About the Project

The SNAP to Health Website is part of a project to improve nutrition in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. This innovative initiative will make science-based policy recommendations to improve nutrition for the 46 million low-income participants in the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Purpose

SNAP to Health seeks to identify the barriers, best practices, and promising innovations for improving nutrition within the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in time for the program’s re-authorization in the 2012 Farm Bill. The project will make policy recommendations for redesigning the program to promote health and prevent adult and childhood obesity.

Project Components

Survey

Designing and conducting a survey of stakeholder groups to identify barriers and opportunities for improving nutrition in SNAP. This survey will provide an overview of state, local, and private sector organization’s views of the opportunities and barriers to improving nutrition among SNAP beneficiaries.

NHANES Data Analysis

Conducting the first statistical analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data to determine the effects of SNAP on nutrition and obesity in youth, ages 4-19. Our analysis will provide important data about the nutritional outcomes of children enrolled in the program. including their obesity rates, to help frame future policy recommendations.

Policy Recommendations

Developing policy recommendations for the 2012 Farm Bill to improve nutrition in SNAP. The recommendations will be a valuable resource for policymakers and advocates as they consider changes to SNAP in the 2012 Farm Bill.

Interactive Website

Establishing an interactive website to serve as a national forum for public discourse on improving nutrition in SNAP and recommendations in advance of SNAP’s reauthorization in the 2012 Farm Bill.