The Evaluation of the Summer EBT for Children Demonstration

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The Summer Electronic Benefit for Children (SEBTC) demonstration provided food assistance to households with school-aged children during the summer through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) procedures used by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) programs. The evaluation design included two components: an impact study and an implementation study. The evaluation assessed the impact of SEBTC on children's food security and nutritional status, household food expenditures and purchasing behaviors, parental perceptions, and participation in nutrition assistance programs. The implementation study analyzed SEBTC use patterns using administrative data, and described demonstration implementation and costs.

Detailed Description
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The SEBTC evaluation took place in the summers of 2011 through 2014. Ten grantees implemented the demonstration in a total of 16 sites; the number of participating sites and/or the evaluation components differed by year. In 2011, 5 grantees with five sites participated and the evaluation included implementation and cost analysis, EBT analysis, and an impact study. In 2012, 10 grantees implemented SEBTC in 14 sites and the evaluation included the same study components. In 2013, four grantees with six sites participated and the study components included EBT analysis and an impact study (no implementation or cost data collection). Finally, in 2014, three grantees participated in three sites and only implementation data were collected. Information on human subjects was collected for the evaluation's impact evaluation.

Official Title
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The Evaluation of the Summer Electronic Benefits for Children Demonstration

Conditions
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Food Insecurity Among Children, Dietary Modification

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: SEBTC


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Households with children who were certified to receive the National School Lunch program or the School Breakfast Program in the prior school year in participating sites, Summers 2011-2013

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 4 Years
Maximum Age: 18 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: $60 SEBTC Benefit Group<br>Households received $60 per summer month when school was not in session for each eligible child (Summers 2011-2013). | Other: SEBTC<br>* SEBTC benefits were issued on EBT cards using either the existing EBT delivery systems for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC). Sites selected only one of the two EBT systems to be used to implement SEBTC prior to random assignment; households were not randomized to a specific delivery system.<br>* Other names: electronic benefit transfer payments;|
| Experimental: $30 SEBTC Benefit Group<br>Households received $30 per summer month when school was not in session for each eligible child (Summer 2013 only). | Other: SEBTC<br>* SEBTC benefits were issued on EBT cards using either the existing EBT delivery systems for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC). Sites selected only one of the two EBT systems to be used to implement SEBTC prior to random assignment; households were not randomized to a specific delivery system.<br>* Other names: electronic benefit transfer payments;|
| No Intervention: No Intervention Group<br>Households with eligible children were not issued SEBTC benefits (Summers 2011 and 2012) | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Very low food security among children according to the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module, 30-day reference period | The food intake of any child in the household is reduced and their normal eating patterns are disrupted because the household lacks money and other resources for food | Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Food insecurity among children according to the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module, 30-day reference period | Any child in the household experienced very low food security or experienced reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet. | Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued | 
| Children's fruit and vegetable consumption | Average daily cup equivalents of fruit and vegetables | Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued | 
| Children's fruit and vegetable consumption without fried potatoes | Average daily cup equivalents of fruit and vegetables, excluding fried potatoes | Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued | 
| children's whole grain consumption | Average daily consumption of whole grains (in ounces) | between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued | 
| Children's dairy consumption | Average daily dairy consumption cup equivalents | Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued | 
| Children's consumption of low- and non-fat milk | Any milk consumed was low- or non-fat | Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued | 
| Children's consumption of added sugars | Average daily consumption of added sugars (in teaspoons) | Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued | 
| Children's consumption of added sugars excluding cereals | Average daily consumption of added sugars excluding cereals (in teaspoons) | Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued | 
| Children's consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages | Average daily consumption of sugars (in teaspoons) from sugar-sweetened beverages | Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued |