Department of Agricultural & Human Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27659, USA.
Division of Health & Exercise Science, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR 97361, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Sep 2;17(17):6390. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17176390.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a critical program that helps reduce the risk of food insecurity, yet little is known about how SNAP addresses the needs of rural, food-insecure residents in the United States (U.S.). This study examines how rural, food-insecure residents perceive SNAP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 153 individuals living in six diverse rural regions of Arkansas, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and West Virginia. SNAP was described as a crucial stop-gap program, keeping families from experiencing persistent food insecurity, making food dollars stretch when the family budget is tight, and helping them purchase healthier foods. For many rural residents interviewed, SNAP was viewed in a largely positive light. In efforts to continue improving SNAP, particularly in light of its relevance during and post-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, policymakers must be aware of rural families' perceptions of SNAP. Specific improvements may include increased transparency regarding funding formulas, budgeting and nutrition education for recipients, effective training to improve customer service, connections among social service agencies within a community, and increased availability of automation to streamline application processes.
补充营养援助计划（SNAP）是一个重要的项目，有助于降低食品不安全的风险，但人们对该计划如何满足美国农村地区食品不安全居民的需求知之甚少。本研究调查了农村地区食品不安全居民对 SNAP 的看法。在阿肯色州、蒙大拿州、北卡罗来纳州、俄勒冈州、德克萨斯州和西弗吉尼亚州的六个不同农村地区，对 153 名个人进行了半结构化访谈。SNAP 被描述为一个至关重要的临时计划，使家庭避免长期的食品不安全，在家庭预算紧张时帮助他们节省食品开支，并帮助他们购买更健康的食品。对于接受采访的许多农村居民来说，他们对 SNAP 的看法总体上是积极的。为了继续改进 SNAP，特别是考虑到它在冠状病毒（COVID-19）大流行期间和之后的相关性，政策制定者必须了解农村家庭对 SNAP 的看法。具体的改进措施可能包括增加对资金计算公式的透明度、为接受者提供预算和营养教育、加强培训以提高客户服务、在社区内建立社会服务机构之间的联系以及增加自动化程度以简化申请流程。
