CT-AAP Chapter: Maintaining access to SNAP benefits is critical for the health and wellbeing of CT’s children

As pediatricians who care for Connecticut’s children, we urge the state of Connecticut to protect all children –by prioritizing and ensuring access to essential services - starting with maintaining the food services they need to survive and thrive in school and at home.

Food is essential for health. Regardless of the federal shutdown or HR-1 provisions, we have a duty to ensure continued access to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and other nutritional services, including WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) and school meal programs for CT’s children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics policy advocates for and recommends nutritional assistance programs such as the WIC, SNAP, and school nutrition programs. This helps to ensure that children experience the benefits of healthy eating such as improved brain development, boosted immunity, strong bones and muscles, educational success, and normal growth.

Children who experience food insecurity, defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food or nutritious food, are at an increased risk of multiple negative health outcomes. Children who are food insecure are more likely to become ill, develop chronic diseases, and have nutritional deficiencies. They are also more likely to become hospitalized and have increased medical costs. Children who experience hunger have impaired learning in school, are at increased risk of developmental delays and are more likely to experience emotional and behavioral challenges. Hunger is also harmful to  parents. When families experience food insecurity, parents and children experience toxic stress and are at increased risk of developing physical health consequences and mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression.

One in six children in Connecticut experience hunger. Access to SNAP benefits for children is an essential way to combat

food insecurity for CT’s children.

The Ask

As pediatricians whose mission is to promote the optimal, physical, mental, social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults in our state, we urge the leaders of our state to ensure reliable access to food and nutrition for children and families. In absence of federal support, we ask for the state-sponsorship of consistent, reliable access to nutritional programs- not just through food banks and pantries- to ensure no child or family goes hungry in Connecticut.

We urge you to take immediate action to create a consistent, accessible state nutrition benefits program so that our Connecticut families can count on access to food and be protected from the disqualifying language in HR-1 and from ramifications during the government shutdown.

Sincerely,

 

CT-American Academy of Pediatrics Chapter

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Contacts: 

Molly Markowitz, MD (mollymarkowitz12@gmail)
CT-AAP Chapter Advocacy Chair

Kate Robinson (kate@gallorobinson.com)
Gallo & Robinson