Facilitators and Barriers to Participation in the US Department of Agriculture's Summer Nutrition Programs for Kids Meals Programs Among Parents of Elementary School-Aged Children After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Secondary Analysis of Cross-Sectional Survey Data.

BACKGROUND

Food insecurity in children increases during the summer, yet participation in the US Department of Agriculture's Summer Nutrition Programs for Kids (SUN) meals program, which provides free meals/snacks, remains low. Examining reasons for children's participation or nonparticipation is needed to identify strategies to increase the program's reach.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine facilitators and barriers to SUN meals programs participation perceived by parents of elementary school-aged children after the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

This study employed a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data.

PARTICIPANTS AND

SETTING

Data were from 2 cohorts of parents of elementary school-aged children in Minnesota who were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch based on income. Participants (n = 111) completed surveys at their homes or public libraries from May to August 2023 and from March to July 2024.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Based on children's previous participation status (yes/no) in a SUN meals program, parents self-reported either facilitators or barriers using the items developed by the research team and 1 additional open-ended question.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Descriptive statistics, including means, SDs, and percentages, were calculated, and bivariate analyses were conducted using χ2 and Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTS

Parents of participating children (68%) frequently reported facilitators such as saving money (81%), convenient location (47%), relieving worry about children's hunger (45%), exposure to healthful or new foods (44%), and no required sign-up (43%). Nonparticipating children's parents (32%) identified barriers of limited awareness of the program (39%), lack of transportation to meal sites (25%), distance to meal sites (25%), and inconvenient mealtimes (22%).

CONCLUSIONS

SUN program participants highlighted financial, psychosocial, and nutritional benefits, whereas program nonparticipants indicated limited awareness and logistical barriers. Continued efforts are needed to communicate the program's benefits while addressing limited awareness and logistical barriers to expand the program's reach.