Hi all,

As many of you may know child feeding programs are my pet peeve.  If you
check the Click for HP archive there is a nice collection of our discussion
around the issue.

http://www.opc.on.ca/click4hp/c4hpflyr.htm

There is also a nice paper called A Glimpse Of Child Hunger In Canada
                      Lynne McIntyre, Sarah Connor, James Warren
                      October 1998      w-98-26Es

http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/arb/conferences/nlscyconf/w-98-26es-e.pdf

Recently I read a piece on the Ottawa Child Feeding programs that annoyed
me (I am trying to get a copy) anyway it said something to the affect that
"Children who are suffering from malnutrition can not learn well"

What concerned me was the question of malnutrition.  Are children in
Ontario suffering from malnutrition and do HPers think that a program that
runs from Sept to June and gives out breakie items is going to address the
issue?

Where are we in our thinking of these programs?

Thanks all,

S

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From:   Dennis Raphael[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]


Gearing up for the new term, I have come across a number of resources that
may be of interest. Fee free to forward on...

I. First two articles that get at the core of feeding (breakfast) programs
issues.

        McIntyre, Travers, & Dayle, J. (1999).  Children's feeding programs
in
Atlantic Canada:  reducing or reproducing inequities?  Canadian Journal of
Public Health, 90, 196-201.

 McIntyre et al concluded:

"By providing nutritional opportunities, programs do feed a minority of
poverty-stricken children, thereby reducing nutritional inequalities
somewhat.  However, the need for adequate nutritious food is neither
prevented nor eliminated by these programs.  Instead, feeding programs may
be turning children and their families into dependent clients.  Based on
our analysis, children's feeding programs in Atlantic Canada appear to be
reproducing, rather than reducing inequities." (p. 199)

        Travers, K. D. (1996).  The social organization of nutritional
inequities.
 Social Science and Medicine, 43, 543-553.

Travers concluded:

"The implications for policy-makers are numerous. The research exposed a
variety of oppressive policies contributing to the perpetuation of
nutrition and health inequities. In order to reach Canada's stated goal of
Achieving Health for All, these policies must be changed. The task is a
large one, and recognizably difficult given the domination of market
liberal discourse guiding policy.  But, if reducing inequities is truly a
health challenge worth striving for, political change is essential" (p.
552).