Emily Mowers Master of Public Policy Defense,

Monday, May 22, 2023

Title: The COVID-19 Hunger Cliff: A Narrative Policy Framework Analysis of the ongoing fight over pandemic-era universal school lunch policies

Abstract: The Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) has emerged as a method of understanding how stories and evidence are portrayed within policy discussions and what end goals these policy narratives aim to meet. This study applies the Narrative Policy Framework to policy narratives used to discuss and share policies and policy beliefs about temporary emergency waivers authorized by Congress to expand the National School Lunch Program during the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequently push for universal school lunch adoption. Through an analysis of relevant policy narratives created by politicians and shared online, common narrative elements, strategies, and themes were identified and the interactions between these three categories and the strategic use of each narrative piece was further revealed. This analysis provides a clear picture of how narrative can be used to expand and strengthen a discussion involving any policy, using universal lunch policies as an example.

Committee: Mark Edwards (chair), Susan Shaw, Stephanie Grutzmacher

Date: Monday, May 22nd, 2023

Time: 9:00 AM PST

Location: virtual only. Contact Erin.Heim for the Zoom link.