College
Brooks College of Health
Department
Nutrition and Dietetics
Rank
Assistant Professor
Type of Work
Journal Article
Publication Information
Topics in Clinical Nutrition
Description of Work
An increasing gap has been seen between the government food assistance programs and need. One program filling the deficit is Feeding America’s BackPack Program. The Backpack provides nutritious food to children to eat on the weekends when they may not have access to an adequate amount of food. This study evaluated the impact of the program on children’s food security, readiness to learn, and behavioral and mental health. A mixed methodology was utilized. Results showed improved food security and increased readiness to learn among participants. BackPack may be an effective program for meeting the gap in food assistance.
Included in
Backpacks: A program for improving children’s readiness to learn and family food security
An increasing gap has been seen between the government food assistance programs and need. One program filling the deficit is Feeding America’s BackPack Program. The Backpack provides nutritious food to children to eat on the weekends when they may not have access to an adequate amount of food. This study evaluated the impact of the program on children’s food security, readiness to learn, and behavioral and mental health. A mixed methodology was utilized. Results showed improved food security and increased readiness to learn among participants. BackPack may be an effective program for meeting the gap in food assistance.
Biographical Statement
Lauri Wright is an assistant professor and director of the Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition Program at University of North Florida. She received a bachelor's degree in nutrition and dietetics from The Ohio State University, a master's degree in nutrition and dietetics from Case Western Reserve University, and a doctorate degree from University of South Florida. She is the founding director of the UNF Center for Nutrition and Food Security. Her research agenda includes food insecurity and its health impact, food justice, and global nutrition.