Search & Filter

Switch View
  • Report

    Poverty and food insecurity have detrimental impacts on infant, child, and maternal health and well-being in both the short and long terms. One critical strategy to address these issues is connecting vulnerable families to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Decades of research have demonstrated the effectiveness of WIC in reducing food insecurity, and improving health, nutrition, development, and well-being.

    WIC is a Critical Economic, Nutrition, and Health Support for Children and Families provides background information on WIC; briefly summarizes the harmful impacts of poverty and food insecurity; and highlights research demonstrating the effective role of WIC in improving food and economic security, dietary intake, weight outcomes, health, and learning.

    Read the report
  • Report

    The WIC food packages were revised in 2007 to align the authorized food with the latest nutrition science and guidance. The majority of WIC participants are satisfied with the revised food packages in terms of the new foods offered and changes in the amounts of food. As summarized in this brief, Impact of the Revised WIC Food Packages on Nutrition Outcomes and the Retail Food Environment, research shows that the revised WIC food packages have favorable impacts on dietary intake, breastfeeding outcomes, and obesity rates. In addition, also as summarized in this brief, studies suggest an important role for WIC in improving neighborhood food environments, which benefits both WIC participants and non-participants.

    Read the report
  • Report

    Making WIC Work Better features a comprehensive set of recommendations to overcome the barriers that have led to a downward trend in participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

    Read the report
  • Toolkit

    FRAC has developed a communications toolkit that promotes strategies to increase participation in WIC. The toolkit includes a national news release, talking points, videos, sample social media, and graphics.

    Read the report
  • Chart

    The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) demonstration pilots studied the utility of providing an electronic benefit card to low-income families to purchase food during the summer months. The evaluation found that Summer EBT reduced very low food insecurity among children by one-third. The pilot tested providing the resources through a SNAP EBT system in Connecticut, Delaware, Missouri, Oregon and Washington and a WIC EBT system in Michigan, Nevada, Texas and the Cherokee and Chickasaw Tribal Nations.

    Read the report
  • Interactive Data Tool

    This series of state fact sheets provides state-specific data (compared to national data) on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation rates among eligible seniors, SNAP participation rates among households with seniors, and the percentage of households with seniors struggling with food insecurity.

    Find out more
  • Guide

    During the summer, far too many children and adolescents experience food insecurity, weight gain, and learning loss, compromising their health and ability to thrive during summer break and beyond. A key strategy to address these issues is to connect more students — especially low-income students — to high-quality summer meal and enrichment programs, which support student food security, health, and learning. This brief first summarizes important research on summertime food insecurity, weight gain, and learning loss, and then describes the value and effectiveness of the federal Summer Nutrition Programs and summer enrichment programming.

    Read the report
  • Toolkit

    FRAC’s communications toolkit for states includes a model news release for states to customize, sample social media, graphics, a video, and more.

    Learn more
  • Guide

    Kansas communities have come together to serve thousands more meals year after year to kids through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). SFSP in Kansas: Replicable Strategies to Increase Summer Meals Participation highlights best practices to expand SFSP and demonstrate replicable strategies for advocates in other states.

    Read the report
  • Advocacy Tool

    This primer examines the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in improving the health, nutrition, and well-being of millions of senior adults (age 60 and older) struggling against hunger, and it summarizes opportunities to expand this vital program to reach more seniors across the country.

    Read the report
  • Guide

    This guide provides steps to start and strengthen the School Nutrition Programs in charter schools.

    The guide is divided into five sections:

    Part I: School Nutrition Program Basics;

    Part lI: Initial Steps for Navigating the School
    Nutrition Programs;

    Part llI: Overcoming Administrative
    Challenges;

    Part IV: Addressing Facility Challenges:
    Cafeterias, Kitchens, Equipment, and
    Storage; and

    Part V: Making the Finances Work Using
    Best Practices.

    Read the report
  • Interactive Data Tool

    This interactive map provides state-by-state data on SNAP participation rates among eligible seniors and for comparison, participation rates among all eligible individuals. FRAC’s map and accompanying tables show that just 42 percent of eligible seniors are using SNAP on average each month.  

    Find out more
  • Advocacy Tool

    Federal tax credits, like the EITC and refundable CTC, provide critical supports for millions of working women, children, and families every year. They supplement low wages and can help soften the financial impact of fluctuating incomes or job losses. These credits are especially important for communities of color and women.

    Read more
  • Advocacy Tool

    Includes: The Strength of SNAP and SNAP Action Needed; The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP); Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP); Child Nutrition Reauthorization

    Read more
  • Advocacy Tool

    Restoring the value of the minimum wage — and helping families cover basic needs — is essential to addressing hunger. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour has not increased since 2009. A more adequate minimum wage would foster the nation’s economic strength and growth to be shared in more equitable ways. Low-income workers and their families would benefit the most from a higher minimum wage, leading to reduced poverty, hunger, and income inequality.

    From FRAC, the Economic Policy Institute, and the National Employment Law Project.

    Read more