Good Choices in Hard Times: Fifteen Ideas for States To Reduce Hunger and Stimulate the Economy

This resource guide puts forth 15 ideas for actions in food stamp and other child nutrition programs that states, schools, and cities can implement to feed more hungry low-income residents, especially children, and provide a direct federal economic stimulus for the state and its businesses. The guide asserts that states risk accelerating a downward economic cycle when they cut spending in the face of growing problems among their residents. It is argued that using federal funds through federal nutrition programs for low-income people can contribute to states' economic stimulus efforts. Strategies for the Food Stamp Program are: (1) expanding food stamp participation by easing application procedures; (2) improving outreach; (3) providing transitional food stamps for families leaving TANF; (4) easing information reporting for food stamp recipients and caseworkers; (5) expanding the food stamp time limit for needy jobless adults; (6) increasing food stamp benefit amounts via the standard utility allowance; (7) ensuring that low-income families with modest assets can receive food stamps; (8) improving food stamp benefit allotments for immigrant families; and (9) helping homeless and those with past drug addictions make a new start. Recommended strategies for the child nutrition programs are: (1) increasing participation in the School Breakfast and Lunch Programs; (2) ensuring that schools in low-income neighborhoods receive "severe need payments"; (3) expanding the number of after school programs using federal funds for nutritious snacks and suppers; (4) expanding availability of the Summer Food Service Program; (5) increasing family child care providers' participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; and (6) expanding the number of homeless and domestic violence shelters that use the Child and Adult Care Food Program. (KB)