Low-Income Caregivers with Young Children Experience Risk and Resilience Through Pandemic-Related Stressors

In March 2020, United States government implemented health and safety mandates, including school closures, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). As a result, some caregivers with young children were forced to take on new roles. Low-income households with young children appeared to be more highly impacted than other groups, experiencing acute pandemic-related stressors on top of previous vulnerabilities. Using qualitative analysis, this study examined how low-income caregivers with young children adapted to pandemic-related stressors and how stressors may have altered relationships and well-being in the household (Daks et al., 2020). Two research questions were examined: (1) how have relationships been altered by the pandemic, and (2) how have pandemic-related resource disruptions impacted well-being? Low-income caregiver responses (N= 38) to two open-response questions were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Researchers extracted four themes answering the research questions. Findings delineate that low-income caregivers with increased resources appeared to build stronger relationships with their child/ren, whereas caregivers who encountered more stressors reported reduced feelings of well-being. Additionally, young children experienced feelings of isolation, as they missed relationships outside of the household. When lockdowns were lifted, their relationships outside the household were reported to have improved. These findings can be used to support families and young children in areas where they are most vulnerable post-pandemic

Food justice youth development: Using Photovoice to study urban school food systems

How do youth learn through participation in efforts to study and change the school food system? Through our participatory youth action research (YPAR) project, we move beyond the youth as consumer frame to a food justice youth development approach. We track how a group of youth learned about food and the public policy process through their efforts to transform their own school food systems by conducting a participatory evaluation of farm-to-school efforts in collaboration with university and community partners. We used the Photovoice research method, placing cameras in the hands of young people so that they themselves could document and discuss their concerns and perspectives. The research was designed to gain insight about youths’ knowledge of food, health, and community food systems. Drawing upon the youth group\u27s insights, we build a framework for building critical consciousness through food justice youth development (FJYD)