welcome an in-depth look on the status and future of texas children food policy lunch: dispelling...

WELCOME

An In-Depth Look on the Status and Future of

Texas’ Children

Food Policy Lunch:Dispelling the Myths around

School BreakfastNovember 20th, 2013

Welcoming RemarksLiliana Esposito,

Vice President, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs,Dean Foods

Councilmember Jerry R. Allen,Dallas City Councilmember, District 10

Welcoming Remarks

Chef Panel: Breakfast for less than $2.00

Chef Chad Houser, Executive Director Café MomentumChef Graham Dodds, Hibiscus

Chef Matt Ford, CBD ProvisionsChef Jack Perkins, Maple & Motor and The Slow Bone

Chef Julie Eastland, Café Momentum

Cafe Momentum InternsMailk RunnelsAdolph MartinJordan Farrar

+

Food Insecurity and the Importance of School Breakfast

Mandi Kimball, Director, Public Policy and Government Affairs, CHILDREN AT RISK

+ About Us

20 years & countin

g

• CHILDREN AT RISK is a data-driven research and advocacy nonprofit organization that drives change for Texas’ children through strategic research, education, legal action, and public policy.

Focus Areas

• Focus areas include:• physical and mental health• food insecurity and nutrition• parenting• education• juvenile justice• human trafficking

+What We Do

Research

Awareness

Collaboration

Advocacy

+

Test Your Knowledge

Of the more than 6.9 million children in Texas, how many

children are still struggling with

hunger?

A. 10%B. 16%C. 20%D. 26%

+D. 26%

1.8 million Texas children are living in

food insecure households.

+

Test Your Knowledge

What percentage of

Texans reside in a food desert?

A. 5%B. 12%C. 15%D. 30%

+ C. 15%

The USDA estimates that 15 percent of Texans reside in a food desert, making Texas the state

with the largest “grocery gap” in the country.

+

Test Your Knowledge

What percentage of Texas children who qualify for free or reduced priced meals

during the school year, participate in the Summer Meals Program?

A. 1%B. 3%C. 9%D. 11%

+D. 11%

Only 11% of the roughly 3 million Texas children who qualify for free or reduced priced meals during the

school year participate in the Summer Meals program

+ Poverty

Poverty - Texas and the Nation

In Texas, 17.9% of the total population lived in poverty in 2012.

26% of Texas children lived in poverty in 2012

29% of Dallas County children lived in poverty in 2012

+

Food Insecurity

+What is Food Insecurity?

Limited or uncertain access to nutritious and safe food necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle

+Food Insecurity:

Texas and the U.S.

2011 U.S. TexasHousehold

Food Insecurity

14.9% 18.5%

Child Food Insecurity 20.6% 26%

Childhood Poverty 23% 26%

+Food Insecurity: North

TexasCounty # of Food Insecure Children

Dallas 172,610

Rockwall 4,100

Hunt 5,640

Tarrant 116,370

Collin 39,440

Denton 32,820

Ellis 9,640

Johnson 9,340

Kaufman 6,480

+

According to the research, Texas has

fewer supermarkets per capita than any state in

the nation. National level: 1

supermarket for every 8,620 people

+Using Our Schools

to Combat Food Insecurity

+Success in the 83rd

Legislature

• SB 376 expands the school breakfast program to the entire student body at campuses that have 80% or more economically disadvantaged students.

Roughly 3 million public school students live at or below 185% of

the Federal Poverty Level.

Approximately half of these students attend schools where 80%

or more of their peers qualify for free or reduced priced meals

Poverty in Texas Schools

+

Partic-ipated54%

Eligible, but did not par-

ticipate46%

Texas

Participated35%

Eligible, but did not partic-

ipate65%

North Texas

Texas & North Texas School Breakfast

Participation Rates

+

464,945 of eligible North Texas students did NOT participate in school breakfast

last year

Negative stigma attached to eating breakfast at school

Children aren’t getting to school in time to eat breakfast due to busy schedules & non-traditional working hours for

parents

In-class versus out-of class breakfast time

Not enough time allocated for breakfast

Reasons for Low Breakfast Participation

+ Four Myths About Expanding School Breakfast

• If a school implements Universal Free School Breakfast, all children MUST eat a breakfast.

Myth #1

• Students must take ALL items provided in a school breakfast meal.

Myth #2

• Waste is a necessary consequence of implementing Universal Free School Breakfast.

Myth #3

• School Breakfast Programs contribute to childhood obesity

Myth #4

HOW BREAKFAST CAN HELP

Nutritional

• Tend to have a more adequate nutrient intake

• Tend to have a lower BMI and are less likely to be overweight

• Helps establish healthy habits for life

Academic

• Improves math, reading, and standardized test scores

• Improves behavior and reduce disciplinary problems

• Helps children pay attention, perform problem-solving tasks, and improve memory

+The importance of school meals…..

Students can’t learn if they are hungry.

+Thank You!

Q & A

Contact Information:Mandi Kimball, Director of Public

Policy and Government Relations: mkimball@childrenatrisk.org

or 713.869.7740

Various Perspectives on Adoption and Implementation of Universal School Breakfast

Jaime Hanks Meyers, CHILDREN AT RISK

Dan Micciche, Dallas ISD School Board

Dora Rivas, Dallas ISD

Dr. Kim Broadway, Mesquite ISD

Sheri Carcano, Irving ISD

Sarahbeth Ghozali, Dairy MAX

Thank You

An In-Depth Look on the Status and Future of

Texas’ Children

Food Policy Lunch:Dispelling the Myths

around School BreakfastNovember 20th, 2013