Late tonight Congress is set to vote on a House bill that would take away health coverage and food assistance from families across the nation, including families right here in Arkansas. Specific to food assistance, roughly $300 billion in cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are expected by enacting harsh work requirements for parents of school-aged children and older adults, as well as a requirement that states, for the first time in the 50-year history of the program, pay for a share of food benefits. In Arkansas, the cost of paying that share would add up to more than $50 million – money that our state does not have.  

Even without cuts to SNAP, Arkansas has the highest food insecurity rate in the country at a rate of 18.9%. And food insecurity among children in Arkansas is even higher at almost 25%. As such, these proposed cuts to SNAP will result in less food on the table for Arkansans who are already struggling. There will also be a financial loss to the 2,700 retailers in our state who accept SNAP benefits, including small family-owned businesses.  

But there are also other ripple effects if these SNAP cuts are enacted. Studies show that when children’s bellies are full, they do better in school and have improved short-term and long-term health outcomes. If children are not receiving the food they need at home, it is likely that academic performance may decline and nutritional deficiencies may result in conditions ranging from anemia, rickets, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and more. 

But that’s not all. A new policy bulletin from Chapin Hall finds that access to food security programs, like SNAP and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), also help reduce families’ involvement with child protective services (CPS). The policy bulletin highlights research showing that caregivers experiencing economic hardships — meaning difficulty paying for basics such as food, medical care, housing, or utilities — are more likely to become involved with CPS and that communities with higher food insecurity also have higher child maltreatment reporting rates.  

Let’s be clear: cuts to SNAP do not mean more children will be maltreated. Poverty is not maltreatment, so a home lacking regular access to food — due to reduced SNAP benefits, different SNAP eligibility requirements, or for other reasons — does not automatically mean a child is being neglected or abused. However, evidence suggests that there may be an increase in the number of reports to the Child Abuse Hotline. These reports may come from individuals fulfilling their mandated reporter duties or other well-meaning citizens who do not know where else to turn when they worry about a child getting enough to eat, for example. If the report is accepted, it is then typically the responsibility of the Department of Human Services (DHS) to determine if there is a preponderance of the evidence, meaning more likely than not, that maltreatment occurred. DHS will offer services to keep the child safely in the home if possible and otherwise strengthen the family unit. If the child is found to be in immediate danger, then DHS will take the child into foster care.  

So, does it matter if there are increased calls to the Child Abuse Hotline as a result of cuts to SNAP and other safety net programs? Absolutely. Even if DHS determines there are no safety or well-being concerns in a home, contact from CPS is incredibly invasive. It is another stressor for families that often already have a long list of daily challenges. Further, it means stretching already limited CPS resources thin by requiring staff to respond to the report.  

The policy bulletin cites numerous studies providing evidence that policies that increase access to food assistance like SNAP are associated with improved child safety and reduced risk for child welfare system involvement. However, if the proposed House Budget passes, access to SNAP will only decrease. With so many families in Arkansas already struggling with hunger, now is not the time to cut SNAP.  

Contact your congressional delegation here to ask them to reject the House Budget.