Addressing Hunger and Nutrition: A Tool Kit for Positive Results

Updated March 2006

The challenges of hunger and nutrition are faced in every state and community.  Recent federal data indicate that more than 36 million Americans, including more than 13 million children, experience hunger and difficulty in gaining access to adequate food.  Furthermore, there is growing awareness of the relationships between hunger, obesity and poor nutrition:  the lack of financial resources makes it difficult to obtain nutritious food on a consistent basis, leading to unhealthy eating patterns and poor dietary habits. 

State policymakers–in their varied roles as legislators, community leaders and convenors–are in a unique position to address these challenges of hunger and nutrition.  However, current federal, state and private sector programs and initiatives aimed at these problems are fragmented across funding streams and administrative authority.  Federal programs are administered through a variety of state agencies, including human services, education, health and agriculture.  Thus legislative oversight is also fragmented among different committee jurisdictions.  In addition, nonprofit and private sector organizations such as food banks and meal sites have established public-private partnerships to address the challenges of hunger and nutrition. 

Addressing Hunger and Nutrition: A Tool Kit for Positive Results, is a resource for state policymakers as they navigate the many federal and state government, private sector and nonprofit initiatives that address hunger and nutrition.  The Tool Kit is comprised of 12, two-page issue briefs, a glossary of hunger and nutrition terms, and a chart of federal nutrition programs.  PDF versions of the Tool Kit sections can be accessed by clicking on the links below. 

Addressing Hunger and Nutrition: A Tool Kit for Positive Results

Executive Summary
Hunger and Nutrition Partnership Overview
Chart of Federal Nutrition Programs
Glossary of Hunger and Nutrition Terms

Food Stamp Program
National School Lunch Program
School Breakfast Program
Summer Food Service Program
Child and Adult Care Food Program
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
Nutrition and the Elderly
Farmers' Markets Programs
Farm to Cafeteria
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
Nutrition Education