School Meals for All: A Qualitative Study Exploring Lessons in Successful Advocacy and Policymaking in Maine and California

Amelie A Hecht; Wendi Gosliner; Lindsey Turner; Kenneth Hecht; Christina E Hecht; Lorrene D Ritchie; Michele Polacsek; Juliana Fw Cohen

doi:10.1016/j.jand.2024.04.018

School Meals for All: A Qualitative Study Exploring Lessons in Successful Advocacy and Policymaking in Maine and California

J Acad Nutr Diet. 2024 May 6:S2212-2672(24)00206-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2024.04.018. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Amelie A Hecht¹, Wendi Gosliner², Lindsey Turner³, Kenneth Hecht⁴, Christina E Hecht⁵, Lorrene D Ritchie⁶, Michele Polacsek⁷, Juliana Fw Cohen⁸

Affiliations

¹ National Poverty Fellow, Institute for Research on Poverty, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1180 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706. Electronic address: AHecht2009@gmail.com.
² Project Scientist, Nutrition Policy Institute, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, 2115 Milvia Street, Suite 301, Berkeley, CA, 94704. Electronic address: wgosliner@ucanr.edu.
³ Research Professor, College of Education, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725. Electronic address: lindseyturner1@boisestate.edu.
⁴ Director of Policy, Nutrition Policy Institute, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, 1111 Franklin Street, Tenth Floor, Oakland, CA 94607. Electronic address: kenhecht34@gmail.com.
⁵ Senior Policy Advisor, Nutrition Policy Institute, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, 1111 Franklin Street, Tenth Floor, Oakland, CA 94607. Electronic address: ceahecht@ucanr.edu.
⁶ Director and Cooperative Extension Specialist, Nutrition Policy Institute, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, 1111 Franklin Street, Tenth Floor, Oakland, CA 94607. Electronic address: lritchie@ucanr.edu.
⁷ Professor of Public Health, Center for Excellence in Public Health, University of New England, Linnel Hall, Room 212, 716 Stevens Avenue, Portland, ME. Electronic address: mpolacsek@une.edu.
⁸ Department of Public Health and Nutrition, Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike Street, North Andover, MA 01845; Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115. Electronic address: cohenj@merrimack.edu.

PMID: 38718858
DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2024.04.018

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic focused national attention on food insecurity, equity, and the role of school meal programs in supporting children, families, and communities. In doing so, the pandemic created a rare policy window - an opportunity to advance a longstanding public health goal of guaranteed access to free school meals for all students. In July 2021, California and Maine became the first states to authorize school meal for all legislation (also known as universal free meals).

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore perspectives of policymakers, state agency officials, and advocates on the conditions and mechanisms that facilitated passage of school meal for all legislation in California and Maine.

Design: A qualitative case study was conducted.

Participants: Between December 2021 and June 2022, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 policymakers, state agency officials, and advocates.

Analysis: Performed: Interviews were analyzed using principles of content analysis. Key themes are organized using Kingdon's multiple streams framework for public policy.

Results: Eleven key themes were identified. Lessons are drawn from the policy and advocacy strategies used to advance laws in California and Maine. For instance, paving the way with incremental policy change, tailoring messaging to diverse audiences, and organizing at the grassroots and grasstops levels were critical to success of advocacy efforts.

Conclusions: Promising practices can guide efforts to expand access to school meals and advance other child nutrition policies in other states and nationally. Moving forward, lessons learned from implementation of universal free school meal legislation in California, Maine, and other early adopters should be documented and shared.

Keywords: advocacy; policy; qualitative research; school meals; universal free meals.