Research Article - Journal of Nutrition and Human Health (2024) Volume 8, Issue 5
Summer Food Service Program: Perspectives from Parents or Guardians
Objective: The study objective was to develop, with an area foodbank partner, innovative approaches to improve summer food programming (including the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in particular) within their service area. Design: Survey and focus group data were collected from parents/guardians eligible to participate in the SFSP within 10 coastal counties in South Carolina, USA. Setting: Quantitative data were collected using an online survey and qualitative data were collected from in-person focus group discussions. Participants: A total of 313 (of 317) parents/guardians answered survey questions that allowed the investigators to classify them as either Low or Very Low Food Secure. An additional 66 parents/guardians agreed to participate in focus group discussions that expanded upon survey data (N=10 focus groups). Results: Less than half of the parent/guardians indicated that they knew of places in the community that served free meals, and over 60% of parents/guardians indicated that providing meals in a safe and secure location was paramount. While less than 40% of parents/guardians indicated that providing free transportation to sites was necessary. Differences were observed by level of food security for providing free transportation to sites with 36.1% of those identified as very low food secure indicating a need, but only 23.3% of those identified as low food secure indicating a need (p=0.02). Transportation was, however, overwhelmingly identified by focus group discussants as the number one barrier to child participation in summer food programming, including the SFSP. Conclusions: Parent/guardian summer food programming key stakeholders have identified barriers to program participation, and they, along with numerous scholars, have made recommendations for improvements that would better optimize participation.
Author(s):Olivia Thompson*