Start Date: July 2020

ID #: CAS063

Organization: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Project Lead: Erica Kenney

See more related research

Share


The goal of this project is to use administrative SNAP data from Massachusetts (MA) to identify the prevalence and risk factors for churning among households with children aged 0 to 5 years (n=203,000) and the impact of recent administrative policy changes on churning in this population. In collaboration with Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) in Massachusetts, the subrecipient expects to identify concrete, actionable ways to reduce future churning –knowledge that may help maximize the impact of SNAP among the most vulnerable participants. The specific aims for this project are: Aim 1: to identify the frequency of churning among households with young children, overall and by the number of children; Aim 2: to assess risk factors (household demographics, program participation history) for churning among households with young children; and Aim 3: to evaluate the impact of state administrative policies on the prevalence of churning among households with young children.

Related Research

September 2022

Simplification of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recertification Processes and Association With Uninterrupted Access to Benefits Among Participants With Young Children

In the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), families may temporarily lose benefits for which they are still eligible because of administrative issues. This lapse in benefits, referred to as churning, increases the risk of food insecurity for families, which is linked with poorer health. This study examined the rate of churning among SNAP participants with More

October 2026

Cross-Sectional Evaluation of WIC Participation Status and Massachusetts Children’s Nutrition after the Cash-Value Benefit Increase

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) increased the Cash-Value Benefit (CVB) for fruits and vegetables in 2021. Although WIC participants reported increased purchasing, consumption, and variety of fruits and vegetables after the CVB increase, it is unknown whether this resulted in higher fruit and vegetable intake relative to nonparticipants. The More

October 2026

An Electronic Health Record-Based Intervention to Facilitate Primary Care Referrals to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children: Retrospective Cohort Study

This study evaluated responses to an electronic health record (EHR)-embedded federal nutrition program (FNP) participation screening and WIC referral tool implemented within 8 clinics during well-child visits for children younger than 5 years of age. Structured EHR data from July 2020 to October 2023 were extracted to summarize screening, referral acceptance, WIC enrollment outcomes, and More