2020
DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2020.305875
|View full text |Cite
|
Sign up to set email alerts
|

School Closures During COVID-19: Opportunities for Innovation in Meal Service

Abstract: In 2019, the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program served approximately 15 million breakfasts and 30 million lunches daily at low or no cost to students. Access to these meals has been disrupted as a result of long-term school closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially decreasing both student nutrient intake and household food security. By the week of March 23, 2020, all states had mandated statewide school closures as a result of the pandemic, and the number of weekly missed … Show more

Help me understand this report

Search citation statements

Order By: Relevance

Paper Sections

Select...
3
1
1

Citation Types

4
112
0

Year Published

2020
2020
2024
2024

Publication Types

Select...
7
2
1

Relationship

1
9

Authors

Journals

citations
Cited by 119 publications
(134 citation statements)
references
References 9 publications
4
112
0
Order By: Relevance
“…Similarly, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs are key safety nets for families. While federal policy has enabled these programs to continue during the pandemic, a lack of capacity among institutions that facilitate these programs has weakened implementation and reach [ 109 , 110 ]. For example, due to the pandemic, many early child-care and education programs that provide free meals through the CACFP had to close or terminate some staff positions, which resulted in a lack of capacity to facilitate meal distribution programs [ 109 ].…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Similarly, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs are key safety nets for families. While federal policy has enabled these programs to continue during the pandemic, a lack of capacity among institutions that facilitate these programs has weakened implementation and reach [ 109 , 110 ]. For example, due to the pandemic, many early child-care and education programs that provide free meals through the CACFP had to close or terminate some staff positions, which resulted in a lack of capacity to facilitate meal distribution programs [ 109 ].…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…With the recent dramatic rise in poverty and hunger among households with children due to the COVID-19 pandemic, school meal programs serve an increasingly important role in feeding children. Because CEP schools were serving universal free meals prior to the pandemic, many were able to quickly adapt to COVID-19-related school closures by setting up emergency universal free meal distribution sites or providing meal delivery to all students at home (Kinsey et al, 2020). In light of ongoing COVID-19-related school closures, the USDA has authorized states to request waivers to serve universal free meals through the USDA Summer Food Service Program or Seamless Summer Option through September 30, 2021 (United States Department of Agriculture, 2020).…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The wave of COVID-19–associated SCs during the second semester of the 2019–2020 school year (February–June 2020) was followed by the largest ever nearly simultaneous transition to various types of distance learning nationwide in lieu of congregating students and staff at schools. Responding to the unprecedented disruption to normal functions, US school districts swiftly mobilized distance learning programs and alternative feeding programs to preserve the continuity of education and services on which students and their families rely as recently noted by others [35]. Prior research supports the importance of continuity of education and the subsidized meal programs.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%