Programs News

Iowa has decided not to participate in the federal program to feed underprivileged kids next summer due to obesity among children.

The state had time until January 1 to apply to the Summer’s EBT Program that would have provided $29 Million in funding to Iowa using which, the state can feed 240,000 kids during the summer months when the school is out.

Iowa would be required to split the costs of administering the program to the tune of about $2.2 Million in exchange for the funding.

Reynolds said, “Federal COVID-era cash benefit programs are not sustainable and don’t provide long-term solutions for the issues impacting children and families. An EBT card does nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic.”

Reynolds argued that the Summer EBT Program was not compatible with the existing food assistance programs under the Iowa Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Reynolds said, “HHS and the Department of Education have well-established programs in place that leverage partnerships with community-based providers and schools who understand the needs of the families they serve”.

The governor thinks that the Biden Administration and Congress should invest in already existing programs and infrastructure and give the state the flexibility to tailor the program to their needs.

This decision of Iowa’s Governor will hurt struggling Iowa’s families and this is why she announced it via a press release.