the National School Lunch Program. The waiver reduces paperwork and monitoring requirements and other administrative hassles that plague the SFSP. In Washington, OSPI has done a tremendous job in promoting the waiver, resulting in 38 waiver sponsors with 102 sites.
- Recent introduction of legislation (S. 2660) by Senators Lugar and Harkin that would expand nationwide a pilot project that simplifies cost accounting requirements for some SFSP sponsors, reduces paperwork and allows for higher reimbursement rates. The pilot was first implemented in 2001 by 13 states with the lowest SFSP participation rates. From July 2000 – July 2001 participation in those state increased by 8.9%. Participation in the rest of the nation during that same time period declined.
- Implementation of an on-line system allowing SFSP sponsors in Washington to submit their applications and claims electronically. This significantly reduces paperwork and administrative burden for sponsors.
Ensuring kids are ready to learn
Participation at summer meal sites is higher when activities are offered in addition to free meals. When kids have access to nutritious meals and quality academic or enrichment-type activities during the summer months, they are ready to learn come fall. School’s Out Washington, in partnership with the Children’s Alliance and with generous support from the Discuren Charitable Foundation and the Seattle Foundation, awarded 14 rural summer food sponsors “Feed Your Brain” grants ranging from $1,000 - $4,000 to fund academic and enrichment-type activities at their meal sites.
Still more work to be done
While we are making progress in ensuring that no child goes hungry during the summer, we have a long way to go. Only 10% of kids (approximately 30,000 out of 300,000) who are eligible for free and reduced price school meals participate in summer food programs. Nationally, Washington ranks 33rd in participation in the summer food program according to the Food Research and Action Center, a national food policy organization. Barriers remain in bringing on new sponsors, expanding current programs, and extending the length of programs. Transportation also remains a barrier especially in rural areas. And, there are many families that are not aware of meal sites in their community.
Some communities have high percentages of poor children, but no free summer meal programs. The Children’s Alliance will focus outreach efforts on the following communities: Morton (Lewis Co.), Prosser (Yakima Co.), Colville (Stevens Co.), Okanogan (Okanogan Co.), and Cheney (Spokane Co.).
Opportunities for the future
In 2003, Congress will reauthorize the Child Nutrition Programs. Reauthorization provides a wonderful opportunity to improve and simplify the Summer Food Service Program. The Children’s Alliance and our partners will be working hard to ensure that positive changes are made to all of the child nutrition programs so that no child goes hungry. For more information about child nutrition program reauthorization go to http://www.wrahc.org.
Resources and information
- A searchable database of meal sites in Washington is accessible through our Parent Power website, click on Free Summer Food.
- Multi-lingual posters are available free of charge by contacting Shelley Curtis at 1-800-854-KIDS, x17 or via e-mail at shelley@childrensalliance.org. Resources are also available from the Children’s Alliance to help programs get started such as summer food banners and funds for milk coolers.
- If you want to help get a summer meal program started in your community or expand an already existing program, contact Shelley Curtis, Nutrition Outreach & Food Policy Manager, Children’s Alliance, at 1-800-854-KIDS, x17 or via e-mail at shelley@childrensalliance.org.
- If you are interested in sponsoring the summer food program and wish to request an application, contact Donna Parsons, Summer Food Service Program Supervisor, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, at 360-725-6222 or via e-mail at dparsons@ospi.wednet.edu.
SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM SPONSORS BY COUNTY, 2002
|
COUNTY (# OF SPONSORS) |
SPONSOR |
# OF SITES |
|
Adams (2) |
|
|
|
|
Washtucna School District |
1 |
|
|
Boys & Girls Club of the Columbia Basin |
4 |
|
|
|
Total = 5 |
|
Asotin (1) |
|
|
|
|
Clarkston School District |
8 |
|
|
|
Total = 8 |
|
Benton (3) |
|
|
|
|
Kiona-Benton School District |
1 |
|
|
Kennewick School District |
6 |
|
|
The Salvation Army - Mid Columbia |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 8 |
|
Chelan (5) |
|
|
|
|
Lake Chelan School District |
1 |
|
|
Camp Fire USA – North Central WA Council |
1 |
|
|
Cascade School District |
3 |
|
|
Manson School District |
5 |
|
|
Wenatchee School District |
4 |
|
|
|
Total = 14 |
|
Clallam (3) |
|
|
|
|
Makah Tribal Council |
1 |
|
|
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe |
1 |
|
|
Quileute Tribal School |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 3 |
|
Clark (1) |
|
|
|
|
City of Vancouver, Vancouver-Clark Parks & Rec. |
16 |
|
|
|
Total = 16 |
|
Columbia (1) |
|
|
|
|
Dayton School District |
3 |
|
|
|
Total = 3 |
|
Cowlitz (2) |
|
|
|
|
Longview School District |
5 |
|
|
Kelso School District |
4 |
|
|
|
Total = 9 |
|
Douglas (2) |
|
|
|
|
Bridgeport School District |
1 |
|
|
Orondo School District |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 2 |
|
Ferry (1) |
|
|
|
|
Republic School District * |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 1 |
|
COUNTY (# OF SPONSORS) |
SPONSOR |
# OF SITES |
|
Franklin (2) |
|
|
|
|
North Franklin School District |
2 |
|
|
Pasco School District |
11 |
|
|
|
Total = 13 |
|
Garfield (0) |
|
|
|
Grant (4) |
|
|
|
|
Ephrata School District |
2 |
|
|
Big Bend Community College |
1 |
|
|
Boys & Girls Club of the Columbia Basin |
9 |
|
|
Soap Lake School District |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 13 |
|
Grays Harbor (7) |
|
|
|
|
Aberdeen School District |
9 |
|
|
Elma School District |
2 |
|
|
Ocosta School District |
1 |
|
|
Hoquiam School District |
3 |
|
|
Lake Quinault School District |
2 |
|
|
Oakville School District |
1 |
|
|
Quinault Indian Nation |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 19 |
|
Island (0) |
|
|
|
Jefferson (1) |
|
|
|
|
Hoh Tribe |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 1 |
|
King (7) |
|
|
|
|
Kent School District |
24 |
|
|
Federal Way Youth & Family Services |
2 |
|
|
City of Seattle: Division of Family & Youth |
124 |
|
|
City of Renton |
3 |
|
|
Highline School District |
21 |
|
|
Seattle University National Youth Sports Program |
2 |
|
|
Federal Way School District |
4 |
|
|
|
Total = 180 |
|
Kitsap (2) |
|
|
|
|
Bremerton School District |
13 |
|
|
Central Kitsap School District |
4 |
|
|
|
Total = 17 |
|
Kittitas (1) |
|
|
|
|
Ellensburg School District |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 1 |
|
Klickitat (1) |
|
|
|
|
White Salmon School District |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 1 |
|
COUNTY (# OF SPONSORS) |
SPONSOR |
# OF SITES |
|
Lewis (3) |
|
|
|
|
Vader School District |
1 |
|
|
Centralia School District |
1 |
|
|
Onalaska School District |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 3 |
|
Lincoln (0) |
|
|
|
Mason (2) |
|
|
|
|
Hood Canal School District |
1 |
|
|
Shelton School District |
2 |
|
|
|
Total = 3 |
|
Okanogan (5) |
|
|
|
|
City of Brewster |
1 |
|
|
Omak School District |
2 |
|
|
Tonasket School District |
2 |
|
|
Nespelem School District |
1 |
|
|
Oroville School District |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 7 |
|
Pacific (2) |
|
|
|
|
Raymond School District |
6 |
|
|
Ocean Beach School District |
2 |
|
|
|
Total = 8 |
|
Pend Oreille (1) |
|
|
|
|
Newport School District |
7 |
|
|
|
Total = 7 |
|
Pierce (9) |
|
|
|
|
The Salvation Army - Camp Arnold |
2 |
|
|
Puyallup School District |
2 |
|
|
Pierce County Parks & Recreation |
9 |
|
|
Sumner School District |
1 |
|
|
Metropolitan Parks |
18 |
|
|
Tacoma Public Schools |
25 |
|
|
Clover Park School District |
14 |
|
|
Metropolitan Dev. Council – Upward Bound |
1 |
|
|
Lakewood Presbyterian Church |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 73 |
|
San Juan (0) |
|
|
|
Skagit (6) |
|
|
|
|
Concrete School District |
2 |
|
|
Anacortes School District |
1 |
|
|
Burlington-Edison School District |
1 |
|
|
LaConner School District |
1 |
|
|
Mount Vernon School District |
5 |
|
|
Sedro-Woolley School District |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 11 |
|
COUNTY (# OF SPONSORS) |
SPONSOR |
# OF SITES |
|
Skamania (0) |
|
|
|
Snohomish (5) |
|
|
|
|
Mukilteo School District |
3 |
|
|
Darrington School District |
1 |
|
|
Housing Authority of Snohomish County |
1 |
|
|
The Tulalip Tribes |
1 |
|
|
Everett School District |
12 |
|
|
|
Total = 18 |
|
Spokane (4) |
|
|
|
|
Spokane School District |
56 |
|
|
Zion Lutheran/The Greenhouse |
3 |
|
|
Boys & Girls Club of Spokane County |
1 |
|
|
St. Aloysius School |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 61 |
|
Stevens (4) |
|
|
|
|
Spokane Tribe of Indians |
5 |
|
|
The Salvation Army - Camp Gifford |
2 |
|
|
Chewelah School District |
2 |
|
|
Mary Walker School District |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 10 |
|
Thurston (3) |
|
|
|
|
City of Tumwater |
1 |
|
|
City of Lacey Parks & Recreation |
2 |
|
|
The Evergreen State College – Upward Bound |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 4 |
|
Wahkiakum (0) |
|
|
|
Walla Walla (2) |
|
|
|
|
Vista Hermosa |
1 |
|
|
City of Walla Walla |
6 |
|
|
|
Total = 7 |
|
Whatcom (6) |
|
|
|
|
Bellingham School District |
1 |
|
|
Boys & Girls Club of Whatcom County |
1 |
|
|
Cornwall Park Church of God |
1 |
|
|
The Salvation Army - Camp Lummi |
1 |
|
|
Lynden School District |
2 |
|
|
Lummi Tribal Schools |
3 |
|
Nooksack Indian Tribe |
2 |
|
|
|
|
Total = 11 |
|
Whitman (4) |
|
|
|
|
Whitman County Parks Department |
3 |
|
|
WA State Univ. – National Youth Sports Program |
2 |
|
|
Lacrosse School District |
1 |
|
|
Tekoa School District |
1 |
|
|
|
Total = 7 |
|
COUNTY (# OF SPONSORS) |
SPONSOR |
# OF SITES |
|
Yakima (17) |
|
|
|
|
East Valley School District |
1 |
|
|
Yakima County Substance Abuse Coalition |
7 |
|
|
The Salvation Army - Yakima |
1 |
|
|
Yakima Valley Comm. College – Upward Bound |
1 |
|
|
Union Gap School District |
1 |
|
|
Grandview School District |
5 |
|
|
Granger School District |
1 |
|
|
Mabton School District |
1 |
|
|
Toppenish School District |