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 (now called supplementary nutrition program or SNAP) that enables low-income families to buy nutritious food with coupons and Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. See especially the Economic Research Service reports

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 their poverty page.

Other Links

Bread for the World is an advocacy organization focussing on both domestic and international hunger.

Feeding America is the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization. Through a network of nearly 200 food banks, Second Harvest distributes food to 25 million hungry Americans each year, nine 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.

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 is 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.

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.

Kid’s Count Data Center is a a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and is source of data on children, youth and families. Each year they publish a report on the state of child well-being.

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

No Kid Hungry is an advocacy organization with a focus on child hunger. Find reports, data, and more about child food insecurity in the United States.

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

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