New Mexico Health Care Authority’s Post

This is truly frustrating. I know there is a lot great things happening our government does in our society that does not always get media attention or is under-reported. However, we must question our priorities when we cannot adequately supply our children (particularly on Chicago's south and west sides) clean drinking water. And not just any unclean drinking water, lead filled drinking water that can cause severe brain development. The excuse is always the same as with housing, healthy food access, and medical and pharmacy care..."there's not enough money". Our children are counting on us to protect, provide, and give them the greatest opportunity to grow up and be a productive benefit to society. With communities on Chicago's south and west sides with severe affordable housing shortages, chronic food insecurity, inadequate healthcare, and now lead in drinking water, what are our priorities again? We can do this Chicago for our black and brown children. https://lnkd.in/gvuVbC4n

Every child deserves access to food year-round, not just when school is in session. The U.S.-based SummerEBT program seeks to do just that by providing eligible families with $120 per school-aged child to help cover the cost of groceries during the summer. However, six out of the 37 states that have opted into participating in SummerEBT are experiencing delays, leaving many families without adequate access to the food needed to keep kids healthy. We urge states to support families and address these delays to ensure no child goes hungry. https://bit.ly/3WiQCKb

An evening with Adopt Change at the Ivy in Sydney last week. CEO Renee Carter highlighted the need for a lot more funding (1 mill p/a over the next 3 years) for children in out of home care that need better living environments and adequate care to feel safe and nurtured. They need a place that encourages secure attachments so they can start the healing process and go on to live happy healthy lives with great childhood memories. Government will not be subsidising this basic need. 😠 Currently there are 46,000 children in Australia in out of home care. 4,500 are children as young as 2 living in hotels with young ill equipped shift workers,however they are doing the best they can. Kids are left to either roam or isolate themselves which are both unhealthy coping mechanisms to relieve pain. Our Government is not doing enough to provide safety, security, permanency and healing for children who have not had a great start in life but have potential to turn it all around with our help. If you are unable to look after a child in need in your care then please think about other ways we can raise the issue and funds to serve and help our next generation of people, they deserve a healthy happy childhood to grow and thrive.

#Alabama is one of 14 states opting out of the 2024 summer electronic benefit program. As summer rolls around, there will be no programs in place to help low-income families with grocery costs. LaTrell Clifford Wood, hunger policy advocate for the group Alabama Arise, said as a result, more than 500,000 children who usually receive free or reduced lunch could go without meals. She noted while summer feeding programs will be available, they will not reach everyone in need. "Ninety-four percent of Alabama children who rely on free and reduced-price meals won't have access to them over the summer," Wood reported. "That means that only 6% of the children who rely on those meals during the school year are going to be fed through summer feeding programs." Wood warned limited hours, transportation and strict program rules will hinder many families from benefiting from such vital programs. The Alabama Legislature did not allocate the necessary $15 million for the program by the end of the last session. However, Wood noted there is a chance the program will be funded in the summer of 2025. As legislators focus on next year's budgets, Wood stressed the need for funding next summer's EBT program. She pointed out Alabama Arise is calling for lawmakers to allocate funds from the general fund or Education Trust Fund to combat child hunger, affecting one in four children in the state. "This is a program that's been tested for 13 years," Wood emphasized. "It's had three rigorous evaluation periods, and it was shown to improve the diet of children and decrease children's food hardship by a third." Wood believes prioritizing children's needs and addressing food insecurity is a form of preventive care and serves as an early investment in the state's overall wellness. The Food Research & Action Center said funding the e-benefits program would also benefit the economy - adding anywhere from $98 million to $117 million. The Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee is expected to vote on the budget next week. Disclosure: Alabama Arise contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy and Priorities, Health Issues, and Poverty Issues.

Summer has historically been referred to as the "hungriest" time of year as it can be harder for families to access meals once school ends. This year, things looked very different with the launch of #SummerEBT (a grocery benefit for eligible families) and expanded #summermeals in rural communities in New York State. "...We’re proud of the progress we’ve made in the fight against summer hunger, and there are reasons to be hopeful for the future. Nationally, childhood hunger is on the ballot as the upcoming election reignites a bipartisan dialogue about school meals, the Child Tax Credit and many more policies that have the potential to slash hunger and poverty... In New York, Summer EBT shows that our partners in government are willing to back good policy to feed children and families. These are signs that we’re moving in the right direction, but we need to keep building on that momentum to ensure that our kids have access to healthy food year-round..." Learn more about these opportunities to #EndSummerHunger in my latest op-ed on behalf of Share Our Strength’s #NoKidHungry campaign in the Times Union Media Group.

If the chancellor announces a rise in the Child Benefit threshold that would be very welcome. Child Benefit was always a universal benefit (i.e. available to anyone with children) and breaking that concept divided benefit recipients into us and them, rather than having everyone in the same boat. It will still be a poor thing to have a barrier to people receiving Child Benefit, but raising it will mean more people receiving benefits than before and make benefits more universal than they have been for a while.

CAN YOU THINK OF ANY REASON, ANYTHING THAT WOULD STOP ANYONE FROM FEEDING KIDS! IN NEED? ANYTHING AT ALL? 10 MILLION HUNGRY KIDS? ALL OF THAT NOT NECESSARY? The new $2.5 billion program, known as Summer EBT, passed Congress with bipartisan support, and every Democratic governor will distribute the grocery cards this summer. But Republican governors are split, with 14 in, 13 out and no consensus on what constitutes conservative principle. The program will provide families about $40 a month for every child who receives free or reduced-price meals at school —$120 for the summer. The red-state refusals will keep aid from about 10 million children, about a third of those potentially eligible nationwide. Summer EBT is much cheaper for states than Medicaid, it passed Congress with Republican support and it grew from a pilot program widely deemed successful. Plus, it targets children.

Cash aid without conditions, once seen as radical, is now proving transformative for families. With 150+ basic income pilots, the U.S. desperately needs to provide families with direct financial support. Pandemic relief initiatives and successful pilots, notably in Stockton, CA, underscore the need for a broader, more sustainable approach. From covering medical expenses to supporting childcare costs, this approach makes a difference for over 100 million impoverished Americans. Personal narratives from individuals like Christopher Santiago, Taylor Raquel Adams, and Matt Harvey showcase the real and positive impact of guaranteed income. #GuaranteedIncome #SocialSafetyNet #FinancialSupport #TransformingLives https://lnkd.in/gyrr3Rt3

🚸 Policy in Practice launches Healthy Start campaign with four London boroughs A campaign encouraging families to apply for the Healthy Start Scheme will launch across London Borough of Redbridge, Haringey Council, Lewisham Council and Royal Borough of Greenwich. 👨👩👧👦 The campaign will send letters to households informing them how to access crucial nutritional and financial support for their young children. Healthy Start is worth up to £280 a year and can help you buy food and milk for your children if they are under 4 years old or for yourself if you are over 10 weeks pregnant. This can be life changing for children who are facing the horrific impact of child hunger and poverty. By directly contacting 4,260 households with young children across London we can raise awareness of support for people who may be missing out. This week three of the four boroughs have started their campaign with: ✉ 2,974 letters sent 📱 3,302 text messages sent If you think you or someone you know may be eligible for Healthy Start support you can complete a free benefits check using our Better Off Calculator: https://lnkd.in/eZ5Ekm3m

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutrition support to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and young children across the United States. This program is vital for children’s development and health, and it supports families with low incomes that face barriers to accessing nutritious food and child rearing resources. Currently, neither House nor Senate appropriations plan to fully fund WIC in 2024. According to the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, states would need to reduce WIC by about 2 million recipients by September if funding stays stagnant. Without additional funding, new families will face waitlists and cuts to benefits that will prevent them from accessing vital nutrition support. Please urge your US Representatives and Senators to increase their final 2024 funding appropriations for WIC. Visit bit.ly/PROTECTWIC to use the Hunger Free Colorado email template. #foodaccess #foodrescue #foodjustice #foodsecurity #healthequity #healthequitynow #healthequityjustice #healthequityforall #foodwaste #denvervolunteers #volunteer #foodpantry #denverfood #denver #giveback #sustainability #wic #fundwic #protectwic