FRAC News Digest - May 20, 2005

The weekly Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) News Digest highlights what's new on hunger, nutrition and poverty issues at FRAC, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around the network of national, state and local anti-poverty and anti-hunger organizations, and in the media. The Digest will alert you to trends, reports, news items and resources and, when available, link you directly to them.

Issue 20, May 20, 2005

Report: The Food Stamp Program is Underutilized in Major Metropolitan Areas
Senator Lugar Introduces Bill That Would Expand Lugar Pilot Summer Feeding Program
Class Mobility Greater in Continental Europe, Canada As Gap Between Rich and Poor Widens in U.S.
Series on Class in America Examines Perception Versus Reality in American Class Consciousness
Survey of School Nutrition Professionals Finds Childhood Obesity, Adequate Funding Top Priorities
Opinion: Hungry Americans Need Advocates in Congress to Fight Proposed Cuts
Action for Healthy Kids Unveils New and Expended Web Site
Bush Administration Shifts Funding from Anti-Poverty Programs to Religion-Based Groups
Issue Brief: Households with Children and the Economic Downturn
Report: More Than One-Third of Prime-Age, Minimum Wage Workers Get Trapped in Low-Paying Jobs
Growing Number of Americans Have Type-2 Diabetes; Improved Diet and Exercise Would Help
Nevada: Students Eat Healthier Since Vending Machines Changed
Oregon: Proposed Food Policy Council Aims to Improve Access To Healthy Food
California: Governor Schwarzenegger's Budget Proposal Includes Additional Funding for School Breakfast
Iowa: Food Assistance Call Center Established in Des Moines

1. Report: The Food Stamp Program is Underutilized in Major Metropolitan Areas

("Leaving Money (and Food) on the Table," The Brookings Institution, May 2005)

This analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Census data on food stamp use and program eligibility in 1999 in 97 large metropolitan areas reveals that: only about one-half of all individuals in major metropolitan areas who were eligible for food stamps received benefits in 1999; across all 97 metropolitan areas, eligible households that did not claim food stamps left an estimated $4.9 billion on the table in 1999; the number of individuals receiving food stamps in the 97 metropolitan areas rose by 1.4 million from 1999 to 2002, but estimates from the USDA indicate that the overall metropolitan participation rate has likely declined since then. The report concludes that billions of dollars in unclaimed food stamp benefits and millions of nonparticipating eligible families should focus local leaders' attention on opportunities to connect more eligible individuals to the program. These include integrating food stamp outreach into existing working-family campaigns, supporting state policies that streamline access to food stamps, and encouraging the USDA to monitor food stamp participation rates at the sub-state level.

http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20050517_foodstamps.htm

2. Senator Lugar Introduces Bill That Would Expand Lugar Pilot Summer Feeding Program

("Lugar Introduces Bill to Expand Summer Feeding Program," May 11, 2005)

Senator Dick Lugar (D-IN) introduced legislation that would expand the Lugar Pilots, which seek to reduce bureaucratic obstacles in the Summer Food Service Program, from the current 19 states to the entire nation. Senator Lugar introduced legislation for pilots in 1999 to stem a decline in participation in the program. According to a FRAC report released in 2004, for every 100 children who receive free and reduced-price meals during the school year, only 20 receive meals during the summer. Also, states participating in the Lugar Pilots were found to have 20.1 percent increases in participation in summer meals from 2000 to 2003, compared to a 2.7 percent decrease in states without the pilots. "It is clear that the need to feed youths in the summer time is a nationwide problem and I hope that my Senate colleagues will move quickly to address this shortfall," said Senator Lugar.

http://lugar.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=237529

See FRAC's Summer Food report (2004):

http://www.frac.org/Press_Release/07.22.04.html

3. Class Mobility Greater in Continental Europe, Canada As Gap Between Rich and Poor Widens in U.S.

("As Rich-Poor Gap Widens in the U.S., Class Mobility Stalls," Wall Street Journal, May 13, 2005)

The gap between the rich and the poor has widened in the U.S. since 1970 while economic mobility has remained stagnant. According to recent research, a typical child born in poverty in continental Europe or Canada in recent decades is more likely achieve economic prosperity than his U.S. counterpart. In fact, while more than 80 percent of the sons of unskilled men moved to higher-paying, higher-status occupations in the late 19th century in the U.S., only 14 percent of the men born to fathers on the bottom 10 percent of the wage ladder made it to the top 30 percent in the late 20th century. A growing body of research is finding that 45 to 60 percent of a parent's advantage in income is passed along to children. Race is also a factor in U.S. economic mobility: 17 percent of whites born to the bottom 10 percent of families ranked by income remained there as adults, while 42 percent of African-Americans did.

http://online.wsj.com/public/us (search using "class mobility"--subscription required)

4. Series on Class in America Examines Perception Versus Reality in American Class Consciousness

(2-part series: "Class in America: Shadowy Lines That Still Divide," and "Life at the Top in America Isn't Just Better, It's Longer," New York Times, May 15 & 16, 2005)

The first part of this series on class in America highlights the widening gap between the rich and the poor. At the same time, mobility between classes has flattened out and possibly declined. Meanwhile, Americans tend to hold on to the view that ours is a highly mobile society where people move in and out of social classes easily. New research suggests that economic advantage actually lasts five generations instead of two or three, as was believed a few decades ago. According to Gary Solon, a University of Michigan economist, "people would say, 'Don't worry about inequality. The offspring of the poor have chances as good as the chances of the offspring of the rich.' Well, that's not true. It's not respectable in scholarly circles anymore to make that argument." Another mobility researcher, David I. Levine, points out that "being born in the elite in the U.S. gives you a constellation of privileges that very few people in the world have ever experienced. Being born poor in the U.S. gives you disadvantages unlike anything in Western Europe and Japan and Canada."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/15/national/class/OVERVIEW-FINAL.html
(free registration required)

part 2:

Part two in this series deals with the inequalities in health care available to people of different social classes in America. This article looks at three people of different economic backgrounds and follows what happens to them as they deal with a similar life-threatening health problem: a heart attack. Complications and less-than-optimal care plague the low-income person dealing with the heart attack, while her upper-income counterpart enjoys a relatively quick and painless recovery.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/16/national/class/HEALTH-FINAL.html
(free registration required)

5. Survey of School Nutrition Professionals Finds Childhood Obesity, Adequate Funding Top Priorities

("Schools Offering Healthier Food Choices," WLNS Channel 6 News, Lansing, MI, May 17, 2005)

The 2005 Operations Survey Report from the School Nutrition Association found that school districts are serving more fresh fruits and vegetables and skim milk in response to the growing concern about childhood obesity. Also, students are being involved in taste tests of new menu items. Fat-free (skim) or low-fat milk is the most popular optional food offered daily at elementary, middle and high schools. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also offered by a majority of school districts at all levels. School food service directors said funding, the development of a local school wellness policy, and the cost of food and food preparation were also important issues. More than one quarter of the districts surveyed (1,434 school food service directors from districts in 49 states) offer afterschool snack and summer programs.

http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?s=3353784

See the School Nutrition Association press release (report available for purchase):

http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Index.aspx?id=1247

6. Opinion: Hungry Americans Need Advocates in Congress to Fight Proposed Cuts

("Let Them Eat Cake," The Nation, May 9, 2005)

In this opinion piece, Trudy Lieberman highlights the effects of the proposed cuts to the federal food assistance programs, such as an increased dependence on emergency food providers, and pushes for an advocate in Congress to step up and fight for hungry Americans. Food prices are, especially for fresh fruits and milk. Demand at emergency food providers is up around the nation. The proposed 2006 budget include cuts to many food assistance programs and cuts are expected to grow over time. In addition to the food stamp cuts, the WIC Program faces cuts which could total $658 million from 2006 to 2010. By simply keeping level funding (and not adjusting for inflation), cuts to meals for the elderly could total 14 percent by 2010.

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050509&s=lieberman

7. Action for Healthy Kids Unveils New and Expended Website

(May 2005)

Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) unveiled an improved and expanded website. The enhanced website provides a one-stop source For information on AFHK's national and State Team initiatives, statistics on nutrition and physical activity in schools, and a variety of resources for school-based change. AFHK is a public-private partnership of more than 40 national organizations and government agencies that addresses the epidemic of overweight, sedentary, and undernourished youth by focusing on changes in schools.

http://www.actionforhealthykids.org

8. Bush Administration Shifts Funding from Anti-Poverty Programs to Religion-Based Groups

("Two Fronts in the War on Poverty," Washington Post, May 17, 2005)

Bush administration policies have shifted funding from traditional federal anti-poverty programs to faith-based groups. As a result, many small church- and community-based social service programs are obtaining increased funding while the President's 2006 budget proposal includes deep cuts to public housing subsidies, food stamps, energy assistance, community development, social services and community block grants. It proposes increasing funding for religion-based programs by $385 million. More than $2 billion in grants to such programs was awarded in 2004, nearly double the amount spent in 2003. "This is going to increase the competition for available funds," said Douglas Rice, director of housing and community development policy for Catholic Charities USA.

http://tinyurl.com/8fwc5

9. Issue Brief: Households with Children and the Economic Downturn

("How Have Households with Children Fared in the Job Market Downturn?," The Urban Institute, April 2005)

From early 2001 through 2003, employment rates and labor force participation continued to decline, and they recovered only modestly in 2004. This report assesses how households with children have fared in the wake of this recession and sluggish recovery. It also assesses the effectiveness of the social "safety net" when the economy worsens and jobs become less available. TANF enrollment did not rise appreciably during the recent downturn. Unemployment Insurance (UI) has been the primary safety net program that cushions workers who become unemployed involuntarily, but strict eligibility requirements have restricted access for many unemployed workers, even among the eligible. This report also looks at whether other public programs, such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Social Security, and food stamps, sufficiently safeguarded adult workers whose employment had declined.

http://www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=311163

10. Report: More Than One-Third of Prime-Age, Minimum Wage Workers Get Trapped in Low-Paying Jobs

("Many Minimum Wage Workers Aged 25 to 54 Trapped in Low-Wage Jobs: Women, non-native and non-union workers have most difficulty moving up," CEPR News, May 18, 2005)

This report finds that 36.6 percent of prime-age workers (ages 25-54) in minimum wage jobs get stuck in low-wage jobs for at least three years. This is especially true during periods of higher unemployment and stagnant wage growth. Most minimum wage workers are prime-age workers. In the eight years since the last increase to the minimum wage, its $5.15 value has decreased by one-sixth, in inflation-adjusted terms. A person working full-time for minimum wage earns just $10,300, substantially lower than the $13,020 federal poverty threshold for a one-parent, one-child family.

http://ceprnews.c.topica.com/maadwX1abg5ORcgmIORbafpNFx/

11. Growing Number of Americans Have Type-2 Diabetes; Improved Diet and Exercise Would Help

("Diabetes out of control in U.S., survey finds," Reuters, May 18, 2005)

The incidence of type-2 diabetes, which is caused almost exclusively by poor diet and lack of exercise, is growing in the U.S. According to a survey commissioned by The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the American College of Endocrinologists, two-thirds of Americans with the disease do not have it under control. This means they risk early deaths from stroke, heart attack or kidney failure. "Diabetes management actually worsened in the past 10 years," said Dr. Jamie Davidson, an expert at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Every year 1.2 million Americans are added to the 18 million Americans who currently are estimated to have type-2 diabetes. In 2002, the health costs associated with this preventable disease totaled $132 billion.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050518/ts_nm/health_diabetes_dc_4

12. Nevada: Students Eat Healthier Since Vending Machines Changed

("Are Students Enjoying Healthier Snacks in School Vending Machines?," KVBC Channel 3, Las Vegas, NV, May 17, 2005)

Since Rancho High School switched to healthier choices in its vending machines, 65 percent of students say they no longer eat from the machines. In addition, 25 percent of students said they now have healthier eating habits. "We've seen a tremendous change in the way kids eat, in their weight, and in the amount of exercise they get each day," says Karen Vogel, Director of Food Services for the Clark County School District. But some kids are still bringing junk food from home. Changes in students' eating habits have occurred much faster than the three to five years that school officials expected when they implemented the vending machine change.

http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?s=3354967

13. Oregon: Proposed Food Policy Council Aims to Improve Access To Healthy Food

("Advisory council to focus on food," The Register Guard, Eugene, OR, May 15, 2005)

In Eugene, FOOD for Lane County, the Lane County Food Coalition and other organizations will launch a Food Policy Council, a citizen-government advisory body that will recommend policies concerning feeding the hungry, child obesity, nutrition, food stamps, growing and processing food, improving access to healthy, nutritious food and strengthening the local food economy. Dozens of other communities throughout the country have started similar groups. The new group also hopes to encourage schools and other institutions to buy from local food producers as a first choice. Schools also are encouraging students to eat more vegetables and are expanding salad bars.

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/05/15/c1.cr.foodcouncil.0515.html

14. California: Governor Schwarzenegger's Budget Proposal Includes Additional Funding for School Breakfast

("Nutrition Advocates Praise Governor's School Breakfast Proposal, Also raise concerns about the impact of the Governor's proposed cuts to welfare programs on nutrition," California Food Policy Advocates, May 2005)

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's revised budget proposal includes $18.2 million to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables served in the School Breakfast Program and $1 million tp provide breakfast program start-up grants for schools that currently do not have breakfast programs. California Food Policy Advocates praised the proposal, especially in an era of budget cutting. Jessica Reich, director of food quality policy, said "by focusing attention and resources on the School Breakfast Program, the Governor is helping kids start each school day ready to learn. By increasing fruit and vegetable consumption he is starting students on a path to a lifetime of healthy eating."

http://www.cfpa.net/governors_fruit_proposal.htm

15. Iowa: Food Assistance Call Center Established in Des Moines

("North Iowa News Briefs," Globe Gazette, May 16, 2005)

A toll-free call center has been launched to help residents sign up for Iowa's Food Stamp Program. A three-year $880,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture made the call center possible. It is answered from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Messages left after hours will be returned the next business day. Operators use information supplied by callers to fill out application forms. The form is mailed to the customer for signature. The applicant then takes it to the local county DHS office for processing. Iowa has led the nation in gains in food stamp participation, but Kevin Concannon, director of the Iowa Department of Human Services says still more needs to be done to reach out to people in need, since only an estimated 55 percent of eligible recipients are signed up.

http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2005/05/16/local/doc428828db53983934044767.txt