Although food insecurity is common among college students, they face significant barriers in accessing food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Despite being a proven program designed to ameliorate food insecurity, eligibility requirements and student-specific restrictions have prevented many eligible students…

Research indicates that food insecurity among college students has been on a steady incline. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified economic vulnerabilities, which has led to increased food insecurity among college students due to the closure of campus resources and high unemployment rates in jobs that college students typically hold. Universities…

The influence of the global health crisis and systemic racism on the return to campus are enormous. With differing experiences, opinions, and ideas about what is needed, individuals are challenged to understand their own and others' lived experiences in 2020. Campuses should be prepared for the emotional healing and systemic changes needed in…

This year, Newark Kids Count looks a bit different. Rather than a comprehensive data report, Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) will be releasing smaller "snapshots," showing the impact of the pandemic on children and families with data currently obtained that can provide some insight for stakeholders in Newark. This first data…

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, previously called the Food Stamp Program) is a key component of the U.S. social safety net. SNAP is the only social safety net program universally available to low-income Americans, and is intended to help families meet their basic nutritional needs. It can also help to stabilize the economy…

Schools are undertaking social distancing measures to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to unprecedented challenges for school leadership. This essay explores four such specific challenges: (1) teacher-student connectedness in virtual learning; (2) inadequate computers and internet access; (3) food insecurity; and (4) lack of child-care.…

In the years after the Great Recession, data on children and families in America showed steady improvement in economic well-being, education and health, although progress in some areas had plateaued, and racial and ethnic disparities persisted. Then the coronavirus hit. The events of 2020 have exposed holes in the safety net of programs and…

Rural places are defined by their connectedness--close-knit, supportive communities that work together to meet the needs of children and families. But geographic isolation is another defining feature of rural places, one that often renders rural families invisible to nonrural Americans. Indeed, national conversations about the COVID-19 pandemic…

This article argues that language students and teachers are changemakers and that, in keeping with progressivist philosophy and the bottom-up social paradigm, they can play a powerful role in creating a better world. As our understanding of the world continues to increase, both students and teachers can use this increased understanding to initiate…

This year's "America's Children in Brief" continues a tradition of collaboration by agencies across the Federal Government to advance the understanding of what our Nation's children and families may need to help ensure bright, healthy futures. This year's report highlights selected special feature indicators related to COVID-19 to…

This report is the latest in a series of studies by the Center for an Urban Future focused on building a more inclusive economy in New York. It is informed by interviews with over 50 experts in college persistence and basic needs access--including staff at community-based organizations (CBOs), faculty and administrators at the City University of…

As the COVID-19 pandemic is proving, maintaining student financial wellness is key to keeping students enrolled. The Student Financial Wellness Survey (SFWS) was open from October 2020 to November 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic crisis were prominent concerns for students as they navigated a mostly remote learning…

In this paper, a principal and two lead teachers describe the ways their school community has reimagined the learning environment at their NYC urban, public, K-5 elementary school throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020 they were forced to immediately switch to fully remote learning, a platform they had never previously experienced. Since…

This paper explores the re-envisioning of a school of social work into a School of Social Work and Social Justice. The thought experiment identifies how a school can meet its educational and social justice mission in response to the historic crises of 2020. An outgrowth of the aspirational strategic vision statement is the proposed strengthening…

Community, collaboration, and relationships have become more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the country, school districts have embraced this opportunity to rethink how to engage with families and the surrounding community. With strong leadership that treats families, caregivers, and community organizations as full and…