The Family Support Snapshots series provides a brief look at public programs in Minnesota and examines their importance to children, families, and the state as a whole. Each brief includes information on what the program entails, who qualifies for the program, why the program is beneficial, estimates of participation rates in Minnesota, and how you can help increase program participation and encourage policy changes to improve the program.
For more information about CDF's Family Supports Snapshots, contact:
Andi Egbert, Research Director, at egbert@cdf-mn.org or 651-855-1184, or
Megan Brown, Research Associate, at intern1@cdf-mn.org or 651-855-1177.
To learn how you can help with outreach efforts for these public programs, contact:
Elaine Cunningham, Outreach Director, at cunningham@cdf-mn.org or 651-855-1176, or
Ryan Johnson, Outreach Specialist, at johnson@cdf-mn.org or 651-855-1175.
Family Support Snapshot #2: Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program
This CDF report reveals that burdensome energy costs can adversely affect children's health, but that programs such as Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program (EAP) have a protective effect. CDF highlights a national study, the Children's Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Project (C-SNAP), which found that children living in families who received help paying energy bills were less likely to be undernourished, underweight, and even hospitalized than young children in similar households.
EAP defrays part of the cost of home heating and electrical bills, yet only about 30% of qualifying Minnesota households — roughly 134,000 — receive help, largely due to meager federal funding. Energy assistance programs in every state are funded by federal dollars for LIHEAP, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Each year, Congress must decide LIHEAP funding levels, and each year millions of qualifying households go without help. Funding for federal fiscal year 2007 has yet to be finalized, and will be decided by the newly seated 110th Congress.
The CDF report urges increasing federal funding for LIHEAP so that fewer vulnerable families and individuals will forego basic needs to keep the heat on.
Read the press release
Read the Entire Snapshot
Download the unformatted Snapshot with complete references
Download an article about the Children's Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program (C-SNAP) study, published in the journal Pediatrics on November 22, 2006
Additional resources about the Energy Assistance Program and LIHEAP
Find the Energy Assistance Program agency that serves your county
Learn more about applying for the Energy Assistance Program
Get an application for the Energy Assistance Program
(Available in English, Spanish, Somali, Hmong, Russian and Vietnamese)
Family Support Snapshot #1: School Breakfasts and Lunches
The National School Lunch Program and the National School Breakfast Program improve students' school achievement by keeping hunger from interfering in the classroom. The programs also contribute directly to the national and local farm economy. Lastly, these school meals support families while strengthening Minnesota, bringing about $109 million in federal money to our state each year and directing state money to schools in need.
Yet Minnesota trails nearly all states in offering breakfast programs for its low-income students, forfeiting millions of federal dollars. Our state can do more to make sure all eligible students are enrolled in free and reduced-price lunches, as well as expanding breakfast programs to give all students the best start to their school day.
View the press release
Download the full brief
Download the unformatted brief with complete references
View school-specific information, including 2005-2006 total enrollment and free and reduced-price lunch enrollment, and estimates of state compensatory aid for the 2006-2007 school year
View your school district's free lunch enrollment for 2005-2006, compared to other districts and counties (at the Center for Rural Policy's Atlas Minnesota website)
Additional Resources about School Breakfasts and Lunches
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