Timeline: Achievements/Highlights/Testimonies

Children’s HealthWatch: Over 85,000 caregivers interviewed 43+ Peer Reviewed Journal Articles 85+ Policy Publications Sites in 5 Cities Across the United States 25 Years

1998

Dr. Deborah Frank and colleagues launched the Children’s Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program (C-SNAP) in 6 cities

2001

Dr. Deborah A. Frank testifies before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on expanding the Food Stamps program.

2002

Paper on food insecurity in infants and toddlers by John Cook, PhD, Boston PI, published in Nutrition in Clinical Care

2005

Dr. Deborah A. Frank testifies before the Subcommittee on Human Resources on Welfare Reform Reauthorization.

2005

Philadelphia site opens with Dr. Mariana Chilton at the helm

2007

“Heat or Eat” paper published

2007

Dr. Deborah A. Frank testifies before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Budget during the Farm Bill Reauthorization Hearing.

2007

“Fuel for Our Future” report published in collaboration with former U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy II & Congressman Michael Capuano

2008

C-SNAP changes its name to Children’s HealthWatch

2008

Launch of Witnesses to Hunger, founded by Dr. Mariana Chilton, in Philadelphia

2008

Dr. Frank named “the woman who saved SNAP” due to her key testimony before the House on the Farm Bill

2010

Boston Witnesses to Hunger is launched

2010

Baltimore Witnesses to Hunger launched, along with Camden, NJ; Hartford, CT & Providence, RI

2010

Publication of 2 item food insecurity screener paper by Erin R. Hager, PhD, in Pediatrics

2010 to present

Hunger Vital Sign™ tool created, leading to innovation & development of implementation of best practices nationally

2011

Housing insecurity paper by Dr. Diana Cutts, Minneapolis PI, published in American Journal of Public Health

2013

Arkansas General Assembly allocates $500K to Housing Trust Fund while advocates build Permanent Source campaign

2014

CHW research helps to preserve “heat or eat” provision in Farm Bill

2015

Dr. Megan Sandel testifies before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Revenue in support of increasing the Massachusetts Earned Income Tax Credit.

2015

MA EITC increased from 15% to 23% through efforts by CHW led Healthy Families EITC Coalition

2015

Arkansas PI, Eduardo Ochoa, Jr., MD, FAAP, testifies before the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Committee on Agriculture, US House of Representatives

2016

Housing Rx as Health Care project, funded by The Boston Foundation, begins

2017

Allison Bovell-Ammon testifies before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Revenue on bills that would fund Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Sites and expand access to the state Earned Income Tax Credit.

2017

Healthy Families EITC Coalition successfully advocates for an expansion of EITC eligibility in the state budget enabling Massachusetts to became first state in the nation to ensure survivors of domestic violence are able to access EITC benefits.

2018

Housing instability paper by Dr. Megan Sandel, Boston site PI, published in Pediatrics

2018

Congressman James P. McGovern is named as the first recipient of the annual Children’s HealthWatch Champion award

2019

Eduardo Ochoa Jr., MD, FAAP - Children's HealthWatchDr. Eddie Ochoa testifies before the Committee on Education and Labor, US House of Representatives on the health benefits of federal child nutrition programs

2019

Release of Pathways to Stable Homes report and event amplifying key findings for reducing promoting housing stability through refundable tax credits, child care investment, and eviction prevention

2019

COVID-19-Related Updates, Information, Resources | Connecticut House DemocratsPublication of key research documenting the health effects of losing SNAP or having SNAP benefits reduced as a result of increasing income in the journal Health Affairs

2019

Ana Poblacion, PhD, MS - Children's HealthWatchDr. Ana Poblacion testifies before the Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care on the importance of high-quality affordable child care for young children and families

2019

Healthy Families EITC Coalition Statement on Massachusetts Tax Relief Legislation - Children's HealthWatchSignificant investment of state funding for free tax preparation sites in Massachusetts following successful advocacy by the Healthy Families EITC Coalition

2019

Home - Children's HealthWatchChildren’s HealthWatch launches the “Let’s Make Change Happen” video series

2019

Publication of research on the health benefits of SNAP participation for families with young children in the Journal of Preventive Medicine

2020

Megan Sandel | SPHDr. Megan Sandel invited to testify before the Committee on Financial Services, US House of Representatives on proposed changes to fair housing

2020

Home - Children's HealthWatchLaunch of the Equity Town Hall series

2020

Housing Prescriptions as Health Care - Children's HealthWatchHousing Prescriptions as Health Care study findings published in Health Affairs

2020 and beyond

How does the pandemic affect families who were already struggling? : News CenterRelease of evidence-based policy proposals for an equitable response to the needs of families with young children during the pandemic and ongoing advocacy to amplify key policy changes

2020

Allison Bovell-Ammon, M.Div - Children's HealthWatchAllison Bovell-Ammon invited to testify before the Committee on Ways and Means, US House of Representatives on tax relief to support workers and families during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020

As Pandemic Begins to Fade, So Too Does Children's BoredomLaunch of the Children’s HealthWatch COVID-19 Follow-up Study, longitudinal study documenting impact of COVID-19 and pandemic relief benefits on families with young children

2021

Checklist And Tick On Laptop Screen Icon Check Mark Browser Window And Choice Survey Concepts Vector Design On White Background Stock Illustration - Download Image Now - iStockLaunch of Children’s HealthWatch 2.0 survey in REDCap consisting of a core survey and randomized modules designed to collect robust data on the experiences of families with young children

2021

American Rescue Plan Act | detail - Town of EllingtonChildren’s HealthWatch successfully advocates for key investments and policy changes in the American Rescue Plan Act

2021

Expanded Child Tax Credit 'has to be in' final version of Build Back Better Act, Sen. Ed Markey says - masslive.comChildren’s HealthWatch and Boston Medical Center co-host press event with Senator Ed Markey calling for an expansion of the Child Tax Credit

2022

Maureen Black | RTIDr. Maureen Black testifies before Committee on the Budget, US House of Representatives on the benefits of WIC

2022

Publication of research on the impact of evictions on health and well-being in the journal Pediatrics

2022

Drs. Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba and Megan Sandel invited to attend the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health and Children’s HealthWatch commitment for the Conference featured in a White House fact sheet

2022

Biden vows to end hunger in the U.S. by 2030: 'I know we can do this' - MarketWatchPresident Biden cites research co-authored by Children’s HealthWatch on the benefits of the Child Tax Credit in reducing food insufficiency during a speech at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.

2023

Healthy Families Tax Credits Coalition launches

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