Covering Coronavirus: Soaring Child Hunger and Unmet Needs

The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in soaring levels of child hunger and unmet needs in families across the nation. The lives of already economically precarious families have been upended during the pandemic, with school cafeterias shuttered, unemployment shattering records and food bank lines stretching for miles. One recent survey of mothers with young children found that kids weren’t getting enough to eat in one out of five households. While many schools have continued to serve meals through pickup lines or drop-offs, the share of kids receiving them is small. Meanwhile, struggling parents report not having enough money to buy diapers, and difficulty finding groceries covered by federal benefits. Many families are falling behind in rent even as emergency assistance programs are set to expire. This webinar explored what this deepening crisis means for child development and family well-being, as well as what policies might help. It also explored fresh angles for deeper reporting on hunger, food insecurity and other unmet needs in your community.

This webinar is a project of the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, NIHCM Foundation and The California Endowment.