Level of Food Security and Understanding of Cost of Food Among K-12 Students Participating in Open Hours at Joe Williams Family Center
Start Date
April 2026
Location
2nd floor - Library
Abstract
Food insecurity refers to the distance between a person or cohort and meal-skipping. It is caused by a social or economic inequality and its symptoms include uncertainty about where one will next find food, lack of access to healthy food and the need to use socially unacceptable methods to access food (Fram et al., 2011). Many studies have examined the physical effects of hunger and meal-skipping, but limited research informs the age at which students experiencing food insecurity take on responsibilities in providing food for their household.
This study is a cross-sectional survey that aims to identify the age at which students who attend the Joe Williams Family Center (JWFC) understand the cost of food in terms of money, time and safety. JWFC Is located in Lower Price Hill, ranked by the City of Cincinnati (2021) as having the fifth most residents living poverty; additionally, data from Santa Maria Community Services (2024) indicates each participant in the study qualifies for free or reduced lunch.
In part one, the survey evaluates their level of self-reported food security with the USDA Child Food Security Module. In part two, they survey evaluates their understanding of the cost of food and the burdens students are likely to make to put food on the table.
Level of Food Security and Understanding of Cost of Food Among K-12 Students Participating in Open Hours at Joe Williams Family Center
2nd floor - Library
Food insecurity refers to the distance between a person or cohort and meal-skipping. It is caused by a social or economic inequality and its symptoms include uncertainty about where one will next find food, lack of access to healthy food and the need to use socially unacceptable methods to access food (Fram et al., 2011). Many studies have examined the physical effects of hunger and meal-skipping, but limited research informs the age at which students experiencing food insecurity take on responsibilities in providing food for their household.
This study is a cross-sectional survey that aims to identify the age at which students who attend the Joe Williams Family Center (JWFC) understand the cost of food in terms of money, time and safety. JWFC Is located in Lower Price Hill, ranked by the City of Cincinnati (2021) as having the fifth most residents living poverty; additionally, data from Santa Maria Community Services (2024) indicates each participant in the study qualifies for free or reduced lunch.
In part one, the survey evaluates their level of self-reported food security with the USDA Child Food Security Module. In part two, they survey evaluates their understanding of the cost of food and the burdens students are likely to make to put food on the table.
