In the News: Colleen Heflin

This research brief examines how different types of material hardship (difficulty paying for food, bills, and health care) are associated with self-rated health, depression, sleep problems, and suicidal thoughts among U.S. young adults (ages 24-32).

The author first provides an overview of the prevalence of food insecurity by age. Then, the author provides a brief summary of the food programs that are currently available in the United States and discusses how the life-course perspective can inform future policy and research.

In a choice between basic necessities, often, food is the first expense to be slashed, a decision that can result in adverse health effects for high-risk people. "This could put a further strain on the non-COVID health care system," says Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs.

“The COVID pandemic is a great example of a current event that is changing every aspect of society—from how families are organized to how we deliver education and the structure of work,” says Professor of Public Administration and International Affairs Colleen Heflin.

Maxwell School’s X Lab is helping the City of Syracuse collect overdue property taxes by redesigning their letters with a graphic, attention-grabbing message that has resulted in nearly $100,000 of unlikely payments. The X Lab, created a year and a half ago, has the potential for other scholars, offering students real-world sandboxing opportunities and working with public and nonprofit clients at a lower cost than private consultants.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is an important federal resource that provides nutritional assistance to low-income families. Timing of SNAP benefits can reduce childhood injuries.

"Disability, obesity, and poor mental health all affect our long-term economic sustainability and social well-being. The underlying causes of many of these issues are deeply connected," says Shannon Monnat, Lerner Chair for Public Health Promotion. "Social scientists are in a prime position to identify underlying social, economic, and policy-related mechanisms, and strategies to mitigate them."

COVID-19 has created numerous challenges for Americans in their ability to meet their basic needs. One specific economic challenge is the ability to pay mortgage or rent.

The coronavirus pandemic has created widespread economic disruption, exacerbating American household food insufficiency.