The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance No Kid Hungry Campaign and a team of students from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service collaborated to research the effectiveness of the Arkansas Meals for Achievement pilot program.
Clinton School students Shem Ngwira of Malawi, Marsha Scullark of West Memphis, Ark., and Will Van Laningham of Fayetteville, Ark. examined a total of 23 schools that participated in the Arkansas Meals for Achievement program and researched their effectiveness in areas such as student behavior, academic test scores, and daily breakfast participation rates.
The team also compiled a reference tool to be used by the Hunger Relief Alliance in ongoing data collection going forward to help improve participation rates.
“Hungry kids cannot learn,” said Patty Barker, director of the Arkansas No Kid Hungry Campaign. “It’s imperative that students have access to a nutritious breakfast as part of the school day so they are focused and ready to learn.”
The students completed the project as part of the Clinton School’s Practicum program, the first of three field service projects in the Master of Public Service degree program.
About the No Kid Hungry Campaign
Initiated by the national nonprofit Share Our Strength in 2010, the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance joined with Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe to launch the No Kid Hungry campaign in Arkansas. The campaign works to end childhood hunger by connecting children to nutritious food and nutrition education programs where they live, learn, and play. Advocates working on the campaign help to develop breakfast programs in schools, bring summer meals programs to local communities, and create after school feeding programs. The campaign also empowers low-income families with the skills they need to shop for and prepare nutritious meals on tight food budgets through its Cooking Matters program.
– More information about the No Kid Hungry Campaign is available at www.nokidhungry.org
– More information about The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance is available at www.arhungeralliance.org.