The Family and Community Trust (FACT) enters its third year as the KIDS COUNT grantee in Missouri. KIDS COUNT is a national and state-by-state effort to track the well-being of children, through high quality data and trend analysis. We are grateful to the Annie E. Casey Foundation for their generous support of this effort in Missouri.
We just released the 2016 version of the Missouri KIDS COUNT databook. Find it here: mokidscount.org
Columbia, Missouri – In front of a large group of public school administrators gathered for their annual conference, No Kid Hungry Missouri launched The Missouri Breakfast Challenge. The challenge is part of an effort to promote the switch to “Breakfast After the Bell” breakfast models.
Students who eat school breakfast are 20 percent more likely to graduate high school, average 17.5 percent higher on math test scores, and attend 1.5 more days of school per year. But currently, too many students from low-income families miss out on free or reduced-price school breakfast because it is most often served before they arrive, or they do not want to face the stigma of eating alone in the cafeteria. Making breakfast a part of the school day, by serving it in the classroom or at “Grab n Go” carts, can overcome these barriers.
The Missouri Breakfast Challenge offers funding of up to $3000 for qualified schools to help cover the costs of equipment like rolling carts, insulated bags and coolers, and kiosks. Incentives will be awarded to the highest performing schools. Participating schools that see the highest increases in breakfast participation over the school year will be eligible for awards of up to $1000.
Applications will be due no later than September 30, 2016. You can learn more at http://dss.mo.gov/
The Board of Directors of FACT will meet on the following dates in 2016: Spring Meeting: March 10th & 11th, Summer Meeting: June 2nd and 3rd (Annual Meeting), Fall Meeting: September 8th & 9th and Winter Meeting: December 1st & 2nd. Board meetings are held in Columbia, Missouri.
FACT is a founding member of Promising Practices Network- PPN. The PPN website offers credible, research-based information on what works to improve the lives of children and families. Read More