SUMMER NUTRITION PROGRAMS

WHEREAS, 15.3 million children live in "food insecure" households; and 

WHEREAS, lack of nutrition during the summer months may lay a foundation for poor performance once school begins again, as well as make children more prone to illness and other health issues; and

WHEREAS, the Summer Nutrition Programs provide free, nutritious meals and snacks to help children in low-income areas get the nutrition they need throughout the summer months, in some instances provide the only meals they get; and

WHEREAS, the Summer Nutrition Programs provide a safe environment where children get healthy food and benefit from educational and enrichment activities that keep them engaged and safe while school is out; and

WHEREAS, about 3.2 million children participated in the Summer Nutrition Programs in July 2015; and

WHEREAS, as of 2015, only 1 in 6 of the more than 20 million low-income children who rely on school lunch during the school year participated in the Summer Nutrition Programs; and

WHEREAS, if every state reaches the goal of 40 children participating in the Summer Nutrition Programs for every 100 receiving free or reduced-priced lunch, an additional 4.9 million children will be fed each day; and

WHEREAS, some in Congress have sought to streamline school-year and summer food programs, while others have sought to decrease funding:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers and its affiliates will work collaboratively with all stakeholders, including union members, families, administrators and community partners, to determine what type of summer meal strategy maximizes student participation; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT and its affiliates will work collaboratively with all stakeholders, including union members, families and community partners, to prioritize meals at summer learning and enrichment sites; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will work with affiliates to raise awareness of this important resource for underserved children and work to maximize participation in this program; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT and its affiliates will work collaboratively with all stakeholders, including union members, families, administrators and community partners, to identify both existing and potentially eligible sites for summer meal programs; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will continue to advocate that all stakeholders be included in the planning, training and implementation of summer school meal programs, including regular assessment of a program’s effectiveness and quality improvement efforts; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT and its affiliates will actively seek partnerships with organizations like the Food Research and Action Center that advocate shared goals to fight hunger and to ensure access to summer meals is easily available to all families and children who are eligible and can benefit; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT and its affiliates will work to make sure that no child faces a meal gap during the summer months, but continue to focus on the whole child, and that every child has the opportunity to thrive; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will work with Congress to develop effective legislation to ensure the summer meal programs are properly funded, allow an easier process for organizations and agencies to operate a summer meals program, include meals at summer learning and enrichment sites, and expand services to include a third meal as well as programs like the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children program to allow families access to purchase certain foods at retail stores.