by Shauneen Miranda, West Virginia Watch
A U.S. Division of Agriculture initiative to feed hungry youngsters throughout the lengthy summer time months is generally winding down, with advocates calling it a hit regardless of some hiccups — and the federal authorities and plenty of states are already working to convey the everlasting program again in 2025.
The Summer time Digital Profit Switch Program — or Summer time EBT — has popped up in 37 states, the District of Columbia and a number of territories and tribal nations this yr. Advocates say that regardless of this system’s justifiable share of challenges, particularly given its first yr of implementation, this system emerged as an necessary useful resource within the battle in opposition to youngsters’ summer time starvation.
Summer time EBT, also referred to as SUN Bucks, gives low-income households with school-aged kids a grocery-buying advantage of $120 per youngster. Kids are routinely enrolled in Summer time EBT if already enrolled within the Supplemental Diet Help Program, or SNAP; Momentary Help for Needy Households, generally known as TANF; or the Meals Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, per the USDA.
College students may additionally be routinely enrolled if their faculty provides the Nationwide Faculty Lunch Program or Faculty Breakfast Program and their household qualifies free of charge or reduced-price faculty meals, in line with the USDA. Most states’ deadlines to use for the profit this summer time have already handed, and plenty of have already issued the profit for the summer time months.
Allan Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the USDA, mentioned it’s too early to say simply what number of kids have been served by way of this system to date this summer time, however primarily based on the taking part states, territories and tribes, an estimated 21 million kids are eligible to obtain the advantages.
‘Critical support to families’
Kelsey Boone, senior youngster vitamin coverage analyst on the Meals Analysis & Motion Heart, informed States Newsroom that “like any new program, there are challenges with Summer EBT.”
The nationwide nonprofit works to scale back poverty-related starvation by way of analysis, advocacy and coverage options.
“That has included tight implementation timelines, logistical complexities and the need to raise awareness among eligible families,” Boone mentioned.
Regardless of these challenges, Boone mentioned this system is “definitely worth it” and “provides critical support to families by ensuring children have access to nutritious foods during the summer months, bridging the gap when school meals are unavailable.”
Boone mentioned “we are still in the midst of implementation, so there aren’t hard statistics on how the programs are really rolling out at this point.”
She added that “some states have had to return to USDA and ask for … higher amounts of benefits, and that is due to the fact that they are streamline certifying, or automatically giving benefits to more students than they expected, and that is a very big positive for the streamlined certification process.”
Boone famous that some states have been delayed in issuing the advantages, “which means some families will not be receiving benefits until September or even October or November.”
Nonetheless, Boone mentioned that regardless of the significance of receiving the advantages throughout essential summer time months when faculty meal packages aren’t an possibility, “it is also going to be helpful no matter what.”
Over a dozen states opted out
However 13 states — all with Republican governors — selected to not partake in this system this yr, together with Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. A number of tribal nations in Oklahoma are taking part regardless of the state opting out.
Rodriguez mentioned the division expects that much more states and tribes will present SUN Bucks subsequent yr.
States have till Jan. 1 to submit a discover of intent in the event that they plan to take part in Summer time EBT for 2025, in line with the USDA. Alabama has already allotted hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in funding for this system subsequent summer time.
“We recognize that standing up a new program in a very short time period is no easy task,” Rodriguez mentioned, including that “potential challenges may include making systems changes, identifying sufficient staff, and securing financial resources to cover program administration, particularly [states’] responsibility for covering 50% of the administrative costs associated with operating the program.”
The USDA “is committed to working closely with all states, U.S. territories, and eligible tribes to support our shared goal of ensuring children have access to critical nutrition in the summer months through SUN Bucks,” Rodriguez added.
Justin King, coverage director at Propel — a monetary expertise firm serving to low-income Individuals observe Digital Profit Switch balances, like Summer time EBT, by way of an app — mentioned “there’s a lot of frustration and disappointment among folks who feel left out because their state has chosen not to participate this year.”
The corporate, which has partnered with the Biden administration, serves greater than 5 million households every month.
King mentioned “the big takeaway from looking at Summer EBT is that while there might be inevitable hiccups and challenges, Summer EBT can work, and it does make a difference for the households that it serves.”
“The comments that we’ve gotten from households who’ve received the benefit this year are overwhelmingly positive about it making a real difference in their ability to keep their kids healthy and fed in summertime.”
West Virginia Watch is a part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit information community supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: data@westvirginiawatch.com. Comply with West Virginia Watch on Fb and X.
