United States Links

United States Government Programs and Studies

U.S. Department of Agriculture has information on U.S. nutrition programs—food stamps, WIC (Women, Infants, Children), child nutrition and food distribution. There are many good pages including 

Food Security in the United States that presents basic information on food security in the United States with links to further  information and studies.

The Womens, Infants, Childrens (WIC) nutrition program that provides supplementary food to low income women who are pregnant and after their children are born, infants and children up to five.

The Food Stamp program that enables low-income families to buy nutritious food with coupons and Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.

The School Lunch program that provides low cost or free lunches to 26 million low-income students.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families oversees the the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. "TANF is a block grant program to help move recipients into work and turn welfare into a program of temporary assistance. Under the welfare reform legislation of 1996, TANF replaced the old welfare programs known as Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) program and the Emergency Assistance (EA) program. The law ended federal entitlement to assistance and instead created TANF as a block grant that provides States and tribes federal funds each year. These funds cover benefits, administrative expenses, and services targeted to needy families."

The United States Census Bureau has as its responsibility measuring poverty in the United States.  See its Poverty webpage.

Other Links

America's Second Harvest is the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization. Through a network of nearly 200 food banks, Second Harvest distributes food to 26 million hungry Americans each year, eight million of whom are children.  

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is a nonpartisan research organization and policy institute that conducts research and analysis on a range of government policies and priorities, with an emphasis on those affecting low- and moderate-income people.

Center on Hunger and Poverty promotes policies that improve the lives and developmental capacities of low-income children and families in the nation. Established in 1990, the Center conducts applied research and policy analysis on poverty and hunger issues, and disseminates analytic information on poverty and hunger to policy makers, organizations and the public. It is part of The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University.

Children's Defense Fund is a leading advocacy group for children's social issues.

Coalition on Human Needs is an alliance of national organizations working together to promote public policies which address the needs of low-income and other vulnerable populations.

Economic Policy Institute: a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that seeks to broaden the public debate about strategies to achieve a prosperous and fair economy. Publishes the State of Working America.

FRAC (Food Research and Action Committee) is a leading national organization working to improve public policies to eradicate hunger and undernutrition in the United States.

Independent Media Center  Indymedia is a collective of independent media organizations and hundreds of journalists offering grassroots, non-corporate coverage. Both United States and international coverage.

Interfaith Worker Justice,  a leading religious network that engages people of faith in low-wage workers struggles. Helps to create immigrant workers centers, advocating for increasing minimum wage, and building partnerships with labor.

National Priorities Project analyzes United States government tax and spending policies and their outcomes for people.

Poverty USA, a website developed by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

United for a Fair Economy: raises awareness that concentrated wealth and power undermine the economy, corrupt democracy, deepen the racial divide, and tear communities apart. Supports and helps build social movements for greater equality.

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