Children are our future and are here to make a better world. They are a contributing factor for what is next to come, but what if they cannot be a part of that because they are worried about how to get their next meal? Connecticut faces the issue of childhood hunger and it is increasing every day. A Child Food Insecurity study conducted in 2012 showed that 151,530 children in Connecticut suffer from hunger and food insecurity. Just in New haven alone, the rate is 19.1. That is 36,750 children! Middlesex, New London, Fairfield, Litchfield and Windham Counties are other areas in Connecticut of high rates of food insecurity.
Even though there are several food banks and pantries that are available around this state, many children have limited access to transportation and are too young to research nearby places or travel there alone if their parents cannot escort them. According to the authors Blau and Abramovitz, hunger is linked to the lack of focus children have in school, lower math scores and children are more likely to be retained. Some children may need to see a psychologist because of feelings of unworthiness and inadequacy. Just think all of this can be prevented by a plate of nutritious food.
The same study also suggests that 48 percent of childhood hunger is a result from lack of federal food assistance from state programs such as SNAP and WIC. These children and their families do not qualify for such programs because they make over the income requirement. I believe there needs to be some changes. If a family makes over the income limit but cannot afford adequate food, how do they really not qualify? Yes there are rules and policies in place for these programs but how can these children survive without food? More children should be awarded food assistance from the state and programs should modify their qualifications by lowering the income qualification. I believe that programs should thoroughly investigate a family’s situation and see that the children are the ones who are suffering the most from hunger. The strength of these programs such as SNAP should be improved overall.
As a social worker, a child’s welfare is very important and we believe that children have a right to a safe, stable and permanent home where their basic levels of care and nurture are met, and they have available access to adequate food. Hopefully these small modifications will be a start to ending childhood hunger and children would have a brighter future. President Obama has expressed his commitment to ending childhood hunger by 2015, so let’s help him by getting a head start now.
Janelle Hoff
Hamden