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Filtered by: Social Policy and Inequality

Waiving Physical Presence Requirements During the COVID-19 Pandemic Increased WIC Caseloads

Colleen Heflin, William Clay Fannin, Leonard Lopoo, and Camille Barbin
This brief summarizes findings from a study that compared WIC caseload data collected across 738 counties in 10 U.S. states between January 2019 and May 2021 to determine how these waives affected WIC participation.
November 19, 2024

How Does the Reauthorization of the Farm Bill Impact SNAP?

Colleen Heflin and Camille Barbin
Negotiations on a new Farm Bill have included SNAP proposals to limit state discretion on work requirements during periods of low job availability, indefinitely freeze the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan, and lift the ban on prepared meals. This brief describes how these proposals could increase food insecurity and suggests way the new Farm Bill could better serve the nutritional needs of low-income households.
October 16, 2024

Stability and Volatility in the Contextual Predictors of Working-Age Mortality in the United States

Jennifer Karas Montez, Shannon M. Monnat, Emily E. Wiemers, Douglas A. Wolf, Xue Zhang

“Stability and Volatility in the Contextual Predictors of Working-Age Mortality in the United States,” co-authored by Maxwell faculty members Jennifer Karas Montez, Shannon Monnat, Emily Wiemers and Douglas Wolf, was published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

September 17, 2024

The Effects of Waiving WIC Physical Presence Requirements on Program Caseloads

W. Clay Fannin, Colleen Heflin, Leonard M. Lopoo

“The Effects of Waiving WIC Physical Presence Requirements on Program Caseloads,” co-authored by Maxwell professors Colleen Heflin and Leonard Lopoo, and Ph.D. student W. Clay Fannin, was published in Social Service Review.

September 11, 2024

Participating in Childcare Subsidy Programs Increases Employment and Annual Earnings for Working Parents

William Clay Fannin, Colleen Heflin, Taryn Morrissey, Siobhan O’Keefe
This brief describes associations between childcare subsidy program participation and household employment and earnings outcomes among low-income families in Virginia. 
July 31, 2024

Earnings and Employment Patterns Following Child-Care Subsidy Receipt

W. Clay Fannin, Colleen Heflin, Taryn Morrissey
“Earnings and Employment Patterns Following Child-Care Subsidy Receipt,” co-authored by Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs, and Ph.D. student W. Clay Fannin, was published in Social Service Review.
July 1, 2024

Pay-to-Stay as Stategraft

Gabriela Kirk-Werner, April D. Fernandes. Brittany Friedman

“Pay-to-Stay as Stategraft,” co-authored by Assistant Professor of Sociology Gabriela Kirk-Werner, was published in the Wisconsin Law Review.

April 18, 2024

Social Infrastructure Availability and Suicide Rates among Working-Age Adults in the United States

Xue Zhang, Danielle C. Rhubart, Shannon M. Monnat

“Social Infrastructure Availability and Suicide Rates among Working-Age Adults in the United States,” co-authored by Professor of Sociology Shannon Monnat, was published in Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World.

April 10, 2024

Adopting the Standard Medical Deduction Increased State SNAP Enrollment and Benefits

Yuwei Zhang, Jun Li, Dongmei Zuo, and Colleen M. Heflin
Simplifying administrative requirements for SNAP would make it easier for older adults and people with disabilities to participate in the program.
February 21, 2024

Geographically specific associations between county-level socioeconomic and household distress and mortality from drug poisoning, suicide, alcohol, and homicide among working-age adults in the United States

Xue Zhang, Shannon M. Monnat

"Geographically specific associations between county-level socioeconomic and household distress and mortality from drug poisoning, suicide, alcohol, and homicide among working-age adults in the United States," co-authored by Professor of Sociology Shannon Monnat, was published in SSM - Population Health.

January 11, 2024

Waiving SNAP Interviews during the COVID-19 Pandemic Increased SNAP Caseloads

Colleen Heflin, William Clay Fannin, Leonard Lopoo, and Siobhan O’Keefe
Counties that implemented the SNAP interview waiver during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced a 5% increase in SNAP participation.
January 10, 2024

Behavioral Science Interventions Could Increase SNAP Comprehension and Awareness Among Military Families

Colleen Heflin, Hannah Patnaik, Leonard Lopoo, and Siobhan O’Keefe
Making small behavioral science informed changes to SNAP informational flyers increased military & veteran families’ knowledge about benefits & may help to increase SNAP uptake in this population. 
November 15, 2023

Explaining the U.S. rural disadvantage in COVID-19 case and Death rates during the Delta-Omicron surge: The role of politics, vaccinations, population health, and social determinants

Malia Jones, Mahima Bhattar, Emma Henning, Shannon M. Monnat

"Explaining the U.S. rural disadvantage in COVID-19 case and Death rates during the Delta-Omicron surge: The role of politics, vaccinations, population health, and social determinants," co-authored by Professor of Sociology Shannon Monnat, was published in Social Science & Medicine.

September 6, 2023

Adoption Of Standard Medical Deduction Increased SNAP Enrollment And Benefits In 21 Participating States

Jun Li, Dongmei Zuo, Colleen Heflin

"Adoption Of Standard Medical Deduction Increased SNAP Enrollment And Benefits In 21 Participating States," co-authored by Professors Jun Li and Colleen Heflin, and Ph.D. student Dongmei Zuo, was published in Health Affairs.

August 8, 2023

Local Control, Discretion, and Administrative Burden: SNAP Interview Waivers and Caseloads During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Colleen Heflin, William Clay Fannin, Leonard Lopoo

"Local Control, Discretion, and Administrative Burden: SNAP Interview Waivers and Caseloads During the COVID-19 Pandemic," co-authored by Maxwell faculty members Colleen Heflin and Leonard Lopoo, and doctoral student William Clay Fannin, was published in The American Review of Public Administration.

July 25, 2023

Moving Policies Toward Racial and Ethnic Equality: The Case of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Alfonso Flores-Lagunes, Hugo Jales, Judith Liu, Norbert Wilson

"Moving policies toward racial and ethnic equality: The case of the supplemental nutrition assistance program," co-authored by economists Alfonso Flores-Lagunes and Hugo Jales, was published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.

May 22, 2023

Medicaid-Insured Older Adults on SNAP May Have Stronger Medication Adherence

Colleen Heflin, Chinedum O. Ojinnaka, Irma Arteaga, Leslie Hodges, and Gabriella Alphonso
Older adults who experience gaps in SNAP participation have lower levels of medication adherence for hypertension. 
April 19, 2023

The Social and Community Consequences of the Opioid Epidemic

Rajeev Darolia, Colleen Heflin

"The Social and Community Consequences of the Opioid Epidemic," co-authored by Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs, was published in The ANNALS of the Academy of Political and Social Science.

April 4, 2023

Children in Economically Disadvantaged Households Have Lower Early Literacy Skills than their Higher-Income Peers

Michah W. Rothbart, Colleen Heflin, and Gabriella Alphonso

Children in low-income families who participate in food and income support programs (such as SNAP and TANF) have lower literacy skills in kindergarten than those who do not participate in these programs. 

March 23, 2023

Demographic and Geographic Variation in Fatal Drug Overdoses in the United States, 1999–2020

Shannon Monnat

"Demographic and Geographic Variation in Fatal Drug Overdoses in the United States, 1999–2020," authored by Shannon Monnat, professor of sociology, was published in the ANNALS of of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.

March 20, 2023

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Center for Policy Research
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