Projects

Project Overview

This study evaluated a series of demonstrations underway in the United States that aimed to streamline the certification process for participation in the Food and Nutrition Service’s school nutrition programs. As subcontractor to Mathematica Policy Research, Insight designed, implemented, and reported on an evaluation of demonstrations to provide direct certification for children who receive Medicaid benefits to receive free National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs meals (NSLP and SBP).

The evaluation had three components:

• Evaluate the potential of the demonstrations to improve access to school meals for children in low-income families.
• Assess the impact of the demonstration on NSLP and SBP program cost and participation.
• Assess the cost of a socioeconomic certification alternative, and compare this alternative to the other certification processes.

For this study, Insight—

• Developed the sampling plan
• Assisted in the development and update of the study plan
• Developed and pretested the data collection instrument
• Prepared the OMB package
• Conducted data collection, including focus groups across states
• Conducted the qualitative data analysis
• Assisted in development of the final report and briefing

Products

Final report (September 2016)