A county-level study suggests that withdrawing emergency food assistance was followed by gradual increases in substantiated child neglect and physical abuse.
A new study suggests that when states ended the pandemic-era boost to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, child maltreatment cases rose in the counties affected. Researchers writing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine said the findings point to a wider consequence of food policy changes: they may shape not only household budgets and food security, but also child welfare.
The analysis covered child welfare data from 1,153 counties across the United States between January 2021 and February 2022, using records from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. During that period, 10 states, including Arkansas, Florida and Tennessee, phased out the extra benefits at different points, while other states kept them in place, giving researchers a chance to compare trends. The study ended before a second group of states withdrew the aid later in 2022.
Liwei Zhang of the University of Georgia, the study’s lead investigator, said the end of the expanded benefits was linked to rises in substantiated maltreatment overall, including neglect and physical abuse. Zhang also said the increase appeared gradually after the extra assistance stopped, suggesting that the harm may build as families continue to face financial strain rather than showing up all at once.
The researchers noted that reports of alleged maltreatment did not rise in the same way as confirmed cases, suggesting the change was not simply the result of more families being referred to authorities. Their work adds to earlier research showing that emergency allotments reduced food hardship, while other studies have linked SNAP participation more broadly with lower food insecurity, less child maltreatment and better health outcomes for children. As policymakers weigh future changes to nutrition support, the findings add to evidence that assistance programmes can affect child safety as well as hunger.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
