Gilbert, A., Frank, T., McDermott, L., Walden, N., Jabbari, J., Roll, S., & Ferris, D. (2025). Access to and satisfaction with the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program: Differences across race, ethnicity, income, and urbanicity among Missouri residents. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/03795721251323312
Category: Food security
Connecting the Dots between Barriers to W.I.C. Access and Adult and Child Food Insecurity: A Survey of Missouri Residents
Abstract Background. Previous research has explored the impact of W.I.C. on recipients’ health, but less is known about the connection between barriers to W.I.C. access and health outcomes. We fill in a gap in the literature by studying the relationship between barriers to Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (W.I.C.) access and adult […]
Implementation of Flexibilities to the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs and Their Impact on Schools in Missouri
Abstract Background: In 2018, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued flexibilities to the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, relaxing the nutrition standards for milk, whole grains, and sodium. This study examines the implementation decision-making among Missouri school food services and the impact of implementing these flexibilities on the meals served. Methods: We […]
Improving perinatal outcomes for mother and child through Fresh Rx: Nourishing Health Starts
Dan Ferris, associate director of education and training for SPI, along with co-authors, recently published, “Does a food insecurity intervention improve perinatal outcomes for mother and child? A randomized control study protocol of the Fresh Rx: Nourishing Healthy Starts program,” in the Journal of Public Health Research.
Does a Food Insecurity Intervention Improve Perinatal Outcomes for Mother and Child? A Randomized Control Study Protocol of the Fresh Rx: Nourishing Healthy Starts Program
Ferris, D., Roll, S., Huang, J., Mathews, K., Ragain, T., Simpson, K., Jabbari, J., Gilbert, K., Frank, T., & Rothman, S. (2022). Does a food insecurity intervention improve perinatal outcomes for mother and child? A randomized control study protocol of the Fresh Rx: Nourishing Healthy Starts program. Journal of Public Health Research, 11(2), Article 22799036221102496. https://doi.org/10.1177/22799036221102496
Increased School Breakfast Participation from Policy and Program Innovation: The Community Eligibility Provision and Breakfast after the Bell
Ferris, D., Jabbari, J., Chun, Y., Sandoval, J.S. (2022). Increased school breakfast participation from policy and program innovation: The community eligibility provision and breakfast after the bell. Nutrients, 14(3), Article 511. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030511
How Did School Meal Access Change During the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Two-Step Floating Catchment Area Analysis of a Large Metropolitan Area
Jabbari, J., Chun, Y., Nandan, P., McDermott, L., Frank, T., Moreland-Russell, S., Ferris, D., Roll, S. (2021). How did school meal access change during the COVID-19 pandemic? A two-step floating catchment area analysis of a large metropolitan area. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21), Article 11350. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111350
Serving Students: Increased Free and Reduce-Price School Meal Access in Missouri
Ferris, D., Jabbari, J., Chun, Y., Sandoval, N. (2021). Serving students: Increased free and reduced-price school meal access in Missouri (Policy Brief). Saint Louis University, Prime Center. https://www.primecenter.org/policy-brief-database/srf-meals
COVID-19 School Meal Policies as Long-term Strategies to Fight Child Food Insecurity
In response to COVID-19 and the nationwide school closures that followed, the federal government passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Through these policies, the USDA was able to grant meal waivers to help schools and community organizations provide meals and snacks during COVID-related […]
School breakfast matters for Missouri students
Guest post by Sarah Ritter, manager of public policy, Operation Food Search Child nutrition programs are essential to ending hunger and supporting children’s health, learning and development. One important yet underutilized program is the School Breakfast Program (SBP). Students who eat breakfast at school consume more fiber, calcium and vitamin C – nutrients all children […]