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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02877147

The Evaluation of the Summer EBT for Children Demonstration

The Summer Electronic Benefit for Children (SEBTC) demonstration provided food assistance to households with school-aged children during the summer through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) procedures used by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) programs. The evaluation design included two components: an impact study and an implementation study. The evaluation assessed the impact of SEBTC on children's food security and nutritional status, household food expenditures and purchasing behaviors, parental perceptions, and participation in nutrition assistance programs. The implementation study analyzed SEBTC use patterns using administrative data, and described demonstration implementation and costs.

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Key information

Conditions

Food Insecurity Among Children Dietary Modification

Age range

4 year–18 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

The SEBTC evaluation took place in the summers of 2011 through 2014. Ten grantees implemented the demonstration in a total of 16 sites; the number of participating sites and/or the evaluation components differed by year. In 2011, 5 grantees with five sites participated and the evaluation included implementation and cost analysis, EBT analysis, and an impact study. In 2012, 10 grantees implemented SEBTC in 14 sites and the evaluation included the same study components. In 2013, four grantees with six sites participated and the study components included EBT analysis and an impact study (no implementation or cost data collection). Finally, in 2014, three grantees participated in three sites and only implementation data were collected. Information on human subjects was collected for the evaluation's impact evaluation.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Households with children who were certified to receive the National School Lunch program or the School Breakfast Program in the prior school year in participating sites, Summers 2011-2013

Treatment and study plan

SEBTC

Other

SEBTC benefits were issued on EBT cards using either the existing EBT delivery systems for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC). Sites selected only one of the two EBT systems to be used to implement SEBTC prior to random assignment; households were not randomized to a specific delivery system.

Other names: food assistance, electronic benefit transfer payments

Primary outcomes

  1. Very low food security among children according to the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module, 30-day reference period

    Time frame: Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued

    The food intake of any child in the household is reduced and their normal eating patterns are disrupted because the household lacks money and other resources for food

Secondary outcomes

  1. Food insecurity among children according to the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module, 30-day reference period

    Time frame: Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued

    Any child in the household experienced very low food security or experienced reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet.

  2. Children's fruit and vegetable consumption

    Time frame: Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued

    Average daily cup equivalents of fruit and vegetables

  3. Children's fruit and vegetable consumption without fried potatoes

    Time frame: Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued

    Average daily cup equivalents of fruit and vegetables, excluding fried potatoes

  4. children's whole grain consumption

    Time frame: between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued

    Average daily consumption of whole grains (in ounces)

  5. Children's dairy consumption

    Time frame: Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued

    Average daily dairy consumption cup equivalents

  6. Children's consumption of low- and non-fat milk

    Time frame: Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued

    Any milk consumed was low- or non-fat

  7. Children's consumption of added sugars

    Time frame: Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued

    Average daily consumption of added sugars (in teaspoons)

  8. Children's consumption of added sugars excluding cereals

    Time frame: Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued

    Average daily consumption of added sugars excluding cereals (in teaspoons)

  9. Children's consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages

    Time frame: Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued

    Average daily consumption of sugars (in teaspoons) from sugar-sweetened beverages

Other outcomes

  1. Participation in SNAP

    Time frame: Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued

    Household participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

  2. Participation in WIC

    Time frame: Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued

    Household participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children

  3. Food expenditures

    Time frame: Between 30 and 120 days after SEBTC benefits were issued

    Total food expenditures from all sources (e.g., cash, SNAP, SEBTC)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Abt Associates

Industry

Collaborators

  • Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
  • Maxiumus
  • USDA Food and Nutrition Service

Registry information

Official study title

The Evaluation of the Summer Electronic Benefits for Children Demonstration

Acronym: SEBTC

Important dates

Study start
2011
Primary completion
2013
Study completion
2014
First posted
Aug 24, 2016
Registry last updated
Aug 24, 2016

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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