Caregiver Incarceration and Incarceration-Related Barriers to SNAP Among Young Children

OBJECTIVES We aimed to describe young children in lower-income households with caregiver incarceration, explore incarceration-related barriers to resources, and investigate associations between Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation and health. We hypothesized that families experienced incarceration-related barriers to resources and that SNAP participation was associated with improved child outcomes. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from Children’s HealthWatch (April 2021-July 2024), a survey of young children (aged 0–48 months), and caregivers interviewed in 5 US cities. Our analytic sample comprised caregivers of children in lower-income households (publicly insured/uninsured) responding to the question regarding whether the child’s caregiver experienced incarceration (including immigration detention). We assessed characteristics and outcomes (general health, developmental risk, child/household food insecurity) based on caregiver incarceration experience and SNAP participation using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression, controlling for child and caregiver factors. RESULTS Of the sample (N = 4439), 18.1% of caregivers reported that the index child had a caregiver who ever experienced incarceration. Of caregivers of children who experienced caregiver incarceration, 9.8% reported incarceration-related barriers to accessing resources. Among children with caregiver incarceration, SNAP participation was associated with lower adjusted odds of developmental risk (adjusted odds ratio: 0.56, 95% CI 0.36–0.87). SNAP participation was not associated with child general health or food insecurity. DISCUSSION One in five children in lower-income households had a caregiver who experienced incarceration. Incarceration-related barriers to resources impact households, which may have implications for developmental outcomes for this high-risk population. Reducing barriers to resources may improve the well-being of children whose caregivers have experienced incarceration.