| Popis: |
The social and community context a child grows up in greatly influences their health over the course of their life. Healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral (MEB) development is essential for building resistance to stress during childhood and throughout the lifespan. However, without proper nutrition and access to healthy foods, healthy MEB development cannot occur and poor mental health outcomes result. According to the 2019 Durham County Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), 32% of middle school students and 35% of high school students reported feeling depressed in the past year (Davis, 2019). This proposal aims to improve mental health among Black and Latino youth in Durham County through free school lunches (FSL) at all Durham Public Schools. Schools that are eligible for and willing to apply for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) will be incentivized to do so, while additional funding will be secured to implement FSL at schools that do not receive CEP. Behavioral outcomes associated with free meal programs include reduction in hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, and a reduced surge in disciplinary infractions (Hanks, n.d.). |
