In 2016, 12.3% of households in the United States (U.S), or 15.6 million people, were food insecure during some part of the year. Food insecurity is more prevalent among households with children, and has been shown to have adverse effects on child development, aggressive behavior, psycho-social development, and academic performance. Nutrition assistance and education programs play critical roles in alleviating food insecurity. The Virginia 365 Project (VA365) was a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded multi-level school- and home-based approach aimed at reducing food insecurity in low-income areas of Virginia through meal programs and nutrition education for parents through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education Program (SNAP-Ed). Impacts of coordinated nutrition assistance programs for children have generally focused on food security or nutrition outcomes, not broader impacts on academic achievement, attendance, and aggressive behavior. This study examined the feasibility of using school-level surveillance data, collected in state longitudinal data systems, to detect changes in academic and behavioral outcomes, using the VA365 program as a case study. Relevant data indicators were identified and compared from the Virginia Longitudinal Data System and from the longitudinal data systems from other Mid-Atlantic region (MARO) SNAP-Ed states (n=9) to determine generalizability to other states for broader program impacts. Results provide a greater understanding of the potential for accessing existing school-level data to document the public value of school-based nutrition programs beyond improved food security and dietary intake to include academic achievement, discipline and attendance outcomes. / Master of Science / In 2016, 15.6 million Americans were food insecure, or struggled to get safe and consistent access to food, during some part of the year. Food insecurity is more common in households with children. It can have negative outcomes on a child’s development, behavior, psycho-social development, and grades. The Virginia 365 Project (VA365) was a federally funded approach to reducing food insecurity in children located in low-income areas of Virginia through a combination of free school meals, food backpack programs, and nutrition education. The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of using data already collected by schools to assess impacts of this anti-hunger program on student behavior, attendance, and academic achievement. All schools collect data as part of the Virginia Longitudinal Data System. We analyzed data that were collected as part of this system as well as other states around Virginia to determine how and if they could be used to describe the benefits of the program. The results of this study may help researchers understand the potential of this approach to investigating the broader impacts of nutrition programs beyond nutrition and food insecurity outcomes.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/83559 |
| Date | 15 June 2018 |
| Creators | Edwards, Stephanie Lynn |
| Contributors | Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Serrano, Elena L., Hosig, Kathryn W., Kraak, Vivica, Misyak, Sarah A. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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