Trends in Food Insecurity and SNAP Participation among Immigrant Families U.S.-Born Young Children.

Allison Bovell-Ammon,Stephanie Ettinger De Cuba,Deborah A Frank,Maureen M Black,Nayab Ahmad,Diana B Cutts,Sharon Coleman,Eduardo Ochoa

doi:10.3390/children6040055

Abstract

Immigrant families are known to be at higher risk of food insecurity compared to non-immigrant families. Documented immigrants in the U.S. <5 years are ineligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Immigration enforcement, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and policies negatively targeting immigrants have increased in recent years. Anecdotal reports suggest immigrant families forgo assistance, even if eligible, related to fear of deportation or future ineligibility for citizenship. In the period of January 2007–June 2018, 37,570 caregivers of young children (ages 0–4) were interviewed in emergency rooms and primary care clinics in Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and Little Rock. Food insecurity was measured using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Security Survey Module. Overall, 21.4% of mothers were immigrants, including 3.8% in the U.S. <5 years (“<5 years”) and 17.64% ≥ 5 years (“5+ years”). SNAP participation among <5 years families increased in the period of 2007–2017 to 43% and declined in the first half of 2018 to 34.8%. For 5+ years families, SNAP participation increased to 44.7% in 2017 and decreased to 42.7% in 2018. SNAP decreases occurred concurrently with rising child food insecurity. Employment increased 2016–2018 among U.S.-born families and was stable among immigrant families. After steady increases in the prior 10 years, SNAP participation decreased in all immigrant families in 2018, but most markedly in more recent immigrants, while employment rates were unchanged.

Highlights

One-quarter of children in the United States (U.S.) under age 5 have at least one immigrant parent, with 93% of these children born in the U.S [1]
This study aims to first document 10-year trends in household and child food security status and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation among families with young children disaggregated by maternal nativity and, for mothers born outside of the U.S, tenure of U.S residence
Data in this study suggest a declining trend in SNAP participation among immigrant families, even as their employment remains constant and child food insecurity continues at a rate higher than the

Summary

Introduction

One-quarter of children in the United States (U.S.) under age 5 have at least one immigrant parent, with 93% of these children born in the U.S [1]. Previous research has shown that infants and toddlers in low-income families with immigrant mothers are more likely to be born at a healthy weight, to be breastfed, to live in a two-parent home, and to have mothers who do not use tobacco, compared to children in low-income families with U.S.-born mothers [2]. Immigrant families compared to non-immigrant families, disproportionately experience food insecurity, struggle to afford housing costs, and lack access to health care—all factors associated with adverse health outcomes [3,4]. Even if experienced at mild levels or temporarily, is associated with poor physical and mental health for children and adults regardless of nativity or immigration status [5,6,7,8,9,10,11].

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion