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Food Access and Food Insecurity among Early Childhood Educators and Staff Prior to and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study

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Title: Food Access and Food Insecurity among Early Childhood Educators and Staff Prior to and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study
Language: English
Authors: Rahel Mathews, Leah Pylate, Will Davis, Elizabeth Thorne, Jamila Taylor, Shecoya White, Bennett Pope, Emma Bryant
Source: Journal of Human Sciences & Extension. 2025 13(3).
Availability: School of Human Sciences, Mississippi State University. PO Box 9745, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Tel: 662-325-6861; Fax: 662-325-8188; e-mail: jhse@ext.msstate.edu; Web site: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/jhse/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 27
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Preschool Education
Descriptors: Food, Hunger, Early Childhood Teachers, School Personnel, Early Intervention, COVID-19, Pandemics, Social Services, Federal Programs, Welfare Services, Adjustment (to Environment), Preschool Teachers, Preschool Education, Individual Characteristics, Nutrition
Geographic Terms: Mississippi
Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: Head Start, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children
ISSN: 2325-5226
Abstract: Emerging research indicates that 40% of early childhood education (ECE) workers experience food insecurity. The purpose of this study was to describe the food insecurity and food access of Head Start teachers and staff in Mississippi before the COVID-19 pandemic and to understand how COVID-19 affected food access. A mixed-methods design was employed using cross-sectional surveys, at two different time points, and three focus groups. Three Head Start centers from the Mississippi Coast participated. Approximately 52% of teacher and staff respondents experienced food insecurity before COVID-19; during the pandemic, their level of food insecurity worsened from low to very low and then seemed to improve. Approximately 27% relied on multiple sources of food assistance during COVID-19. The main themes from the qualitative results described how ECE participants and their families changed their daily routines and how they managed resources. For example, some participated in online shopping, while others cut back on groceries. Teachers and school staff, especially in early education, are suffering from food insecurity in Mississippi. Though they have shown some resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, their food insecurity persists. Implications include the need for comprehensive benefits and programs for Head Start and other early childhood educators.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1492261
Database: ERIC
FullText Links:
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  Data: Food Access and Food Insecurity among Early Childhood Educators and Staff Prior to and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rahel+Mathews%22">Rahel Mathews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Leah+Pylate%22">Leah Pylate</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Will+Davis%22">Will Davis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elizabeth+Thorne%22">Elizabeth Thorne</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jamila+Taylor%22">Jamila Taylor</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shecoya+White%22">Shecoya White</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bennett+Pope%22">Bennett Pope</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Emma+Bryant%22">Emma Bryant</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Human+Sciences+%26+Extension%22"><i>Journal of Human Sciences & Extension</i></searchLink>. 2025 13(3).
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  Data: School of Human Sciences, Mississippi State University. PO Box 9745, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Tel: 662-325-6861; Fax: 662-325-8188; e-mail: jhse@ext.msstate.edu; Web site: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/jhse/
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 27
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Food%22">Food</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hunger%22">Hunger</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Early+Childhood+Teachers%22">Early Childhood Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Personnel%22">School Personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Early+Intervention%22">Early Intervention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19%22">COVID-19</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pandemics%22">Pandemics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Services%22">Social Services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Federal+Programs%22">Federal Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Welfare+Services%22">Welfare Services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adjustment+%28to+Environment%29%22">Adjustment (to Environment)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Teachers%22">Preschool Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Individual+Characteristics%22">Individual Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nutrition%22">Nutrition</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mississippi%22">Mississippi</searchLink>
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  Label: Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Head+Start%22">Head Start</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Supplemental+Nutrition+Assistance+Program+%28SNAP%29%22">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Special+Supplemental+Nutrition+Program+for+Women+Infants+and+Children%22">Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children</searchLink>
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  Data: 2325-5226
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Emerging research indicates that 40% of early childhood education (ECE) workers experience food insecurity. The purpose of this study was to describe the food insecurity and food access of Head Start teachers and staff in Mississippi before the COVID-19 pandemic and to understand how COVID-19 affected food access. A mixed-methods design was employed using cross-sectional surveys, at two different time points, and three focus groups. Three Head Start centers from the Mississippi Coast participated. Approximately 52% of teacher and staff respondents experienced food insecurity before COVID-19; during the pandemic, their level of food insecurity worsened from low to very low and then seemed to improve. Approximately 27% relied on multiple sources of food assistance during COVID-19. The main themes from the qualitative results described how ECE participants and their families changed their daily routines and how they managed resources. For example, some participated in online shopping, while others cut back on groceries. Teachers and school staff, especially in early education, are suffering from food insecurity in Mississippi. Though they have shown some resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, their food insecurity persists. Implications include the need for comprehensive benefits and programs for Head Start and other early childhood educators.
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1492261
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1492261
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 27
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Food
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hunger
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Early Childhood Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Personnel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Early Intervention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: COVID-19
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pandemics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Federal Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Welfare Services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adjustment (to Environment)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Individual Characteristics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nutrition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mississippi
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Head Start
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      – SubjectFull: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children
        Type: general
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