State Policy & Advocacy

State governments have the important task of administering the federal nutrition programs that support children and families. Engaging in state-level public policy can improve program efficiency and effectiveness and provide state-specific, innovative policy solutions to the issue of childhood hunger. This section reviews available public policy options for states to realize the full potential of child nutrition programs.

Overview

State governments play a critical role in the safety net for children and families: not only do states have significant authority in the administration of federal programs, but states can also enact policies that expand upon or complement federal programs as well as fill gaps. 

For more background on the federal nutrition assistance programs that states administer and examples of how states have taken action to improve or expand them through policy efforts, please see the pages devoted to each program:

Additionally, states can address child poverty and food insecurity through the state tax code. For more information, view our page on tax credits.  

State Briefing Books

The No Kid Hungry 2023 State Briefing Book is available for all 50 states. It will introduce the impact of the No Kid Hungry campaign in your state, the challenge of child food insecurity, and the programs and policies that can improve access to food and nutrition in communities.