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.
Start Date: July 2020
ID #: CAS063
Organization: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Project Lead: Erica Kenney
Resource Type: Commissioned Research Project Summary
State: National
Focus Area: Nutrition Policy & Programs
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 MoreJune 2024
CACFP Family Childcare Home Sponsor Perspectives – Serious Deficiency Challenges
The federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, commonly known as CACFP, ensures over 4.2 million children, mostly in families with low income, receive nutritious meals and snacks in childcare. However, not all qualifying childcare providers participate in this beneficial program. Research suggests that the serious deficiency process, designed to ensure program integrity, may hinder MoreApril 2024