A Study On The Historical Development And Operational Management Of Domestic Food Assitance Policies In America

Food and nutrition assistance, through which the government intends to eliminate hunger and build the societal safety net, is an integral component of welfare policies in modern states. The Federal Government of the United States has, since 1930s, developed a comprehensive system of multiple domestic food assistance programs targeting specific groups of people who are nutritionally at risks.This study is carried out to examine the historical development and operational management of those domestic food assistance programs. The theoretical framework of policy paradigm and paradigm shift is adopted to examine the evolution of food assistance policy as a whole, followed by separated analyses of two major food assistance programs, namely the Food Stamp Program (FSP) and School Feeding program. It is expected that useful lessons can be drawn for China from the experience of implementing food and nutrition assistance programs in the States.It is found that the evolution of domestic food assistance policy has gone through three policy paradigms:Paradigm of Stimulating Agriculture (1930-1960), Paradigm of Combating Poverty (1960-1980) and Paradigm of Improving Nutrition (1980-).The Food Stamp Program (FSP), which has developed around the primary goal of improving food access and nutrition among low-income household members, remains an integral component of the social safety net in the United States. FSP is well operated through sophisticated legislations and the Quality Control system, while defined roles of federal and local governments in program management enhance its efficiency and secure program funding. School feeding in the U.S.,starting with school lunch, and complemented by breakfast, milk, afterschool snacks, fresh fruit and vegetables, has now developed into a comprehensive school feeding system and maintains operation with high efficiency and effectiveness via permanent legislation, federal financing and nutrition requirements.The historical development and operational management of food and nutrition assistance programs in the United States shed light upon how the Chinese government should secure food and nutrition for the low-income people and school-aged children.