The transition from high school to early adulthood is a time when students must learn how to handle elements of daily life independently, and it is a particularly challenging time to experience food insecurity. Students who previously had access to food benefits in high school, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program may have trouble retaining that support, particularly if they move away from home and must re-apply on their own. Eligibility rules that apply only to college students may also present another barrier. Connecting more young people to the public benefits they’re eligible for may help them to succeed in college or their early careers.
The California Policy Lab partnered with California’s education systems and social services agencies to build a linked database of student-level administrative data on student enrollment, financial aid, and SNAP participation (called CalFresh in California) to make research on this topic possible. This report provides new insights on participation in CalFresh during the final years of high school and the first few years after high school and the factors that influence whether students continue to receive benefits.