Publications
Recent Children's HealthWatch publications, by topic:
Food | Energy | Housing | TANF | Children of Immigrants | Child Development | Other
Site Specific Materials | Briefs and Fact Sheets
Prior to February 2009, Children's HealthWatch was called Children's Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program (C-SNAP)
Food
Healthy Families in Hard Times: Solutions for Multiple Family Hardships, June 2010.
New research by Children’s HealthWatch finds that the cumulative effects of multiple hardships on young children, including a lack of nutritious food, unstable housing and inadequate home heating and cooling, decrease the chances of normal growth and development in very young children. The research shows that the greater the level of hardship experienced, the less likely a child was to be classified as ‘well’ on a composite indicator of well-being and the more likely their parents were to be concerned about their development.
Development and Validity of a 2-Item Screen to Identify Families at Risk for Food Insecurity. Erin R. Hager, Anna M. Quigg, Maureen M. Black, Sharon M. Coleman, Timothy Heeren, Ruth Rose-Jacobs, John T. Cook, Stephanie A. Ettinger de Cuba, Patrick H. Casey, Mariana Chilton, Diana B. Cutts, Alan F. Meyers, and Deborah A. Frank. Pediatrics. Volume 126, Number 1, July 2010.
Child Food Insecurity: The Economic Impact on our Nation, July 2009.
A report commissioned by Feeding America and The ConAgra Foods Foundation, and written by Children's HealthWatch, details the impacts that food insecurity in children has on the nation's economic future. The report explores data from Children's HealthWatch and other literature that demonstrates how food insecurity and hunger with other correlates of poverty can significantly alter the architecture of children's brains, thus affecting their ability to reach their full potential as adults.
Click here to read the executive summary.
Food Insecurity Rates Rise Steeply with Recession, June 2009.
In the second brief in its Policy Action series, Children's HealthWatch finds that the prevalence of food insecurity in a five-city sample of low-income families with young children increased from 18.5 percent to 22.6 percent between 2007 and 2008. This is the largest year-to-year change seen in the dataset since 2001. The increase is an indication of the economic hardships facing low-income families with young children. This data suggests that we are likely to see significant increases in food insecurity when the U.S. Department of Agriculture issues its own statistics for 2008 in late fall.
Even Very Low Levels of Food Insecurity Found to Harm Children's Health, May 2009.
This publication is the first in a series of Children's HealthWatch Policy Action Briefs, which will provide a summary of our research, as well as that of others, on issues affecting children's health and well-being. This brief finds that more children are at risk for health and developmental problems due to lack of food than were previously thought. These children and their families are classified as “marginally food secure” by the USDA, which suggests that they are not at risk. The data show that they are, in fact, significantly at risk.
Household food insecurity is a risk factor for iron-deficiency anaemia in a multi-ethnic, low-income sample of infants and toddlers. Kyong Park, Margaret Kersey, Joni Geppert, Mary Story, Diana Cutts and John H Himes. Public Health Nutrition. May 2009.
Feeding Our Future: Growing up Healthy with WIC, May 2009.
Children's HealthWatch recently released a report, "Feeding Our Future: Growing up Healthy with WIC", which details the important effects that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has on very young children. The report highlights Children's HealthWatch research that WIC not only improves children's health but reduces their risk of developmental delays.
Food Insecurity and Risk of Poor Health Among US-Born Children of Immigrants. Mariana Chilton, Maureen M. Black, Carol Berkowitz, Patrick H. Casey, John Cook, Diana Cutts, Ruth Rose Jacobs, Timothy Heeren, Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, Sharon Coleman, Alan Meyers, and Deborah A. Frank. American Journal of Public Health. March 2009.
Reading, Writing and Hungry: The consequences of food insecurity on children and on our nation's economic success, Research Brief, November 2008.
A research brief, based on a report of the same name written by Children's HealthWatch and the Food Research Action Center, demonstrates that food insecurity among young children carries significant economic costs for both individuals and families, leading to economic problems for society as a whole.
Reading, Writing and Hungry: The consequences of food insecurity on children and on our nation's economic success, November 2008.
A report commissioned by the Partnership for America's Economic Success and written by Children's HealthWatch and the Food Research Action Center addresses the range of economic consequences associated with persistently high rates of household food insecurity in the United States. Drawing from various sources of data, the report identifies the short- and long-term economic costs of the harmful effects of food insecurity on very young children.
Coming Up Short: High food costs outstrip food stamp benefits, September 2008.
The Real Cost of a Healthy Diet Project investigated the availability and affordability of healthy food in two cities. This project, based at the Boston Medical Center and Drexel University's School of Public Health, examined whether low-income residents in Boston and Philadelphia could buy food for a healthy diet using the maximum food stamp benefit in their neighborhood food stores. The study found that even families receiving the maximum food stamp benefit would have to spend an additional $2,520 in Boston and $3,165 in Philadelphia annually to purchase the Thrifty Food Plan.
Food Security: Ensuring the health of Baltimore's babies, Summer 2008.
Food insecurity is the lack of access to enough food for an active and healthy lifestyle for all household members due to financial constraints. Families who are food insecure often limit the quality and quantity of food that is available to family members. As a result, families fill up on low-cost foods with little nutritional value. This report demonstrates the impact that food insecurity has on the health and development of children in the city of
Household Food Insecurity: Associations with At-Risk Infant and Toddler Development. Ruth Rose-Jacobs, Maureen M. Black, Patrick H. Casey, John T. Cook, Diana B. Cutts, Mariana Chilton, Tim C. Heeren, Suzette M. Levenson, Alan F. Meyers, Deborah A. Frank. Pediatrics. January 2008.
Food Security, Poverty, and Human Development in the United States. John T. Cook and Deborah A. Frank. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2008.
Balancing Acts: Energy Insecurity among Low-Income Babies and Toddlers of Color Increases Food Insecurity and Harmful Health EffectsEnergy insecurity compounds the negative effects of food insecurity on child health. "Heat or eat" and "cool or eat" situations further compromise the nutrition of already-vulnerable young children, and increase their risk of health problems in both the short- and long-term. Children of color are at increased risk of experiencing the damaging effects of energy insecurity because their families are disproportionately poor and underserved. This report details Children's HealthWatch data on energy insecurity among children of color, focusing specifically on Black and Latino children ages 0 to 3.
Food Stamps As Medicine: A New Perspective on Children's Health, February 2007.
The Food Stamp Program is
Nourishing Development: A Report on Food Insecurity & the Precursors to School Readiness among Very Young Children, updated February 2008 (original report July 2006).
A report of original Children's HealthWatch findings demonstrating that the foundations of school readiness are laid long before the start of formal education begins.
The Impact of Food Insecurity on the Development of Young Low-Income Black and Latino Children; and
Protecting the Health and Nutrition of Young Children of Color: The Impact of Nutrition Assistance and Income Support Programs
Research Findings from the Children's HealthWatch; Prepared for the
A pair of reports demonstrating the increased vulnerability of young black and Latino children from low-income households to developmental risk linked to food insecurity and the buffering effect that family support programs can have on young black and Latino children's health and growth.
Child Food Insecurity Increases Risks Posed by Household Food Insecurity to Young Children's Health. John T. Cook, Deborah A. Frank, Suzette M. Levenson, Nicole B. Neault, Tim C. Heeren, Maureen M. Black, Carol Berkowitz, Patrick H. Casey, Alan F. Meyers, Diana B. Cutts, Mariana Chilton. Journal of Nutrition. 2006 Apr; 136 (4):1073-6.
Child Food Insecurity and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Low-Income Infants and Toddlers in the United States. Anne Skalicky, Alan Meyers, William Adams, Zhaoyan Yang, John Cook, Deborah A. Frank. Maternal and Child Health Journal. 2006;10(2):177-185.
The Real Co$t of a Healthy Diet: Healthful Foods are Out of Reach for Low-Income Families in
A report from a research team from the Boston Medical Center Department of Pediatrics revealing that, on average, the monthly cost of the Thrifty Food Plan (upon which Food Stamp Program benefits are based) is $27 more than the maximum monthly food stamp benefit allowance. A low-cost healthier diet based on the most recent nutrition guidelines exceeded the maximum monthly food stamp benefit by $148 -- an annual differential of $1,776. This is an unrealistic budgetary stretch for most families who qualify for nutrition assistance.
The Safety Net in Action: Protecting the Health and Nutrition of Young American Children, July 2004.
A comprehensive summary of Children's HealthWatch findings showing the positive impact of five public assistance programs on young children's food security, growth, and health.
Food Insecurity is Associated with Adverse Health Outcomes Among Human Infants and Toddlers. John Cook, Deborah A. Frank, Carol Berkowitz, Maureen Black, Patrick Casey, Diana Cutts, Alan Meyers, Nieves Zaldivar, Anne Skalicky, Suzette Levenson, Timothy Heeren, and Mark Nord. Journal of Nutrition. 2004; 134:1432-1438.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Participation and Infants' Growth and Health: A Multisite Surveillance Study. Maureen Black, Diana Cutts, Deborah A. Frank, Joni Geppert, Anne Skalicky, Suzette Levenson, Patrick Casey, Carol Berkowitz, Nieves Zaldivar, John Cook, Alan Meyers and Children's HealthWatch Study Group. Pediatrics 2004: 114(1):169-176.
Energy
Healthy Families in Hard Times: Solutions for Multiple Family Hardships, June 2010
New research by Children's HealthWatch finds that the cumulative effects of multiple hardships on young children, including lack of nutritous food, unstable housing and inadequate home heating and cooling, decrease the chances of normal growth and development in very young children. The research shows that the greater the level of hardship experienced, the less likely a child was to be classified as 'well' on a composite indicator of well-being and the more likely their parents were to be concerned about their development.
Energy Insecurity is a Major Threat to Child Health, February 2010.
This brief finds that young children whose families struggle to pay their utility bills ('energy insecure' families) are more likely to suffer a host of problems including food insecurity, poor health, hospitalizations and developmental delays. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides low-income households with assistance in paying their utility bills, is found to be effective at shielding young children from the harmful effects of energy insecurity.
Stable Housing and Utilities: Keeping Baltimore's Babies Healthy, September 2009.
Very young children are uniquely vulnerable to deprivation. The health and learning potential of our nation's youngest children are put at risk because of hardships. This report demonstrates the impact that unstable housing conditions and inadequate home heating or cooling has on the health and development of children in Baltimore.
Bringing Children in from the Cold: Solutions for
Children's HealthWatch and the Medical-Legal Partnership | Boston recently released a joint report entitled “Bringing Children in from the Cold: Solutions for
A Brief Indicator of Household Energy Security: Associations With Food Security, Child Health, and Child Development in US Infants and Toddlers. John T. Cook, Deborah A. Frank, Patrick H. Casey, Ruth Rose-Jacobs, Maureen M. Black, Mariana Chilton, Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, Danielle Appugliese, Sharon Coleman, Timothy Heeren, Carol Berkowitz, and Diana B. Cutts. Pediatrics. October 2008.
Fuel for Our Future: Impacts of Energy Insecurity on Children's Health, Nutrition, and Learning, October 2007.
Rising energy prices affect all households, yet the impact is greatest on low-income families. The lower a family’s income, the higher the percentage of their total income they must spend for energy. The strain on household budgets often causes unavoidable trade-offs between food and energy, called ‘heat or eat’ or ‘cool or eat.’ These trade-offs have serious consequences for young children’s health and learning, particularly for children of color. This report demonstrates the important role that the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) plays in protecting children’s health and ability to learn.
Click here for more Fuel for Our Future resources.
Energy insecurity compounds the negative effects of food insecurity on child health. "Heat or eat" and "cool or eat" situations further compromise the nutrition of already-vulnerable young children, and increase their risk of health problems in both the short- and long-term. Children of color are at increased risk of experiencing the damaging effects of energy insecurity because their families are disproportionately poor and underserved. This report details Children's HealthWatch data on energy insecurity among children of color, focusing specifically on Black and Latino children ages 0 to 3.
Heat or Eat: The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Nutritional and Health Risks Among Children Less Than 3 Years of Age. Deborah A. Frank, Nicole B. Neault, Anne Skalicky, John T. Cook, Jacqueline D. Wilson, Suzette Levenson, Alan F. Meyers, Timothy Heeren, Diana B. Cutts, Patrick H. Casey, Maureen M. Black, Carol Berkowitz. Pediatrics. 2006; 118(5):1293-1302.
The Safety Net in Action: Protecting the Health and Nutrition of Young American Children, July 2004.
A comprehensive summary of Children's HealthWatch findings showing the positive impact of five public assistance programs on young children's food security, growth, and health.
Housing
Healthy Families in Hard Times: Solutions for Multiple Family Hardships, June 2010.
New research by Children’s HealthWatch finds that the cumulative effects of multiple hardships on young children, including a lack of nutritious food, unstable housing and inadequate home heating and cooling, decrease the chances of normal growth and development in very young children. The research shows that the greater the level of hardship experienced, the less likely a child was to be classified as ‘well’ on a composite indicator of well-being and the more likely their parents were to be concerned about their development.
Rx for Hunger: Affordable Housing, December 2009.
A report by Children's HealthWatch and the Medical-Legal Partnership | Boston finds that subsidized housing plays a significant role in protecting young children from food insecurity and the health risks of being seriously underweight. This report confirms that increased support for subsidized housing must be a part of the strategy to end childhood hunger.
Funding Shortfall for Housing Vouchers Could Have Serious Health Consequences for Children, September 2009.
In the fourth brief in its Policy Action series, Children's HealthWatch finds that unaffordable housing endangers the health and development of young children. Due to a federal funding shortfall, state and local housing agencies will be forced to reduce or eliminate rental assitance to thousands of families starting this month. Voucher cuts will push more families into the ranks of the "hidden homeless" -- families that move frequently, crowd into apartments that are too small, or live doubled up with other households when they cannot find affordable housing. Children in hidden homeless families are at increased risk for poor health, nutrition, and growth, as well as developmental dealys. Timely Congressional action to protect the Housing Choice Voucher Program will ensure that families have stable, affordable housing essential to children's health.
Stable Housing and Utilities: Keeping Baltimore's Babies Healthy, September 2009.
Very young children are uniquely vulnerable to deprivation. The health and learning potential of our nation's youngest children are put at risk because of hardships. This report demonstrates the impact that unstable housing conditions and inadequate home heating or cooling has on the health and development of children in Baltimore.
Bringing Children in from the Cold: Solutions for
Children's HealthWatch and the Medical-Legal Partnership | Boston recently released a joint report entitled “Bringing Children in from the Cold: Solutions for
The Impact of Food Insecurity on the Development of Young Low-Income Black and Latino Children; and
Protecting the Health and Nutrition of Young Children of Color: The Impact of Nutrition Assistance and Income Support Programs
Research Findings from the Children's HealthWatch; Prepared for the
A pair of reports demonstrating the increased vulnerability of young black and Latino children from low-income households to developmental risk linked to food insecurity and the buffering effect that family support programs can have on young black and Latino children's health and growth.
Subsidized Housing and Children's Nutritional Status: Data from a Multisite Surveillance Study. Alan Meyers, Diana Cutts, Deborah A. Frank, Suzette Levenson, Anne Skalicky, John Cook, Carol Berkowitz, Maureen Black, Patrick Casey and Nieves Zaldivar. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. 2005;159:551-556.
The Safety Net in Action: Protecting the Health and Nutrition of Young American Children, July 2004.
A comprehensive summary of Children's HealthWatch findings showing the positive impact of five public assistance programs on young children's food security, growth, and health.
TANF
Maternal Depression, Changing Public Assistance, Food Security, and Child Health Status. Patrick Casey, Susan Goolsby, Carol Berkowitz, Deborah A. Frank, John Cook, Diana Cutts, Maureen Black, Nieves Zaldivar, Anne Skalicky, Suzette Levenson, Tim Heeren, Alan Meyers and the Children's HealthWatch Study Group. Pediatrics. 2004; 113(2):298-304.
The Impact of Welfare Sanctions on the Health of Infants and Toddlers: A Report from Children's HealthWatch, July 2002.
A report based on Children's HealthWatch findings published in the July 2002 Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Welfare sanctions and benefit decreases have serious negative implications for infants and toddlers’ health and food security.
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Children of Immigrants
Food Insecurity and Risk of Poor Health Among US-Born Children of Immigrants. Mariana Chilton, Maureen M. Black, Carol Berkowitz, Patrick H. Casey, John Cook, Diana Cutts, Ruth Rose Jacobs, Timothy Heeren, Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, Sharon Coleman, Alan Meyers, and Deborah A. Frank. American Journal of Public Health. March 2009.
Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes among Citizen Infants of Immigrant Mothers. Nicole B. Neault, Deborah A. Frank, Barbara Philipp, Anne Merewood, Marianna Kessimian, Suzette Levenson, John T. Cook, Alan Meyers, Patrick Casey, Diana Cutts, Maureen Black, Nieves Zaldivar, Carol Berkowitz. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. December 2007.
Hunger in young children of Mexican immigrant families. Margaret Kersey, Joni Geppert, Diana Cutts. Journal of Public Health and Nutrition. April 2007.
La alimentación y el bienestar de los ciudadanos estadounidenses más jóvenes de madres mexicanas, centroamericanas, y caribeñas. Mariana Chilton, Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, Diana B. Cutts, Carol Berkowitz, John T. Cook, Maureen M. Black, Danielle Appugliese, Tim C. Heeren, Deborah A. Frank and the Children's HealthWatch Study Group. Cahiers Alhim de la Universidad de Paris 8 de Saint-Denis. No. 14: 2007.
The Impact of Food Insecurity on the Development of Young Low-Income Black and Latino Children; and
Protecting the Health and Nutrition of Young Children of Color: The Impact of Nutrition Assistance and Income Support Programs
Research Findings from the Children's HealthWatch; Prepared for the
A pair of reports demonstrating the increased vulnerability of young black and Latino children from low-income households to developmental risk linked to food insecurity and the buffering effect that family support programs can have on young black and Latino children's health and growth.
Child Development
Reading, Writing and Hungry: The consequences of food insecurity on children and on our nation's economic success, Research Brief, November 2008.
A research brief, based on a report of the same name written by Children's HealthWatch and the Food Research Action Center, demonstrates that food insecurity among young children carries significant economic costs for both individuals and families, leading to economic problems for society as a whole.
Reading, Writing and Hungry: The consequences of food insecurity on children and on our nation's economic success, Research Report, November 2008.
A report commissioned by the Partnership for America's Economic Success and written by Children's HealthWatch and the Food Research Action Center addresses the range of economic consequences associated with persistently high rates of household food insecurity in the United States. Drawing from various sources of data, the report identifies the short- and long-term economic costs of the harmful effects of food insecurity on very young children.
Household Food Insecurity: Associations with At-Risk Infant and Toddler Development. Ruth Rose-Jacobs, Maureen M. Black, Patrick H. Casey, John T. Cook, Diana B. Cutts, Mariana Chilton, Tim C. Heeren, Suzette M. Levenson, Alan F. Meyers, Deborah A. Frank. Pediatrics. January 2008.
Nourishing Development: A Report on Food Insecurity & the Precursors to School Readiness among Very Young Children, updated February 2008 (original report July 2006).
A report of original Children's HealthWatch findings demonstrating that the foundations of school readiness are laid long before the start of formal education begins.
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Other
Cumulative Hardship and Wellness of Low-Income, Young Children: Multisite Surveillance Study, Deborah A. Frank, Patrick H. Casey, Maureen M. Black, Ruth Rose-Jacobs, Mariana Chilton, Diana Cutts, Elizabeth March, Timothy Heeren, Sharon Coleman, Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba and John T. Cook. Pediatrics. (Published online Apr 12, 2010) 2010; 125(5).
Affordable Health Care Keeps Children and Families Healthy, July 2009.
In the third brief in its Policy Action series, Children's HealthWatch finds that the health of young children is negatively affected when parents have to forego health care for themselves or other adult members of the household or when parents have to forego payment of household expenses in order to pay for health care. Children in families who struggle to pay for health care are at increased risk for health problems, developmental delays and food insecurity. The health and well-being of their mothers also suffer. Access to quality, affordable health care for all family members is essential to children’s health and development. It is critical that all plans for health care reform ensure that parents can afford quality health care for the whole family.
Maternal Depression, Changing Public Assistance, Food Security, and Child Health Status. Patrick Casey, Susan Goolsby, Carol Berkowitz, Deborah A. Frank, John Cook, Diana Cutts, Maureen Black, Nieves Zaldivar, Anne Skalicky, Suzette Levenson, Tim Heeren, Alan Meyers and the Children's HealthWatch Study Group. Pediatrics. 2004; 113(2):298-304.
Welfare Reform and the Health of Young Children: A Sentinel Survey in Six US Cities. John Cook, Deborah A. Frank, Carol Berkowitz, Patrick Casey, Diana Cutts, Alan Meyers, Nieves Zaldivar, Anne Skalicky, Suzette Levenson, Tim Heeren. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. 2002; 156:678-684.
Site Specific Materials
Stable Housing and Utilities: Keeping Baltimore's Babies Healthy, September 2009.
Food Security: Ensuring the health of Baltimore's babies, Summer 2008.
Bringing Children in from the Cold: Solutions for
Coming Up Short: High food costs outstrip food stamp benefits, September 2008.
Coming Up Short: High food costs outstrip food stamp benefits - Boston City Specific Insert, September 2008.
The Real Co$t of a Healthy Diet: Healthful Foods are Out of Reach for Low-Income Families in
Coming Up Short: High food costs outstrip food stamp benefits, September 2008.
Coming Up Short: High food costs outstrip food stamp benefits - Philadelphia City Specific Insert, September 2008.
Briefs and Fact Sheets
Children's HealthWatch Food Insecurity Findings
January 27, 2009
Reading, Writing, and Hungry
Research Brief, November 2008.
A research brief, based on a report of the same name written by Children's HealthWatch and the Food Research Action Center, demonstrates that food insecurity among young children carries significant economic costs for individuals, families, and society as a whole.
Immigrant Children and Food Insecurity
October 5, 2007
Factsheet for the Congressional Black Caucus: Black children at risk for hunger and poor development
September 28, 2007
Safeguarding the Health, Nutrition, and Development of Young Children of Color
September/October 2006.
For further research on topics related to Children’s HealthWatch’s areas of expertise, please click here.
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