12.09.2015 This week’s report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), Long-Term Benefits of The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, showed that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, is highly effective at reducing food insecurity and alleviating poverty among low-income families. The report also highlighted the alarming negative impacts that inadequate benefit levels have on children and families during weeks when their monthly benefits run out–increased hospitalizations, increased rate of disciplinary actions at school, and lower performance on standardized tests.
From the report’s conclusion:
“Each year, SNAP lifts millions of families out of poverty and hunger. A growing body of research shows that improving food security through SNAP leads to positive outcomes in the short-run and long-run. These positive impacts are especially pronounced for children, whose families
receive a large majority of SNAP benefits. Moreover, SNAP’s beneficial impacts on children’s
health and educational outcomes not only improve children’s present well-being, but also are
likely to result in better life outcomes and increased self-sufficiency in the future.
At the same time, a variety of compelling evidence suggests that too many American families
continue to struggle with food insecurity. A number of studies have shown that the current level
of benefits often cannot sustain families through the end of the month, and new research has
linked the gap in food access to high-cost consequences-including increased hospitalizations
among adults with diabetes and disruptions in learning among school-aged children.”
Each month, CalFresh helps over 4.4 million Californians put food on the table, stay healthy, and achieve more. Rather than looking to reduce access to critical food assistance, Congress should take steps to strengthen SNAP/CalFresh and promote policies that improve benefit adequacy for vulnerable families.
Read the full report. PDF
Questions? Contact Jared Call at 213.482.8200 ext. 201
