2020 Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics (RIDGE) Conference

The 2020 RIDGE Conference, planned for virtual attendance on October 14, will feature new economic research aimed at enhancing food security and dietary quality for low-income Americans. Both new and established investigators who were 2019 RIDGE grantees will present on a variety of topics: evaluating the impact of nutrition-driven changes in school meals; influences of labor policy on SNAP; nutrition assistance participation among populations of interest including college students and multigenerational households; and others. An agenda with all sessions, participants, and presentation topics is available. RIDGE is administered in partnership with Tufts University and the University of Connecticut.

Location and date:

The 2020 RIDGE Conference is set for October 14 at 11 a.m. ET via Zoom.

Registration:

Attendance is free, but advance registration is required. For additional details or questions, please email ERSFEDRIDGE@usda.gov. In order to receive the Zoom link for the virtual conference, you must register in advance.

2020 Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics (RIDGE) Conference

11-11:15 Opening remarks

Jay Variyam, director, Food Economics Division, Economic Research Service, USDA

Melissa Abelev, assistant deputy administrator for policy support, Food Nutrition Service, USDA

Parke Wilde, Tufts/UConn RIDGE program director

Session A: Effect of Child Nutrition Program Changes on Student Outcomes

Moderator: Tatiana Andreyeva, Tufts/UConn RIDGE program associate director

11:15-11:45 Did the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act Help Improve Dietary Quality Among School-age Children?

Pourya Valizadeh, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

11:45-12:15 Breakfast in the Classroom, Body Mass Index, and Academic Outcomes

Michael Thomsen, University of Arkansas

12:15-12:30 Break

Session B: Labor Policy Implications for SNAP

Moderator: Sara John, Tufts University

12:30-1 SNAP and Work-related Policies: An In-depth Analysis of Low-wage Worker Perspectives and Behaviors

Caitlin Caspi, University of Minnesota

1-1:30 Labor Supply Distortions from Nutrition Assistance Programs: Evidence From a Bunching Estimator

Jason Cook, University of Pittsburgh

1:30-1:45 Break

Session C: Role of Nutrition Assistance in Key Demographic Groups

Moderator: Leslie Hodges, Economic Research Service, USDA

1:45-2:15 Understanding Barriers to SNAP Enrollment Among College Students

Maggie Dickinson, CUNY Guttman

2:15-2:45 SNAP, School Meals, and the Food Security of Multigenerational Households

Agustina Laurito, University of Illinois at Chicago

2:45-3 Break

Session D: WIC/SNAP and the Wellbeing of Families with Young Children

Moderator: Courtney Paolicelli, Food Nutrition Service, USDA

3-3:30 Food Insecurity and Child Food Consumption Patterns Among WIC Participating Families in Los Angeles County Within the Context of the WIC Food Package Change and WIC + SNAP Concurrent Participation

Pia Chaparro, Tulane University

3:30-4 Does Maternal Depression Caused by Food Insufficiency Influence Parenting Practices and Impact Infant Wellbeing? The role of SNAP.

Irma Arteaga, University of Missouri

4-4:15 Closing Remarks and Adjournment

Parke Wilde, Tufts/UConn RIDGE program director

Christian Gregory, chief, Food Assistance Branch, Economic Research Service, USDA

4:15-4:45 Virtual networking/social time