1. Implementation of Universal School Meals during COVID-19 and beyond: Challenges and Benefits for School Meals Programs in Maine.
- Author
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Cohen, Juliana FW, Polacsek, Michele, Hecht, Christina E, Hecht, Ken, Read, Margaret, Olarte, Deborah A, Patel, Anisha I, Schwartz, Marlene B, Turner, Lindsey, Zuercher, Monica, Gosliner, Wendi, and Ritchie, Lorrene D
- Subjects
Humans ,Food Services ,Child ,United States ,Maine ,Pandemics ,Meals ,Lunch ,COVID-19 ,breakfast ,community eligibility provision ,lunch ,nutrition ,universal school meals ,Clinical Research ,Prevention ,Pediatric ,Quality Education ,Food Sciences ,Nutrition and Dietetics - Abstract
School meals play a major role in supporting children's diets and food security, and policies for universal school meals (USM) have the potential to contribute to positive child health outcomes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools provided free school meals to all students in the United States, but this national USM policy ended in school year (SY) 2022-2023; however, a few states have adopted policies to continue USM statewide for SY 2022-2023. Research examining the challenges and strategies for successful continuation of USM is essential, along with studying pandemic-related challenges that are likely to persist in schools. Therefore, we conducted a study in Maine (with a USM policy) to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 and the concurrent implementation of USM, as well as examine differences in implementation by school characteristics, throughout the state. A total of n = 43 school food authorities (SFAs) throughout Maine completed surveys. SFAs reported multiple benefits of USM including increased school meal participation; reductions in the perceived stigma for students from lower-income households and their families; and no longer experiencing unpaid meal charges and debt. SFAs also experienced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly regarding costs. When considering future challenges, most respondents were concerned with obtaining income information from families, product and ingredient availability, and the costs/financial sustainability of the school meal programs. Overall, USM may have multiple important benefits for students and schools, and other states should consider implementation of a USM policy.
- Published
- 2022