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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.

March 18, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Focus To Highlight Music’s Impact On Alzheimer’s And Brain Health

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This weekend on Georgia Focus, hear how artistic engagement could help promote brain health and emotional well-being for people living with Alzheimer’s disease.

The program will spotlight research involving Dr. Monica Parker, a neurologist with the Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Emory, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, which recently awarded $200,000 to support research in partnership with Arts + Health Laboratory: Georgia’s NeuroArts Coalition.

Researchers are studying how music and other forms of art may improve mood, behavior, and daily functioning for people living with cognitive impairment. The two-year project is designed to gather more data on how music-based interventions can positively affect brain health and overall well-being.

Dr. Parker says research already shows music can benefit people with cognitive impairment, but more study is needed to better understand what kind of music and what level of exposure may be most effective.

Tune in this Sunday morning at 6 a.m. to Georgia Focus on WZQZ to hear more from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and Dr. Monica Parker as they discuss the positive effects of music on people with brain-related conditions.