Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

FOOD NEWS

Oct 18, 2002

More Families Relying on Food Stamps
July 2002 participation in the Food Stamp Program increased to more than 19,300,000, according to this Food Research and Action Center analysis of data from USDA. Participation rose in 47 states and the District of Columbia, compared with July 2001 rates. The total national increase was more than 1.8 million people.
http://www.frac.org/html/news/fsp/02july.html

**Food Stamp Outreach?—What Cities Can Do
The National League of Cities weekly has a two-page special insert that outlines model strategies and resources city officials can use to link eligible families with food stamps, including a report on cities partnering under new USDA food stamp outreach grants and a review of new computer and Web-based prescreening tools.
http://www.nlc.org/nlc_org/site/newsroom/nations_cities_weekly/display.cfm?id=C0569012-579E-4F95-84AB558958D60193

**School Lunch?—Too Early, Too Rushed?
The USDA, American Academy of Pediatrics and others are endorsing longer lunch periods and fewer very early or very late lunch times to foster better eating habits for children and improve the school environment for healthy eating.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/education/4151415.htm

**School Breakfast?—A Great Addition
A number of school districts in several states, including Maryland, Minnesota and Massachusetts, have begun pilot breakfast programs that offer free breakfast to all students regardless of income. The "free universal breakfast" program is seen as a way to reduce administrative costs and stigma, as well as improve nutrition and academic achievement?—and teachers and administrators are very pleased with the early results.
http://www.nea.org/neatoday/0209/health.html