New research by Children’s HealthWatch was featured in a MinnPost article written by Ellie Lucas of Hunger-Free Minnesota.
School meals are a sustainable solution to combat childhood hunger
Childhood hunger is a persistent, yet solvable, crisis. Schools are uniquely positioned to play a vital role in addressing food insecurity among their students. But schools cannot do this work alone. Gov. Mark Dayton recently announced he is supporting funding that ensures no child in our state is turned away from a school lunch.
Research funded by Hunger-Free Minnesota and conducted by Children’s HealthWatch shows that when young children experience food insecurity, they are at increased risk of poor health and developmental delays. Statewide usage of the federally funded School Breakfast Program, however, remains at only 45 percent.
What if we applied business strategies and analysis and engaged corporate, community, nonprofit and government leaders to solve a seemingly intractable problem: food insecurity? Could we make a meaningful impact? More importantly, could we make it sustainable? The answer is a resounding “yes!”
