Evidence at Work for the 2024 Farm Bill

The 2024 Farm Bill process is underway, with lawmakers facing a September 30 deadline to reauthorize the legislation. The Farm Bill, which is reauthorized approximately every five years, is the centerpiece of U.S. agricultural and food policy, funding everything from domestic nutrition assistance to foreign food aid. To inform policymakers on their journeys from inquiry to insight and help them craft a comprehensive and effective 2024 Farm Bill, robust evidence must be at the center of these reauthorization discussions.

Mathematica has a decades-long history of partnering with federal, state, and local decision makers to gather and put into practice such evidence to support nutrition policymaking, strengthen programs, conduct analyses, and improve outcomes. Our combined experience in policy evaluation, analytics, and technical assistance helps us uncover solutions that address food security issues, identify structural barriers to food access, and strengthen nutrition assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Understanding Food Security
Studying Nutrition Assistance Programs
Spotlight on SNAP

Rural Communities
Meet Your Partners in Progress

Understanding Food Security

National food security policy aims to ensure that people across the country have economic access to enough food for a healthy diet despite potential barriers such as low income. Additional barriers to food access include a lack of reliable transportation and nearby grocery stores. Mathematica is a leader in assessing the food security of populations experiencing structural inequities, examining the impacts that nutrition assistance programs have on the prevalence and severity of hunger and food insecurity, and studying how factors such as employment and income might affect food security.

Explore a snapshot of our current and previous work examining factors that influence food security throughout the United States:

Food Security Resources

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Longitudinal Study of SNAP Households

Project

Summary

For the inaugural annual survey of SNAP participants, Mathematica is working with FNS to track long-term changes in diet and food purchases as well as household, social, and economic factors that are relevant to SNAP. Mathematica will also analyze SNAP participants’ food purchasing power following policy and economic changes.

SNAP Food Security

Project

Summary

Mathematica’s study yielded significant and definitive findings on the effects of SNAP, a program whose value has often been the object of debate. Findings offer evidence and guidance to policymakers and suggest they can help reduce food insecurity by promoting policies that help SNAP households maintain their SNAP benefits.

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Understanding the Relationship Between Poverty, Well-Being, and Food Security Status

Project

Summary

This ongoing study explores the interrelated factors associated with food security and poverty in counties with persistent poverty to inform how to develop appropriate federal policy responses.

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Food Insecurity Transitions and Changes in Employment and Earnings

Journal article

Summary

Mathematica’s analysis of longitudinal survey data of individuals who participated in the SNAP Employment and Training program revealed that employment losses and earnings reductions were associated with becoming food insecure among participants. Equipped with this information, policymakers and service providers can explore ways to provide additional support to such individuals to reduce their risk of becoming food insecure.

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Ending Childhood Hunger: Evaluation of Demonstration Projects

Project

Summary

Mathematica’s evaluation of demonstration projects in several different states uncovered innovative strategies to reduce childhood hunger and food insecurity.

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Evaluating the Summer Food for Children Household-Based Demonstrations

Project

Summary

Child food insecurity is a particular concern during the summer months, when children do not have access to school meals. Mathematica’s evaluation of demonstration projects that provide benefits to help households with low-incomes secure food for their children during the summer highlighted some promising approaches. For example, the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children provided food assistance to families through SNAP or WIC and had a positive impact on food security and nutrition among children.

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Partnering with FNS on Major Studies to Strengthen Nutrition Assistance Policy and Programs

News release

Summary

Mathematica is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service on studies to strengthen the agency’s nutrition policies and programs. The work includes two of the largest contracts ever offered for Child Nutrition Programs and SNAP studies.

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The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

White paper

Summary

This paper describes TEFAP and explores how the program responds to the needs of households and individuals with low incomes in the U.S. and helps to lower barriers to food access. Findings also highlight how the program’s state-administered infrastructure for managing and distributing food is well-integrated in the local emergency food assistance system and allows for scaling up distribution to those who need TEFAP foods most.

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Providing Vulnerable Older Adults with Nutritious Meals During COVID-19

Blog

Summary

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Mathematica published this blog post exploring the physical and mental health benefits of the Nutrition Services Program (NSP), administered by the Administration on Aging (AoA). The blog identifies the NSP as an important resource for ensuring that older adults who were food insecure remained fed and healthy during the pandemic.

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The Administration on Aging Nutrition Services Program Evaluation

Project

Summary

The AoA administers the Title III-C NSP, which aims to help older adults maintain independence through access to nutritious meals and services, social contact, and health promotion activities. Mathematica conducted a three-part evaluation of the NSP to examine program administration and service delivery, perform a program cost analysis, and evaluate the effect of the program on participants’ outcomes. Mathematica’s research showed that meal programs for older adults improved diet quality, food security, and socialization.

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Studying Nutrition Assistance Programs

Mathematica’s experts conduct studies to evaluate the range of nutrition programs and policies designed to increase food security and reduce hunger among children and families. These are generally large, nationally representative studies that focus on nutrition program operations and costs, the type and nutrient quality of food provided, participant satisfaction with program services and supports, program participation, and program management.

Dive into highlights from our current and previous work to evaluate nutrition assistance programs and policies:

Resources on Nutrition Assistance Programs

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National School Foods Study

Project

Summary

Mathematica and partners Decision Information Resources and ProTeam Foodservice Advisors will collect a wide range of nationally representative data to help FNS, policymakers, and other professionals better serve students and support their access to nutritious food.

Study of WIC Food Cost Containment Practices

Project

Summary

WIC provides nutrition assistance, nutrition education, and more to nutritionally at-risk pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum people with low incomes. WIC also serves infants and young children up to age five who are nutritionally at risk and have low incomes. This project examined the impact of WIC cost containment practices on program costs, participation, participant satisfaction, and redemption of WIC food benefits, and identified best practices based on findings from the national study and Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) states.

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Study on Nutrition and Activity in Child Care Settings II

Project

Summary

Mathematica is conducting this nationally representative assessment to provide an updated picture of the child care component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program, focusing on characteristics of the program, providers, participants, and more.

Connecting the Dots Between Barriers to WIC Access and Adult and Child Food Insecurity: A Survey of Missouri Residents

Journal article

Summary

Mathematica’s research showed that barriers to accessing and utilizing WIC—such as difficulties taking time off work, finding childcare, and technological barriers—are associated with increased adult and child food insecurity.

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The School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (SNMCS)

Project

Summary

This research shows how updated nutrition standards have made school meals significantly healthier.

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Child Nutrition Program Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Report

Summary

Mathematica’s research found that State agencies consistently reported that use of the COVID-19 Child Nutrition nationwide waivers improved services to children early in the pandemic.

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Understanding Why More Eligible Kids Got Free Meals During Pandemic Summers

Podcast

Summary

Leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, only about one in every seven students served by the National School Lunch Program also participated in free summer meals programs. This podcast examines how the federal government’s temporary waivers gave meal providers much more flexibility in how they fed students during the school year and in the summer months, helping summer meals programs reach many more children and serve many more meals than usual.

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Nutrition Services Program Participation and the Diet Quality of Older Adults

Journal article

Summary

Mathematica’s research showed that congregate and home-delivered meals provided through the NSP can be an important source of nutrition for older adults and has positive effects on the diets of participants.

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Policies and Strategies to Increase Equitable Access to Family Nutrition Support

Journal supplement

Summary

Mathematica served as a guest editor for a special issue of the American Journal of Public Health focused on ongoing inequities in access to and participation in nutrition assistance services and supports. Mathematica also authored articles that share actionable insights into policies that can break down barriers to access.

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Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs Evaluation: Meal Cost Analysis

Report

Summary

This report explores how meal costs vary by program characteristics for meals provided through the Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs.

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Evaluation of the Effect of the Older Americans Act Title III-C Nutrition Services Program on Participants’ Health Care Utilization

Report

Summary

Mathematica’s research showed that congregate meal participants who lived alone were less likely than nonparticipants to have a hospital admission or an emergency department visit that led to a hospital admission.

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Spotlight on SNAP

Understanding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the policies that drive the program is critical to ensuring it can meet the needs of the populations it was designed to serve. For decades, Mathematica has conducted studies focused on strengthening understanding of the impacts of SNAP policies, program operations, and proposed policy changes to SNAP. Our researchers are also the national experts in SNAP Employment & Training (E&T) policy and related technical assistance, and have led all major studies of the program. Building on our decades of work on SNAP, we are also pursuing congressionally mandated work to inform legislation to better understand how mobile technology can help make SNAP more accessible and equitable by enabling participants to redeem SNAP benefits using personal mobile devices at retailers.

Discover the breadth and depth of our current and previous work to strengthen understanding of SNAP and SNAP E&T:

SNAP Resources

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Trends in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rates: Fiscal Year 2016 to Fiscal Year 2020

Report

Summary

Mathematica’s research found that of the 42 million individuals eligible for SNAP in the average month of pre-pandemic Fiscal Year 2020, nearly 33 million (78 percent) chose to participate.

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Reaching Those in Need: Estimates of State SNAP Participation Rates in 2020

Brief

Summary

Mathematica’s research found that participation rates varied widely among states. In 23 States and the District of Columbia, the rates were statistically significantly higher than the national rate, and in 15 States, the rates were significantly lower.

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Characteristics of SNAP Households: FY 2020 and Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Report

Summary

This report and supplement describes the characteristics of SNAP households and participants nationwide in fiscal year 2020 (October 2019 through February 2020 and June through September 2020). It also presents an overview of SNAP eligibility requirements and benefit levels.

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SNAP Participants’ Employment Characteristics and Barriers to Work

Report

Summary

Mathematica’s research found that individuals participating in SNAP were strongly connected to the labor force, but many experienced changes in employment and labor force participation over the course of a year. In addition, many individuals participating in SNAP who were not employed faced significant barriers to work.

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Benefit Redemption Patterns in SNAP

Project

Summary

Mathematica is conducting a study that will provide FNS with valuable insights about national and State SNAP benefit redemption patterns, and differences in redemption patterns by household type and over time.

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SNAP Payment Accuracy and Timeliness Support Services

Project

Summary

Mathematica is working with FNS to support state efforts to improve and maintain SNAP payment accuracy and timely processing of SNAP applications.

Guidance for SNAP Eligibility and Quality Control Interviews

Project

Summary

Mathematica is working with FNS to develop new guidance for SNAP eligibility and quality control interviews using human-centered design and cultural competency frameworks.

SNAP E&T Characteristics Study

Report

Summary

Mathematica’s research revealed characteristics of individuals participating in SNAP E&T programs, including that more than a quarter reported three or more barriers to obtaining and retaining employment, such as health or transportation issues. Participants also reported that job support services provided through E&T programs were very important to them.

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SNAP E&T Pilots Evaluation

Report

Summary

This evaluation tested innovative strategies for increasing employment and earnings among SNAP participants and reducing their dependence on SNAP and other public assistance programs. It found that earnings and employment increased in some of the pilot groups, although an increase in employment did not mean that earnings increased.

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Lessons from the SNAP E&T Pilots

Resources

Summary

Congressionally mandated pilot projects in 10 states were designed to test strategies to reduce dependency on SNAP and increase employment and earnings among SNAP participants. An evaluation from Mathematica and partners shared considerations for improving participant experiences in SNAP Employment & Training programs.

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Impact of COVID on Employment and Earnings of SNAP E&T Participants

Journal article

Summary

Mathematica’s research found that COVID-19 decreased average quarterly employment by 13% and average quarterly earnings by 33%, with differences across demographic, economic, and geographic characteristics.

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Reaching the Underserved Elderly and Working Adults in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Project

Summary

Low rates of participation in SNAP among older and working adults have been a persistent concern. Mathematica evaluated programs focused on increasing SNAP access among these individuals and found that strategies such as simplifying the SNAP application process had a positive effect on participation.

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SNAP to Skills

Project

Summary

The SNAP to Skills project is a technical assistance initiative of FNS to help States build more effective and job-driven SNAP E&T programs. Mathematica is partnering with FNS to operate SNAP to Skills and build new resources, facilitate virtual learning opportunities, and convene SNAP E&T professionals to foster peer learning and program strengthening.

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Quantifying Identity Theft in SNAP

Project

Summary

Mathematica’s exploratory study estimated the extent to which potential identify theft was used to obtain SNAP benefits in two states. The study found that individuals with disabilities were more likely to be victims of potential identity theft while children were the least likely to be victims.

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Using Microsimulation for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Policy Analysis

Project

Summary

Mathematica maintains and enhances FNS’s SNAP microsimulation models, provides quick response analyses and technical support, prepares the annual SNAP Quality Control data file, and produces annual reports on the characteristics of SNAP households and national and state SNAP participation rates.

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Millions Would Lose SNAP Eligibility Under Provisions of House Farm Bill

News release

Summary

Mathematica’s microsimulation estimated the effects of proposed changes to SNAP eligibility, participation, and benefits under certain provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill and found that nearly 2 million participating households would no longer be eligible.

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Child Support Cooperation Requirements in Child Care Subsidy Programs and SNAP: Key Policy Considerations

Brief

Summary

Mathematica examined state-option child support cooperation requirements, specifically related to parents’ eligibility for SNAP and child care subsidies funded under the Child Care Development Fund. States have the option to require recipients of child care subsidies and SNAP to enforce child support obligations as a condition of eligibility. The study found that child support cooperation is more frequently required for child care subsidy recipients than for SNAP recipients.

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Rural Communities

Rural communities often experience high rates of food insecurity and health disparities, caused or exacerbated by challenges such as limited access to nutritious food, lower rates of employment, and transportation issues. Mathematica’s researchers recognize the importance of understanding the relationship between these issues and conduct in-depth evaluations of related factors such as food access and participation in nutrition programs.

Learn more about our current and previous work to support nutrition policy and programming in rural communities:

Resources on Nutrition Programs in Rural Communities

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SNAP Participation and Urban and Rural Food Security

Report

Summary

Mathematica’s study found that for households in rural and urban areas, participating in SNAP for about six months was associated with a decrease in the percentage of households that were food insecure. This provides strong evidence that SNAP is associated with an improvement in food security for households in both rural and urban areas.

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SNAP Participation, Food Security, and Geographic Access to Food

Report

Summary

This research showed that for households in rural areas, the evidence was mixed as to whether SNAP participation was associated with reduced food insecurity. The study also found that geographic access to food was generally not associated with the percentage of households that were food insecure.

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RCT Measuring Effects of Extra SNAP Benefits on Child Food Security in Low-Income Families in Rural Kentucky

Journal article

Summary

Mathematica’s research found that while a demonstration project to reduce child food insecurity did not do so, future research should explore the effect of different increases in SNAP benefits to assess whether intervention effects change over time.

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