CT Expands Children's Food Benefits WIth Federal Grant

CONNECTICUT — The state will run a Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children program over the next three years in an effort to explore ways to alleviate hunger among low-income children during the summer.

The Department of Social Services, in collaboration with the state Department of Education, made the announcement that Connecticut was selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday. It is one of only four states and tribal nations approved for the program.

The Summer EBT program is slated to bring $5.7 million in additional federal food benefits to underserved areas of Connecticut. It joins ongoing food security efforts through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Summer Food Service program, along with special projects like the recent Pandemic EBT program. Other locations selected by the USDA to receive the unique grants include Missouri, Oregon, and the Cherokee Nation.

The state agencies applied for the grants in part because this year's COVID-19 public health emergency has shown the need for accessible nutrition options for children, specifically during the summer months.

Connecticut’s successful application proposed to significantly expand previous approaches to serve over 31,500 additional children each summer. Previous Summer EBT demonstration projects provided $374,880 in benefits to 4,165 Connecticut children in 2017, and $458,820 in benefits to 7,647 children in 2018.

The new federal aid will reach children identified as vulnerable, including those who have the most difficult time reaching a State Department of Education summer food site because of their location or lack of public transportation. Families will not have to apply for Summer EBT assistance, which will bring an additional $60 in food benefits per child. Information about eligibility and how children are identified for the service will be available in April 2021.

"USDA Summer EBT grants allow states to be innovative, testing new ways to reach children with limited access to food during the summer months,” said Brandon Lipps, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services with the USDA. "This year’s national public health emergency has shown the need for agile nutrition assistance programs that can reach children in need wherever they are."