Story Behind the Curve
Strategies to improve these indicators
Why Is This Important?
Many low-income families in Baltimore City struggle with stability, due to a lack of access to services and resources needed to meet basic needs, particularly in areas of nutrition and mental health. Childhood hunger is prevalent; the U.S. food insecurity rate for household with children is 21% with 10.7% of food insecure household with child reporting reduced quantity and quality of food for their children. In Baltimore City, 13.5% of all households report food insecurity and a Baltimore City Health Department survey conducted in 2009 found that 23% of all respondents reported being concerned about not having enough food in the past 30 days.[1] Additionally, 36.5% of children in Baltimore City live below the poverty line and during the 2014-15 school year 84% of children in Baltimore City were eligible for the Free and Reduced Price Meal Programs.[2] After the passage of recent Community Eligibility Provision legislation, the district has been able to qualify all students as being in need of free meals, and as such 100% of Baltimore City Public School students are now considered eligible.
[1] Baltimore City Health Department, Presentation on Food Insecurity
[2] Maryland Poverty Profiles, 2016, Maryland Alliance for the Poor
Measures
Period
Trend
% Change