El Congreso se está quedando sin tiempo para financiar completamente un programa que proporciona apoyo alimentario y de salud a madres lactantes y a niños de hasta cinco años.

Greta Allen de Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger dice que si el Congreso no se ocupa de un déficit de un $1 billón de dólares para el Programa Especial de Nutrición Suplementaria para Mujeres, Bebés y Niños, conocido como WIC, más de 2 millones de familias perderán un apoyo crítico, incluyendo 25 mil futuros padres y niños en Colorado.

"WIC atiende a casi la mitad de los bebes nacidos en Estados Unidos," dice Allen. "El programa proporciona alimentos nutritivos, derivándolos a centros de salud, ofrece información sobre alimentación sana y es realmente un salvavidas para las nuevas familias de bajos ingresos."

La financiación actual de WIC expirará el 19 de enero a menos que el Congreso actúe.

Los republicanos de la Cámara de Representantes han propuesto recortar las prestaciones del WIC en un proyecto de ley del USDA para intentar frenar lo que consideran una fuga del gasto público.

La medida se produce después de que el Congreso, bajo amenaza de incumplir los pagos de los préstamos de la nación, negociara nuevos requisitos laborales para los beneficiarios del SNAP, el programa antes conocido como food stamps.


WIC ayuda a las familias a comprar fórmula infantil, alimentos para bebés, frutas, verduras y otros alimentos nutritivos aprobados.

Allen señala que cada dólar invertido en el programa WIC supone un importante ahorro en costos médicos, ya que previene el bajo peso al nacer y mejora la salud infantil.

Añade que el acceso a alimentos sanos desde la infancia mejora la capacidad del niño para tener éxito en la escuela y convertirse en un adulto económicamente independiente.

"El programa WIC celebra su 50 aniversario y es la primera vez en su historia que no cuenta con apoyo bipartidista," agrega Allen. "Es inaceptable que se cuestione esta inversión, porque estamos hablando de mujeres, bebes y niños."

Cerca de 92,000 familias de Colorado participaron en WIC el año pasado, y Allen dice que más de $35 millones de dólares de WIC se reinvirtieron en las comunidades de Colorado.

Añade que, si el Congreso no financia totalmente el programa, algunas familias se verán más afectadas que otras.

"Esto tendrá un impacto desproporcionado en las familias negras e hispanas," asegura Allen. "Y se debe a que sabemos que las familias de color tienen más probabilidades de calificar para recibir asistencia, debido a las dificultades y barreras económicas sistémicas que experimentan."

Everybody loves to get something free and right now, kids aged 12-17 can get a fishing and hunting license at no cost from the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

The license is good for one year and normally sells for $15.

Bobby Jones, outdoor connection coordinator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, said the free licenses are funded by donations to the Nevada Youth License Fund.

"This is actually the third year that the program's been active," Jones explained. "We keep it open as much as possible. We're just limited by the amount of donations that we have. Right now, we have almost 2,000 available and they go fast."

Youth can get a free license on the Nevada Department of Wildlife website or wherever the licenses are sold. Children under age 12 do not need a fishing license. The state said almost two-thirds of the kids who have taken advantage of the program in the past have never had a hunting or fishing license before.

Jones emphasized the program is designed to tempt kids to leave the digital world behind for a short time and enjoy some time outdoors. It could lead them to even consider a nature-based career like wildlife biology, forest management or outdoor education.

"Essentially what we're up against is a lot of kids are engaged in their phones and social media, TV," Jones pointed out. "They're constantly bombarded with things. We're trying to make it a little bit easier for them to enjoy the outdoors."

Some of the most popular fishing spots include Lahontan in the Fallon area, Wild Horse and South Fork in Eastern Nevada, and Lake Mead down south.


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The University of Nebraska is addressing a shortage of lawyers who represent the state's most vulnerable children, especially in rural areas.

The attorneys are being equipped to work with kids who have suffered through physical, emotional, or financial trauma - and are often living in poverty.

Of Nebraska's 5,500 licensed attorneys, only 7% of them practice in rural areas.

Michelle Paxton, director of the Nebraska Children's Justice and Legal Advocacy Center, said two thirds of child neglect and abuse cases originate outside the Lincoln and Omaha metro areas, in what she calls "rural legal deserts."

"We have twelve counties in Nebraska with zero attorneys living in those counties," said Paxton. "We have 22 with less than three."

Paxton said that there are too few qualified rural child justice attorneys, which means lawyers may drive hundreds of miles for juvenile cases, creating delays and court backlogs.

The University of Nebraska program will add lawyers trained to handle issues unique to children in low-income families.

Attorneys who work on juvenile court cases are getting the tailored knowledge they need, but Paxton added that the program is also creating an opportunity for those attorneys to network and get support from other lawyers in the field - who are often isolated.

"And so they don't often have another attorney doing this type of work that they can rely on for support and mentorship," said Paxton, "and our program provides that support and mentorship so that they are not only willing to continue working in juvenile court, increase their hours in juvenile court and increase their commitment. "

The advocacy center will also develop a case-tracking tool, enabling people to find an attorney online.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.



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Statistics show one in five children in Texas struggles with hunger.

Approximately 10,000 students a day are getting a nutritious meal through the Summer Food Service Program offered by the Houston Food Bank. The meals are distributed across the food bank's 18-county region.

Jourdan Stansberry, senior manager of education programs for Houston Food Bank, said they partner with summer camps, churches and other nonprofit organizations to serve the students. She added anyone who is not near a meal site can take advantage of their non-congregate option.

"Sites that are considered rural by the Texas Department of Agriculture," Stansberry explained. "It's a grab-and-go model where families can pick up the meals, It's like a five-day bundle of frozen meals, breakfast and snacks, so 10 meals all together. They're able to pick it up and take it home."

Locations of the meal sites in the Houston area and across Texas are available at the Department of Agriculture's Summer Meal Site Map. The meals are available to anyone 18 years old or younger or students with a disability, up to 21 years old.

The meals are distributed at more than 250 sites around the Houston area. Students do not have to register to take advantage of the meals. Stansbury emphasized it is a great way to ensure kids have access to fresh fruits and vegetables during the summer. She added the menus consist of more than just a sandwich and chips.

"One thing that I know has been pretty popular is our orange chicken with rice, and we also have broccoli, vegetable-medley side that goes along with that. We saw also chicken tikka masala," Stansbury outlined. "We try to expose them to different meals, not only healthwise but also culturally."

The Houston Food Bank expects to distribute around 800,000 meals this summer. The meal program runs through Aug. 8.


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