The Evaluation of the Summer EBT for Children Demonstration
- Conditions
- Dietary ModificationFood Insecurity Among Children
- Interventions
- Other: SEBTC
- Registration Number
- NCT02877147
- Lead Sponsor
- Abt Associates
- Brief Summary
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
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.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 85000
- 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
Not provided
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description $60 SEBTC Benefit Group SEBTC Households received $60 per summer month when school was not in session for each eligible child (Summers 2011-2013). $30 SEBTC Benefit Group SEBTC Households received $30 per summer month when school was not in session for each eligible child (Summer 2013 only).
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Very low food security among children according to the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module, 30-day reference period Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued 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
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Children's fruit and vegetable consumption without fried potatoes Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued Average daily cup equivalents of fruit and vegetables, excluding fried potatoes
Children's dairy consumption Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued Average daily dairy consumption cup equivalents
Children's consumption of added sugars Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued Average daily consumption of added sugars (in teaspoons)
Children's consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued Average daily consumption of sugars (in teaspoons) from sugar-sweetened beverages
Food insecurity among children according to the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module, 30-day reference period Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued Any child in the household experienced very low food security or experienced reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet.
Children's fruit and vegetable consumption Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued Average daily cup equivalents of fruit and vegetables
children's whole grain consumption between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued Average daily consumption of whole grains (in ounces)
Children's consumption of added sugars excluding cereals Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued Average daily consumption of added sugars excluding cereals (in teaspoons)
Children's consumption of low- and non-fat milk Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued Any milk consumed was low- or non-fat