Toolkit

Local & National Case Studies

Tools & Resources Recommended by Our Presenters & Panelists

National organizations of note that prioritize access to meals for all students:

1. Colorado Children’s Campaign:

   • Website: https://www.coloradokids.org/ 

   • Description: Colorado Children's Campaign works towards improving the lives of children in Colorado by influencing policies, promoting collaboration among stakeholders, and advocating for systemic change to create a brighter future for all children in the state.KIDS COUNT in Colorado

2. The Community Guide:

   • Website: https://www.thecommunityguide.org/findings/social-determinants-health-healthy-school-meals-all.html 

   • Description: The Community Guide is a collection of evidence-based findings of the Community Preventive Services Task Force. It is a resource to help select interventions to improve health and prevent disease in states, communities, and organizations, and schools.

3. No Kid Hungry:

   • Website: https://www.nokidhungry.org/

   • Description: No Kid Hungry is a national campaign led by Share Our Strength, working to end childhood hunger in America. The organization focuses on connecting children to effective nutrition programs, including school meals, and advocates for policies to address food insecurity. https://www.nokidhungry.org/who-we-are/hunger-facts 

4. Food Research & Action Center (FRAC):

   • Website: https://www.frac.org/

   • Description: FRAC is a leading national nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States. They advocate for federal policies and programs that ensure access to nutritious food for all, including school meals. 

   • Benefits of School Lunch - Food Research & Action Center 

5. School Nutrition Association (SNA):

   • Website: https://schoolnutrition.org/

   • Description: The School Nutrition Association is a professional organization representing school nutrition professionals across the country. They work to ensure that all children have access to nutritious meals in school through advocacy, education, and professional development.

6. Share Our Strength:

   • Website: https://www.shareourstrength.org/

   • Description: Share Our Strength is a national organization focused on ending hunger and poverty in the United States. They coordinate the No Kid Hungry campaign and support various programs and initiatives that increase access to nutritious meals for children.

7. Feeding America:

   • Website: https://www.feedingamerica.org/

   • Description: Feeding America is a nationwide network of food banks and hunger relief organizations. They work to address food insecurity in America, including initiatives that support child nutrition and ensure access to meals for students in need.

8. Alliance for a Healthier Generation:

   • Website: https://www.healthiergeneration.org/

   • Description: The Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating healthier environments for children, with a focus on improving nutrition and physical activity in schools. They support initiatives that promote access to healthy meals for all students.

9. Chef Ann Foundation 

   • Website: https://www.chefannfoundation.org/

   • Description: The Chef Ann Foundation is dedicated to promoting whole-ingredient, scratch-cooking in schools. This approach enables schools to serve the healthiest, tastiest meals so that kids are well-fed and ready to learn.

Bibliography

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Anderson, M., Gallagher, J., & Ritchie, E. R. (2017). School Lunch Quality and Academic Performance (No. w23218; p. w23218). National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/10.3386/w23218

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NACSA. (n.d.). Access & Equity in education: Food services for charter school authorizers. National Association of Charter School Authorizers . https://qualitycharters.org/state-policy/food-services/ 

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