Kidsdata.org provides the following indicators related to food security:

• The estimated number and percentage of children ages 0-17 living in food insecure households (i.e., households unable to provide adequate food for all household members for the entire year due to insufficient resources)
• The number of children ages 0-17 participating in CalFresh—California's implementation of the federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or Food Stamps Program—in the month of July; the number of total CalFresh participants (children and adults) also is available
• The number of families redeeming Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food vouchers for perinatal women and/or children ages 0-5 in the month of January; for years 2019 and earlier, these data are available by type of WIC participant

In California and the U.S., more than 1 in 6 children live in households without the resources for consistent, dependable access to enough food for all household members to enjoy active, healthy lives (1). Uncertain access to food can cause stress for families and disrupt children’s ability to concentrate and engage fully in school, social, and physical activities (2, 3). Compared with food-secure children, children experiencing food insecurity are at higher risk for a host of health problems—with potentially lifelong impacts—including developmental, behavioral, and mental health issues, as well as acute and chronic medical conditions (2, 3, 4). Food insecurity in children also is linked to higher rates of hospital and emergency room visits and lower academic performance (2, 3, 4). Among pregnant women, food insecurity is associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes, as well as pregnancy complications (5).

Food insecurity disproportionately affects households with children (particularly young children under age 6) or adults with disabilities, households with incomes below 185% of the federal poverty threshold, single-parent families, households of color, and children living with foreign-born or limited English-speaking parents (3, 6, 7). Rural areas and urban centers also tend to have higher food insecurity rates than suburbs (6).

Food assistance programs, such as school meals, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or CalFresh in California), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provide a safety net to help ensure that low-income children, expectant mothers, and families get adequate nutrition. These programs have been shown to alleviate poverty, reduce adverse maternal and birth outcomes, and improve children's health in general (3, 4, 5).

According to 2023 estimates, more than 1.4 million California children ages 0-17 lived in a food insecure household—one without the money or other resources to provide enough food for everyone in the household. This translates to more than 1 in 6 children statewide, up from around 1 in 8 in 2020. At the county level, the proportion of children experiencing household food insecurity in 2023 ranged from fewer than 1 in 12 (Marin, San Mateo) to more than 1 in 4 (Imperial, Modoc).

The CalFresh (Food Stamps) supplemental nutrition program served nearly 5.5 million Californians, including nearly 2 million children, in July 2024. Compared with 10 years earlier, CalFresh participation in 2024 was up 22% for Californians of all ages but down 16% for Californians ages 0 to 17.

In January 2020, 513,479 California families redeemed Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program healthy food vouchers, down from 585,256 in 2019.

Food insecurity—limited or uncertain access to adequate food—is a major public health problem in California and the U.S., affecting tens of millions of children and their family members (1). The adverse effects of food insecurity on children can be particularly harmful, impacting their cognitive development, physical and mental health, and school performance (2). While improvements have been made to state safety net programs, system barriers and federal funding cuts create challenges to reaching all families in need (3, 4, 5, 6). Policymakers can take steps to ameliorate poverty and food insecurity, address economic and system inequities, fund and strengthen food assistance programs, and expand access to nutritious, affordable foods in low-income communities. Reducing childhood food insecurity and its lifelong effects requires multipronged, collaborative approaches that meet immediate needs while also addressing root causes (4, 7).

Food assistance programs alleviate food insecurity by helping low-income children and families access nutritious and affordable meals. However, many eligible families are not receiving this assistance (3, 8). For example, only 70% of eligible Californians participate in the WIC program (3).

Policy and program options that could improve food security include:

• Working to ensure that food assistance programs—such as WIC, CalFresh (food stamps), and universal school meals—reach those in need by increasing program awareness, reducing stigma, removing enrollment barriers, providing adequate funding and benefits, and developing innovative program partnerships to boost participation (4, 7, 8, 9)
• Maintaining and strengthening state and federal nutrition assistance for low-income children in child care, ensuring that healthy meals reach children with the greatest needs; also, supporting providers by reducing administrative burden, increasing reimbursement, and providing training to improve participation, especially in underserved areas (2)
• Funding and promoting robust nutrition programs, such as Summer EBT and SUN Bucks, that serve low-income children when school is out or when schools are closed due to emergencies; as part of this, ensuring that families are aware of these programs and that meals are provided in safe and welcoming environments, especially for immigrant families (3, 6)
• Supporting local policies, public-private collaborations, and other initiatives and innovations that strengthen community food systems and promote access to sustainable, affordable, and nutritious food for vulnerable families (4, 10)
• Strengthening and streamlining state programs and policies aimed at reducing poverty and economic inequities—such as CalWORKs and the California Earned Income Tax Credit—and improving access to safety net programs for groups experiencing the highest poverty levels, including undocumented immigrants (4, 5, 11)
• Supporting action at the federal level to provide adequate funding for nutrition programs and bolster collaboration across agencies and sectors, while addressing the root causes of food insecurity (4, 6, 7)
• Safeguarding federal data collections on food insecurity and supporting research efforts to fill knowledge gaps about populations most impacted and identify effective solutions (4, 12)