Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Among Child Welfare-Involved Families

Using a national probability sample of families involved in child welfare, we estimated food stamp participation rates based on child placement following maltreatment investigation. Of the 69% of households that retained their child after investigation and were eligible for food stamps, 73% participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; of the 51% of kinship foster homes that were eligible, 58% participated; and of the 22% of traditional foster homes that were eligible, 26% participated. Participation rates for households involved in child welfare were lower than for households in the general population; traditional foster homes participated at the lowest rates. Outreach to child welfare-involved families and child welfare agencies are needed to increase enrollment.