Question

Outline and describe the adult and child nutrition programs in the United States including: assistance provided, population served, agency providing program, legislation program authorized under (if applicable), and eligibility for the following programs:

SNAP

SNAP Ed

CSFP

TEFAP

USDA foods

National School Meals Programs

Summer food service program

CACFP

WIC

EFNEP

Head Start

SFMNP

Meals on Wheels

Congregate meals

Answer 1

SNAP:

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is the nation’s most important anti-hunger program. In a typical month in 2018, SNAP helped 40 million low-income Americans afford a nutritionally adequate diet.

The SNAP benefit formula targets benefits according to need: very poor households receive larger benefits than households closer to the poverty line since they need more help affording an adequate diet.

SNAP ED:

SNAP-Ed Connection

SNAP-Ed personnel use SNAP-Ed Connection to:

• Share information with other states, reducing duplication of efforts
• Share best practices and successes, improving the program overall
• Receive training and professional development
• Obtain program resources such as stock photographs, recipes, curricula, and evaluation tools
• Stay connected to the National SNAP-Ed program priorities

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) funds and maintains this online resource center.

SNAP-Ed

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) (PDF, 305 KB) is a grant program. SNAP-Ed funds projects in all US States and Territories. SNAP-Ed projects encompass:

• Nutrition education
• Social marketing
• Policy, systems, and environmental change (PSE)

Goal

The goal of SNAP-Ed is to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for SNAP will make healthy food and lifestyle choices that prevent obesity.

FNS chooses projects based on their effectiveness. All projects adhere to the SNAP-Ed Guiding Principles (PDF, 241 KB).

SNAP-Ed in Your State

SNAP-Ed has a different name in each state. Learn about the program in your state by visiting your state's SNAP-Ed Program page.

Partnerships

SNAP-Ed encourages partnerships with agencies, companies, and foundations. SNAP-Ed programs also collaborate with other USDA nutrition programs such as:

• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) (PDF, 264 KB)
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Funding

SNAP-Ed is funded through the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The Final Rule (PDF, 256 KB) was published in the Federal Register on March 31, 2016. The rule codifies SNAP-Ed provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

CSFP:

Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

The federal government Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) can provide an assortment of free food and groceries to the low income. Nutritious commodities, referrals to social services, and nutrition education are all part of the program. Assistance is wide ranging, and is offered for seniors who are sixty years of age or older, pregnant women and families with children up to age six. Several conditions need to be met before the Commodity Supplemental Food Program will provide families with groceries, commodities and food. Find how to apply below. All services are offered at no cost to qualified families.

While the U.S. Department of Agriculture funds and manages the program at the national level, aid is distributed at the state and local county level. State governments will subcontract with non-profit agencies, food pantries, and charities throughout the area for the distribution of the food to those who need help. Each state may have their own eligibility requirements that is used for determining exactly who is eligible to receive assistance from CSFP.

As indicated above, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program is targeted at certain individuals. It is extensive in that over 500,000 people will receive some form of nutritional aid from the program every year. In general, the following can apply for help.

• Women and their children that can’t qualify for the federal government Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) due to their financial or personal situation may be able to receive assistance from CSFP.
• Elderly who are 60 years of age or older.
• Non-breastfeeding women 6-12 months postpartum may be eligible.
• Families with children who are six years old or younger may be able to receive free food and surplus items.
• Families that can’t qualify for other government aid, such as welfare.

Outline and describe the adult and child nutrition programs in the United States including: assistance provided, population served, agency providing program, legislation program authorized under (if applicable), and eligibility for the following programs: TEFAP USDA foods National School Meals Programs Summer food service program

Outline and describe the adult and child nutrition programs in the United States including: assistance provided, population served, agency providing program, legislation program authorized under (if applicable), and eligibility for the following programs:

TEFAP:

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) provides food assistance to underprivileged Americans through the distribution of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) commodities. Under TEFAP, USDA foods are made available to states for distribution to households for use in preparing meals for home consumption or to organizations that prepare and provide meals for those in need.

Foods are distributed free, but recipients of food for home use must meet program eligibility criteria set by the state. State Agencies receive the food and oversee distribution. Local agencies, usually food banks, shelters, and soup kitchens have been designated by the state to distribute the food to eligible participants.

TEFAP provides food regularly for households in need, and is a separate program from USDA's Disaster Assistance Commodity Food Program, which provides food for mass feeding and household use of victims of natural disasters.

Training:

Please contact the Utah State Board of Education Child Nutrition Program (CNP) for training requests.

Resources:

Household Programs(External Web Content)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

Resources

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) /Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

Policy

In coordination with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) our office distributes policy memorandums to provide guidance and clarify program requirements and regulations.

Program Cost: In FY 2020, Congress appropriated $397.1 million
for TEFAP - $317.5 million to purchase food and
$79.63 million for administrative support for State and local agencies. In addition to USDA Foods purchased with appropriated funds, TEFAP distributes ‘bonus’ foods
purchased by USDA to support agriculture markets. In FY 2018, $403.2 million of such foods were made available to TEFAP.

USDA FOODS:

The Food and Nutrition Service(FNS) is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The FNS is the federal agency responsible for administering the nation's domesticnutrition assistance programs. Theservice helps to address the issue of hunger in the United States.

The USDA Foods in Schools program supports domestic nutrition programs and American agricultural producers through purchases of 100% American-grown and -produced foods for use by schools and institutions participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), among other programs.

USDA regulations protect and promote U.S. agricultural health, administer the Animal Welfare Act, carry out wildlife damage management activities, and ensure that America's agricultural exports are protected from unjustified trade restrictions.

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health regulatory agency responsible for ensuring that domestic and imported meat, poultry and processed egg products are safe, wholesome and correctly labeled and packaged.

List of the Agencies under USDA:

1. Agricultural Marketing Service(AMS).

2. Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

3. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

4. Economic Research Service (ERS).

5. Farm Service Agency (FSA).

6. Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

7. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

8. Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

National School Meal Program:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day.

California requires that all public schools must provide at least one nutritious meal (meeting federal standards) daily to all free or reduced priced meal eligible students. The law also requires that severe-need schools have a breakfast program for providing breakfast to low-income children.

The National School Lunch Programis an entitlement program that guarantees a set reimbursement for each qualifying meal or snack served. Low-income children are eligible to receive reduced-price or free meals at school.

Agencies that participate in the program are reimbursed from two sources: the USDA and the State of California. State reimbursement is paid for all free and reduced price meals. Federal reimbursement is paid for all free, reduced price, and paid meals. Visit Rates, Eligibility Scales, and Funding for current rates.

Summer food service program:

Summer Food Service Program

In 2019, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provided meals to 2.7 million children each day at 47,463 sites during the program's peak month of July. SFSP served more than 143 million meals and snacks at a cost to USDA of $481 million in fiscal year (FY) 2019, primarily during summer vacation.

SFSP sites are administered by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and include schools, camps, parks, playgrounds, housing projects, community centers, churches, and other public sites where children gather in the summer. Sites are eligible to offer free USDA-funded meals and snacks if:

• The sites operate in areas where at least half of the children come from families with incomes at or below 185 percent of the Federal poverty level, or
• Half or more of the children served by the site meet this income criterion (see FNS's Summer Food Service Program).

Many low-income children also obtain free meals while school is out through the Seamless Summer Option of the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs (see FNS's School Meals).

The Summer Food Service Programhas undergone numerous amendments of its own since its conception in 1975. In 1981, “poor economic conditions” was expanded to fifty-percent of the children who qualify for free and reduced price meals, were eligible to participate.

SFSP provides an opportunity to continue a child's physical and social development while providing nutritious meals during long vacation periods from school. It helps children return to school ready to learn.

The Summer Food Service Program(SFSP) is a federally-funded, state-administered program.

CACFP:

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) reimburses child and adult care institutions and family or group day care homes for providing nutritious meals and snacks to the children and older adults or chronically impaired persons with disabilities in their care.

As part of their regular care, children and adults receive nutritious meals and snacks at child care centers and homes that participate in CACFP. Child care centers, adult day care centers, day care homes, afterschool care centers, and emergency shelters receive cash reimbursement for serving meals and snacks that meet Federal nutritional guidelines to eligible children and adult participants.

Eligible children include infants and children through age 12 in child care centers and day care homes. Children of migrant workers are eligible through age 15. Eligible adults are enrolled in adult day care and are at least 60 years of age or physically or mentally impaired. In afterschool care centers and emergency shelters, children through age 18 are eligible.

Centers and day care homes may be approved to claim reimbursement for serving up to two meals and one snack to each eligible child or adult participant, each day. Emergency shelters may serve up to 3 meals per day. At-risk afterschool care centers may serve up to one meal and one snack per day.

CACFP reimburses centers at free, reduced-price, and/or paid rates for eligible meals and snacks served to eligible children and adult participants.

In day care homes, all meals are served free. Day care home providers that serve children in low income areas, or meet low income eligibility requirements themselves, receive higher levels of reimbursement.

WIC:

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

The WIC Program aims to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care.

WIC Serves

• Pregnant women
• Breastfeeding women
• Non-breastfeeding postpartum women
• Infants
• Toddlers and children up to age 5

Common Locations

• County health departments
• Hospitals
• Mobile clinics (vans)
• Community centers
• Schools
• Public housing sites
• Migrant health centers and camps
• Indian health services facilities.

EFNEP:

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) has successfully addressed critical societal concerns by employing paraprofessional staff and influencing nutrition and physical activity behaviors of low-income families, particularly those with young children. Through a community-based, relationship-driven, hands-on educational approach, EFNEP has directly impacted economic, obesity, and food insecurity challenges that hinder the nutritional health and well-being of this nation.

PROGRAM SUCCESS:

Consistently, annual data shows that more than 90 percent of adults and 80 percent of youth report improved behaviors following EFNEP involvement. Individual and family improvements are seen for four core areas:

• Diet quality and physical activity
• Food resource management
• Food safety
• Food security

EFNEP’s success is largely due to its dedicated staff of professionals, peer educators, and volunteers; support of champions and partners; and the commitment of youth and adult participants who change their lives and are now contributing in other ways to their families and communities. The EFNEP partnership between NIFA and Land-grant Universities/Cooperative Extension produces measurable evidence annually and shows how limited-resource families experience success. Further, EFNEP exemplifies how NIFA’s commitment to science with a purpose can achieve tangible positive outcomes for families, communities, and society.

HEAD START:

Head Start has served millions of children and families living in poverty through comprehensive early learning, health, nutrition, and family support services.

There are more than 1,700 local Head Start programs operating across America, in every state and Congressional district in the country. In light of this, there is significant diversity across the communities in which the program operates—rural, suburban, urban, migrant and seasonal, and those found on American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) reservations. Because of the overwhelmingly positive impact the program has had over the past 5 decades, Head Start enjoys broad bipartisan support among voters – and lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

The goal of Head Start programs nationwide is to “promote school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families by supporting the development of the whole child.” In addition to serving young children, Head Start also provides services and programs for the whole family, utilizing a two-generation approach to pull communities out of poverty.

The services include but are not limited to:

• Early learning: providing care and education for young children to prepare them for school.
• Health: Ensuring that children are reaching developmental landmarks and have access to the nutrition they need to thrive.
• Family well-being: Assisting families in supporting one another and reaching their goals so they are all able to succeed.

Head Start has also expanded to include Early Head Start (EHS) which serves infants, toddlers, and their families as well as Early Head Start-Child Care partnerships (EHS-CCP) which build on the existing strengths of both programs.

SFMNP:

The SFMNP is administered by State agencies such as State Departments of Agriculture or Aging, and federally recognized Indian Tribal governments. Not all States operate the SFMNP statewide.

The SFMNP serves low-income seniors, generally defined as individuals who are at least 60 years old and who have household incomes of not more than 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Guidelines (published each year by the Department of Health and Human Services). Some State agencies accept proof of participation or enrollment in another means-tested program, such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), for SFMNP eligibility.

Number of People Served by this Program (Approximate)	FY 2016 – Est. 816,000

MEALS ON WHEELS:

Meals on wheels are home delivered meal programs that deliver meals to elderly or disabled individuals at home who are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals. In some cases the food is transported hot to the point of consumption.

CONGREGATE MEALS:

Congregate meals are meals served in group settings to people who are at least 60 years of age. Meals are served 5 to 7 days a week. Besides the regular menu, birthday, holiday, and special dinner menus may be available. The meals are healthy and designed to meet the nutritional needs of adults 60 and over.

Our Congregate Meals Program usually supports community meal sites across the City that serve lunch every day for a small suggested donation. All sites offer meals to people aged 60+ and some also serve adults 18-59 years old. Get details on each location.