#Children | AM 1180 Radio

August 7, 2026

One in Three Georgia Families With Children Struggle to Afford Enough Food, New Poll Finds

Local News, Local News Items #ChattoogaInfo, #Children, #CommunityNews, #EmoryUniversity, #Families, #FoodInsecurity, #Hunger, #PublicHealth, #RollinsSchoolOfPublicHealth, #RuralGeorgia, #SchoolNutrition, #SNAP, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

A new statewide poll conducted by Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health found that one in three Georgia families with children experience food insecurity, meaning they do not always have reliable access to enough nutritious food.

The survey found that 33% of Georgia families with children reported low or very low food security, while 18% said they had skipped meals, gone hungry or eaten less because they could not afford enough food. Researchers also found that many parents are sacrificing their own meals to ensure their children have enough to eat.

Food insecurity was found to be especially severe in rural parts of the state. According to the poll, 43% of rural Georgia families with children reported food insecurity, compared with 31% of families in urban and suburban areas.

Researchers warned the problem could worsen as changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) take effect, potentially making it more difficult for some families to qualify for benefits and increasing administrative costs for the state.

The poll surveyed 1,002 Georgia parents and highlights growing concerns about rising grocery prices, access to food assistance and the impact food insecurity can have on children’s physical health, mental well-being and academic performance.

August 1, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

CDC: Nearly Two-Thirds of U.S. Children Consume Caffeine Daily, Often From Unexpected Sources

Local News, Local News Items #Caffeine, #CDC, #ChattoogaInfo, #Children, #Coffee, #EnergyDrinks, #Health, #HealthyLiving, #Nutrition, #SoftDrinks, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Nearly two-thirds of children and teenagers in the United States consume caffeine on any given day, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study found that 69% of Americans ages 2 to 19 consume caffeine, but soft drinks are no longer the primary source for many younger children.

Among children ages 2 to 11, the leading source of caffeine was sweet bakery products, including brownies, cookies, cakes and pastries made with chocolate. For teenagers, coffee was the top source, followed by soft drinks, tea and energy drinks. Overall, coffee accounted for about 31% of caffeine intake among youth, followed by soft drinks at 27%, tea at 16%, sweet bakery products at 10%, and energy drinks at 6%.

The CDC also found that caffeine consumption increases with age. About 52% of children ages 2 to 5 consumed caffeine on a given day, compared with 73% of those ages 12 to 19.

Health experts caution that while there is no federally established safe daily caffeine limit for children, excessive caffeine can interfere with sleep, increase anxiety, raise heart rate and blood pressure, and contribute to headaches and other health concerns. The CDC recommends that children younger than 2 years old avoid caffeinated beverages entirely, and parents are encouraged to pay attention to caffeine found in foods as well as drinks.

July 23, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

CareSource Reverses 20% Therapy Rate Cut For Some Georgia Providers

Local News, Local News Items #BehavioralHealth, #CareSource, #ChattoogaInfo, #Children, #GeorgiaMedicaid, #healthcare, #northwestgeorgia, #OccupationalTherapy, #PhysicalTherapy, #RuralHealthcare, #SpeechTherapy, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

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CareSource has reversed a controversial 20% reimbursement rate cut for some pediatric therapy providers in Georgia following months of criticism from families, therapists and state lawmakers. However, the change does not apply to every provider, leaving some clinics facing reduced payments and uncertainty.

The rate reduction, which took effect earlier this year, affected providers offering services such as speech, occupational, physical and behavioral therapy to children enrolled in Georgia Medicaid. Many providers warned the cuts threatened access to care, particularly in rural areas where therapy options are already limited. Some clinics reduced services or stopped accepting CareSource patients altogether.

According to Atlanta News First, CareSource has notified some providers that it will restore reimbursement rates, but others remain excluded from the reversal. Those providers say the uneven decision continues to create financial challenges and could still impact access to therapy for Georgia children.

June 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Medicaid Payment Cuts Could Threaten Therapy Services for Children with Special Needs

Local News, Local News Items #Autism, #ChattoogaInfo, #Children, #DisabilityAdvocacy, #healthcare, #LocalNews, #Medicaid, #northwestgeorgia, #OccupationalTherapy, #PhysicalTherapy, #SpecialNeeds, #SpeechTherapy, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, #YourHometownRadioStation, georgia 0

Families of children with special needs across Georgia are raising concerns after proposed Medicaid payment reductions could make it harder to access critical therapy services.