AJ Scheitler, EdD, is the director of development, engagement, and strategic planning, and coordinator of the National Network of State and Local Health Surveys at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. She leads the Center's development activities and fosters funder relationships. Scheitler also manages several large programs at the Center, including a national network of population health survey leaders and data users promoting the improved collection and dissemination of critical local and state health data.

Prior to joining the Center, Scheitler conducted federal resource development activities for a number of institutions of higher education and lobbied Congress and the federal government for the interests of education organizations and post-secondary schools. She has experience at the state government level as well, having served as the chief of staff for the Florida Senate Minority Leader.

Scheitler holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Northeastern University, a master's degree in adult education and training from Colorado State University, and a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Central Florida.

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SNAP on College Campuses: Findings and Recommendations to Address Food Insecurity
Policy Research Report
Policy Research Report

SNAP on College Campuses: Findings and Recommendations to Address Food Insecurity

Food insecurity and hunger are important issues that impact a significant number of students across the United States. Food insecurity refers to lacking reliable access to enough food to lead a healthy life.

This report provides evidence on effective campus-based and program practices in California for connecting students to CalFresh, the state’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The evidence can inform multiple audiences including campus administrators and staff, CalFresh leadership, and policy leaders in California. Other states considering similar SNAP rule changes can benefit from the lessons learned in California.

The study team worked with basic needs offices at institutions in the three public higher education systems in California: University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges. Authors recruited schools with on-campus basic needs programs that connect qualifying students to the CalFresh application process. In addition to the home institutions of the study team, UCLA and Cal State Fullerton, authors engaged the study sites of UC Davis, Fresno State, Los Angeles Mission College and Napa Valley College.

The authors identify effective campus-based and CalFresh program practices for connecting students to CalFresh and other food assistance programs and make recommendations for SNAP/CalFresh policy, administrative practice, and institutional programs.

food insecurity fact sheet covers
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet

Easing Food Insecurity Among College Students: CalFresh Recommendations for SNAP Administrators

Addressing food insecurity on college campuses can have a dramatic impact on the health and educational outcomes of students. The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), called CalFresh in California, is a primary means of addressing food insecurity on college campuses.

Findings: Based on a survey of students at six college campuses (UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, UC Davis, Fresno State, Los Angeles Mission College, and Napa Valley College), authors of this fact sheet found that half of those college students reported experiencing food insecurity, including 28% who skipped meals because they couldn't afford food.

Authors analyze what characterizes a well-run campus-based CalFresh program for students and the challenges those programs face. They make recommendations to SNAP administrators on how to build successful programs and promote student use of CalFresh.

food insecurity fact sheet covers
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet

Easing Food Insecurity Among College Students: CalFresh Recommendations for Campus Programs

Addressing food insecurity on college campuses can have a dramatic impact on the health and educational outcomes of students. The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), called CalFresh in California, is a primary means of addressing food insecurity on college campuses.

Findings: Based on a survey of students at six college campuses (UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, UC Davis, Fresno State, Los Angeles Mission College, and Napa Valley College), authors of this fact sheet found that half of those college students reported experiencing food insecurity, including 28% who skipped meals because they couldn't afford food.

Authors analyze what characterizes a well-run campus-based CalFresh program for students and the challenges those programs face. They make recommendations to campus administrators on how to build successful programs and promote student use of CalFresh. 

food insecurity fact sheet covers
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet

Easing Food Insecurity Among College Students: CalFresh Recommendations for Policymakers

Addressing food insecurity on college campuses can have a dramatic impact on the health and educational outcomes of students. The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), called CalFresh in California, is a primary means of addressing food insecurity on college campuses.

Findings: Based on a survey of students at six college campuses (UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, UC Davis, Fresno State, Los Angeles Mission College, and Napa Valley College), authors of this fact sheet found that half of those college students reported experiencing food insecurity, including 28% who skipped meals because they couldn't afford food.

Authors analyze what characterizes a well-run campus-based CalFresh program for students and the challenges those programs face. They make recommendations to state and local policymakers on how to build successful programs and promote student use of CalFresh.

food insecurity fact sheet covers
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet

Easing Food Insecurity Among College Students: CalFresh Recommendations for SNAP Administrators

Addressing food insecurity on college campuses can have a dramatic impact on the health and educational outcomes of students. The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), called CalFresh in California, is a primary means of addressing food insecurity on college campuses.

Findings: Based on a survey of students at six college campuses (UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, UC Davis, Fresno State, Los Angeles Mission College, and Napa Valley College), authors of this fact sheet found that half of those college students reported experiencing food insecurity, including 28% who skipped meals because they couldn't afford food.

Authors analyze what characterizes a well-run campus-based CalFresh program for students and the challenges those programs face. They make recommendations to SNAP administrators on how to build successful programs and promote student use of CalFresh.

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food insecurity fact sheet covers
Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet

Easing Food Insecurity Among College Students: CalFresh Recommendations for Policymakers

Addressing food insecurity on college campuses can have a dramatic impact on the health and educational outcomes of students. The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), called CalFresh in California, is a primary means of addressing food insecurity on college campuses.

Findings: Based on a survey of students at six college campuses (UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, UC Davis, Fresno State, Los Angeles Mission College, and Napa Valley College), authors of this fact sheet found that half of those college students reported experiencing food insecurity, including 28% who skipped meals because they couldn't afford food.

Authors analyze what characterizes a well-run campus-based CalFresh program for students and the challenges those programs face. They make recommendations to state and local policymakers on how to build successful programs and promote student use of CalFresh.

SNAP on College Campuses: Findings and Recommendations to Address Food Insecurity
Policy Research Report
Policy Research Report

SNAP on College Campuses: Findings and Recommendations to Address Food Insecurity

Food insecurity and hunger are important issues that impact a significant number of students across the United States. Food insecurity refers to lacking reliable access to enough food to lead a healthy life.

This report provides evidence on effective campus-based and program practices in California for connecting students to CalFresh, the state’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The evidence can inform multiple audiences including campus administrators and staff, CalFresh leadership, and policy leaders in California. Other states considering similar SNAP rule changes can benefit from the lessons learned in California.

The study team worked with basic needs offices at institutions in the three public higher education systems in California: University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges. Authors recruited schools with on-campus basic needs programs that connect qualifying students to the CalFresh application process. In addition to the home institutions of the study team, UCLA and Cal State Fullerton, authors engaged the study sites of UC Davis, Fresno State, Los Angeles Mission College and Napa Valley College.

The authors identify effective campus-based and CalFresh program practices for connecting students to CalFresh and other food assistance programs and make recommendations for SNAP/CalFresh policy, administrative practice, and institutional programs.

Q&A
Ask the Expert

Three Questions with AJ Scheitler on Breast Cancer

​AJ Scheitler is the Center coordinator of stakeholder relations and lead author of new findings on three main types of barriers women with breast cancer face in California. In this brief interview, Scheitler discusses a pending state bill on breast cancer care time limits, barriers to accessing care, and gaps in awareness of patient rights.

Q:  How would the proposed bill, SB-945, help low-income women who have breast cancer?

​Currently, a woman who enrolls in the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (BCCTP) has a limit of 18 months of treatment for breast cancer and 24 months for cervical cancer. No woman who needs more [time] to complete her breast cancer care program should be told she’s now on her own. The bill would eliminate the prescribed time limits and instead provide coverage throughout treatment, whether that is 12 months or 20 months.

Q:  Your study says more than 29,000 women in the state will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Why do so few doctors treat women with the disease?

​This barrier is not exclusive to the number of physicians and treatment centers in California. Certainly, the challenge of finding providers varies by insurance status and the size of the available network. However, multiple other factors can complicate access, such as geography or language. While an obvious example of a barrier is an immigrant living in a rural area seeking a doctor that can speak Tagalog, it can be just as difficult for a woman in Los Angeles who depends on public transportation to find conveniently located breast cancer providers.

Q:  Aren’t some of the issues identified in your study, such as rights to interpreters for limited-English proficient patients and/or the ability to keep a current provider if insurance status changes already covered by state law?

​Yes, unfortunately, we did identify some barriers that seemingly should not be given current state laws. The fact that we heard that language barriers still stop women from getting timely care demonstrates a gap in services. This includes the timely availability of an interpreter when a patient has an appointment or during other interactions, like scheduling appointments or receiving pre-appointment instructions

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Center in the News

UCLA Data Equity Center to Offer Expertise to Needy

The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research has launched the Data Equity Center to help ensure that historically marginalized populations and their needs are more accurately represented in the vast pools of information government, business and philanthropy are using to make crucial decisions.

News https://www.miragenews.com/ucla-data-equity-center-to-offer-expertise-to-1181703/
Center in the News

Three strategies to break down barriers to breastfeeding and lower women's risk of breast cancer

When it comes to encouraging women in California to breastfeed, health care providers, insurance companies and employers need to be doing more, according to recommendations in a new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

News https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-strategies-barriers-breastfeeding-women-breast.html

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Online

Using CalFresh to Address Food Insecurity Among College Students: Recommendations from the Front Lines

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2024 E.R. Brown Symposium

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Intersection Between Identity and Data: An Innovative Approach to Disaggregating Data Among the Hispanic and Latino Communities