FRAC Chat

May 29, 2024
Stefano Mancini, Congressional Hunger Center Emerson Fellow

The first Older Americans Month in May 1963 celebrated the contributions of older adults as well as the unique challenges that they face. Special attention to older Americans inspired policy changes like Medicare, which facilitated older adults’ independence, health, and dignity.1

This month, we celebrate the strides made to support older Americans and acknowledge that older adults still face many barriers to active aging and wellness, including food insecurity.

May 09, 2024
Stefano Mancini, Congressional Hunger Center Emerson Fellow

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a vital tool for public health, helping families supplement their budgets to put food on the table. A new Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) research brief underscores the ways that consumer choice in SNAP enhances dignity and equity in the program and entrusts families to make decisions about their health.

May 08, 2024
Susan Beaudoin, Senior Program Manager, WIC & Root Causes

This month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a final rule revising the WIC food package. The rule includes important updates that will enhance equitable access to nutritious food, improve the nutritional quality of the foods offered, and make WIC more participant-centered. These changes will contribute to longstanding positive impacts on program participation, health outcomes for WIC participants, and efforts to address health disparities.

Recent Publications & Data

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  • Report

    Efforts by health care providers to address food insecurity continue to grow. FRAC’s new research brief underscores the importance of connecting patients to SNAP, WIC, and other federal nutrition programs as the foundational intervention to address food insecurity in health care settings;
    provides key steps that health care providers can take to connect patients to federal nutrition programs; and synthesizes research on food insecurity interventions in health care settings that featured connecting patients to SNAP and WIC. Learn more in Connecting Patients to SNAP and WIC in Health Care Settings.

    Read the research brief
  • Advocacy Tool

    The federal nutrition programs are a critical support for tens of millions of households — including individuals of all ages — by helping them put food on the table during times of need. Investing in hunger prevention and relief makes good fiscal sense. Hunger increases health care costs, lowers worker productivity, harms children’s development, and diminishes students’ educational attainment. These negative impacts can be minimized with robust funding and support for the federal nutrition programs. Use this Fiscal Year 2025 Budget and Appropriations leave behind in your advocacy. 

    Read the leave behind
  • Advocacy Tool

    School meals play an important role in reducing childhood hunger, supporting good nutrition, and ensuring that students are hunger-free and ready to get the most out of their school day. Use this 2024 Healthy School Meals for All leave behind in your advocacy. 

    Read the leave behind
  • Advocacy Tool

    An expanded and inclusive CTC is a transformational policy for addressing hunger among families with children.3 With the tax credit improvements in the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, Congress has a unique opportunity to address hunger among households with children and improve the nutrition, health, and well-being of millions in our nation. Use this 2024 Leave Behind in your advocacy. 

    Read the leave behind