Child Hunger In America

As a group, we chose four different perspectives to explore the issues relating to children and hunger. As you read this paper, it will outline the various factors dramatically impacting hunger, in addition to the food insecurity challenges in the United States. For most parents, living the American dream is being able to provide the basic human needs for their children such as food, clothing, and proper education. According to U.S Department of Agriculture (2014), “49 million people in America lived in household struggling to find enough food to eat.” Unfortunately, millions of children struggle to sleep at night because they lack food. In addition, a person’s race, class and the environment where one lives often places restrictions on the
The findings were surprising and quite shocking to comprehend. The research shows a correlation of poverty which is a leading factor for hunger.
According to The U.S. Department of Agriculture (2011) “Food insecurity is the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.” Food insecurity impacts children and communities. Moreover, an American hungry child is not seen with a big stomach nor someone suffering from malnutrition. It is possible that the signs of a hungry child are not visible and may be hidden to society. In addition, the states with an increase rate of hunger are often depicted in areas of rural communities with the lowest unemployment rate, higher food costs and the lack of fresh foods and vegetables. Often times since transportation is not accessible, this places a great restriction on families being able to provide nutritious meals for their children. Ultimately, children then consume processed foods rather than healthy foods, which increases their likelihood of obesity. As stated by Feeding America, (2014) “These 8 states have statistically higher food-insecurity rates than the US national average (14.6%): Arkansas (21.2%), Mississippi (21.1%), Texas (18.0%), Tennessee (17.4%), North Carolina (17.3%), Missouri (16.9%), Georgia (16.6%), and Ohio
However, the challenges ahead for action to end hunger are complex and political to undertake. These challenges are bringing forth awareness through education programs, increasing aid such as the federal food budget for children and food stamps, increasing the minimum wage, as well as making healthy fruits and vegetables accessible in cost for everyone. These challenges are the root causes of poverty and hunger that is facing American society. According to The Center for American Process, (2010) “hunger hurts the economy, and contributes to obesity.” Likewise as with every challenge there are opportunities for prospective social worker to implement change such as those listed in No Kid Hungry (2015), “home-delivered meals, providing grocery benefits to purchase food, and increase food banks.” Another critical opportunity is to provide nutritious foods to more children across the