School Nurses and Food Insecurity: Guidance for Advocacy and Action in Schools

Abstract

School nurses are vital in addressing food insecurity affecting 6.5 million U.S. households with children, leveraging leadership and care coordination skills to tackle this adverse social determinant of health. As frontline advocates, they can bridge gaps in food access through key strategies: promoting universal school meal programs to ensure stigma-free access to nutritious meals and supporting Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) to sustain families during summer breaks. They can advance produce prescription (PRx) programs for fresh produce access and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-Ed to boost nutrition literacy. Implementing the Hunger Vital Sign screening tool allows early identification of food insecurity, linking families to SNAP, food pantries, and community resources. By forging partnerships with schools, policymakers, and local organizations, school nurses can integrate care coordination principles to address systemic inequities, improve child nutrition, and foster academic success. Their role as trusted health leaders positions them to drive equitable solutions, ensuring students thrive through holistic, community-centered, school-based interventions.