Opinion: The role of food in preventing child abuse and neglect

Has been updated: 33 few minutes ago release date: 33 few minutes ago

Reflecting on the just concluded Child Abuse Prevention Month, Iet talks about food. It may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of child abuse and neglect, but providing families with access to affordable, high-quality food is the best way to help children thrive. That’s the way she is.

This is especially true in Alaska. Food prices can be astronomical in Alaska, and not all communities have food reserves. Long-standing food access problems have been exacerbated in recent years by an influx of applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), with many Alaskan families waiting months to receive their benefits. .

These issues have a huge impact on Alaska’s rural communities, where they not only have some of the highest food prices in the country, but also access to wild fish such as salmon and caribou, as well as hunting and hunting. We are facing a subsistence food crisis as declining animal populations threaten food security and traditional foods. way of life.

Although the backlog of SNAP applications continues to decline, impacts such as an unprecedented increase in food insecurity demonstrate the lack of food safety nets in many Alaska communities. This is especially concerning for families, as research shows that experiencing financial hardship is a major factor in involvement in the child welfare system.

On the other hand, improving access to high-quality, affordable food can have a major positive impact on children’s lives. For families struggling to make ends meet, increased access to food takes a significant burden off parents’ shoulders, reducing stress and allowing families to spend more of their income on housing, utilities, childcare, and other expenses. It can be used for other necessities. Child abuse and neglect.

The data supports this. Research shows that children from low-income households who participate in two major health and nutrition assistance programs, SNAP or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), have more substantiated reports of abuse and neglect than children who do not participate. It has been shown that the risk of exposure is low. either program.

Children thrive when their families have access to what they need, when they need it, in their communities. That’s why Food Bank of Alaska’s work is so important to the well-being of families. In 2023, Alaska Food Banks distributed more than 5 million of her meals to children, families, seniors, and veterans. That food was distributed across the state through 150 affiliated food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, and children’s programs. This food includes 22,998 senior food boxes, 50,119 children’s meals, and more than 1 million pounds distributed through Anchorage’s weekly mobile food pantry program. In addition to food resources, their advocacy team helped Alaskans submit their 1,823 SNAP applications, providing the equivalent of 629,343 meals.

So let’s build on the themes highlighted during Child Abuse Prevention Month and work to ensure every Alaskan family has the resources they need to succeed. Starting this year, Alaskans applying for SNAP benefits for the first time will be able to use a new online application. If you or someone you know is struggling with food insecurity, let them know about this new resource or connect them with her SNAP Outreach team at the food bank. And if you can, consider donating or volunteering at your local food bank or pantry. Together, we can ensure that every Alaskan family has the resources they need to help their children thrive.

Carla Dru I am the CEO of the Alaska Food Bank. She lives in Anchorage with her partner and her two sons.

Trevor Storrs I am the President and CEO of Alaska Children’s Trust.

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