Evaluation of Demonstrations to End Childhood Hunger - KY

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization provided funding to test innovative strategies to end childhood hunger and food insecurity. Demonstration projects were funded in Chickasaw Nation, Kentucky, Navajo Nation, Nevada, and Virginia. This study focuses on Kentucky. Households in the treatment group received an extra monthly SNAP benefit amount through two new intervention-related deductions to the SNAP benefit formula: (1) a fixed deduction, depending on county of residence, for transportation costs for six round trips to the grocery store per month; and (2) an earnings deduction equal to 10 percent of earned income for households with at least one employed household member. Households in the control group continued to receive their regular monthly SNAP benefit amounts.

Detailed Description
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Objective: To reduce child food insecurity in rural households by raising Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to offset higher transportation costs and further strengthen SNAP work incentives. Target Population: SNAP households with: (1) positive net income, (2) at least one child under the age of 18 by the end of the demonstration period, and (3) living in 17 geographically isolated and poor counties in eastern Kentucky. Intervention: Households were randomly assigned to either a treatment or control group. Households in the treatment group received an extra monthly SNAP benefit amount through two new intervention-related deductions to the SNAP benefit formula: (1) a fixed deduction, depending on county of residence, for transportation costs for six round trips to the grocery store per month; and (2) an earnings deduction equal to 10 percent of earned income for households with at least one employed household member. Households in the control group continued to receive their regular monthly SNAP benefit amounts.

Official Title
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Evaluation of Demonstrations to End Childhood Hunger - Kentucky

Conditions
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Food Insecurity Among Children

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: KY Ticket to Healthy Food Benefits


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: SNAP households with: (1) positive net income, (2) at least one child under the age of 18 by the end of the demonstration period, and (3) living in 17 geographically isolated and poor counties in eastern Kentucky. Exclusion Criteria: -

Ages Eligible for Study
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Maximum Age: 17 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: KY Ticket to Healthy Food Benefits<br>Households in the treatment group received an extra monthly SNAP benefit amount through two new intervention-related deductions to the SNAP benefit formula: (1) a fixed deduction, depending on county of residence, for transportation costs for six round trips to the grocery store per month; and (2) an earnings deduction equal to 10 percent of earned income for households with at least one employed household member. | Other: KY Ticket to Healthy Food Benefits<br>* Households in the treatment group received an extra monthly SNAP benefit amount through two new intervention-related deductions to the SNAP benefit formula<br>|
| No Intervention: Control Group<br>Households in the control group continued to receive their regular monthly SNAP benefit amounts. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Food Insecurity among Children | Measured by the United States Department of Agriculture's Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM). Affirming 2 or more out of the 8 child-level items in the HFSSM. Higher scores generally indicates worsening food insecurity. | 30 days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Very Low Food Insecurity among Children | Measured by the United States Department of Agriculture's Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM). Affirming 5 or more out of the 8 child-level items in the HFSSM. Higher scores generally indicates worsening food insecurity. | 30 days | 
| Food Insecurity among Adults | Measured by the United States Department of Agriculture's Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM). Affirming 3 or more out of the 10 adult-level items in the HFSSM. Higher scores generally indicates worsening food insecurity. | 30 days | 
| Household Food Insecurity | Measured by the United States Department of Agriculture's Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM). Affirming 3 or more out of the 18 items in the HFSSM. Higher scores generally indicates worsening food insecurity. | 30 days | 
| Food Expenditures | Total amount of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and out-of-pocket food purchases in dollars. | 30 days | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Food Security, Hunger, Rural, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Food expenditures