partner with the food and nutrition service tough times require new solutions june 2011

PARTNER WITH THE FOOD AND NUTRITION

SERVICE

Tough Times Require New Solutions

June 2011

Food and Nutrition Service

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the nutrition assistance programs

of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The agency was established in1969, but many of the

food programs originated long before FNS existed as

a separate agency.

FNS works in partnership with the States in all its

programs. States determine most administrative

details, and FNS provides funding to cover food

benefits and most of the States’ administrative costs.

Programs

Child and Adult Care Food Program

Commodity Supplemental Food Program

Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Food Assistance for Disaster Relief

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

National School Lunch Program

Nutrition Assistance Block Grants

School Breakfast Program

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Special Milk Program

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program

for Women, Infants and Children

Summer Food Service Program

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

The Emergency Food Assistance Program

For more about FNS programs and resources, visit www.fns.usda.gov. For information about local food assistance organizations contact the National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE

Partnerships are key to carrying out the Food and Nutrition Service Mission

To increase food security and reduce hunger

in partnership with cooperating organizations by

providing children and low-income people with

access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education in a

manner that supports American agriculture and

inspires public confidence.


Working Together to Serve Our Customers

FNS

State Agencies

Program Operators

The Ultimate Customers—Program Participants


We Are Seeking Partners To: Operate our programs locally

Share information through your network

Train volunteers to assist clients with benefit applications

Work with FNS regional offices & State Agencies to leverage Federal funding for Outreach

Convene community leaders to draft & implement plans to End Childhood Hunger

Collaborate at national events & conferences

USDA Nutrition

Assistance

Programs

&

Opportunities

for

Partnership


USDA Nutrition

Assistance

Programs

&

Opportunities

for

Partnership


Membership in the FNS Outreach Coalition

Content to develop messages for distribution through your network & media contacts

Technical assistance & promising practices information

FNS staff can attend & participate at your

meetings & conferences

Training on how to conduct & evaluate effective outreach activities, cross-promote programs, & educate the public

Free outreach materials

Free informational webinars for your team, staff, & partners

The Benefits of Partnership:

Current Outreach Partners


http://www.aoa.gov/index.aspx

http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1174

http://www.americorps.org/for_individuals/current/stories_detail.asp?tbl_stories_id=67

http://www.ncoa.org/index.cfm

Many Potentially Eligible People Do Not Participate

Program Eligibility

Eligibility for most FNS programs is determined by household income. These incomes must be at or

below 130% or 185% of the

Federal Poverty Level.

Federal Fiscal Year 2011 (Oct. 1, 2010 – Sept. 30,

2011)

Millions of people across the country are potentially eligible for one or more FNS program. However, myths exist that often keep these families & individuals from applying for benefits.

Myth: Only unemployed people can get nutrition assistance.

Fact: Many people use food help to make ends meet.

Myth: Other people need the help more than seniors.

Fact: All who apply & qualify for assistance will get benefits.

Myth: Receiving assistance hurts your chances of becoming a U.S. citizen.

Fact: Getting food help will not hurt the chance of becoming a U.S. citizen for documented immigrants.

Myth: People who are disabled can’t get food help if they receive

Supplemental Security Income (SSI), disability-related Medicaid, or other insurance benefits.

Fact: The disabled can get nutrition assistance, even if they receive other services.

185% of Federal Poverty Level

Household Size Annual Income

1 $20,147

2 $27,214

3 $34,281

4 $41,348

130% of Federal Poverty Level

Household Size Annual Income

1 $14,157

2 $19,123

3 $24,089

4 $29,055



Ending Childhood Hungerwww.endhunger.usda.gov

1 in 5 children in the U.S. live food insecure households.

Together, we can end childhood hunger once and for all.


Helpful Resources

Visit the ECH website at: www.endhunger.usda.gov to learn how you can End Childhood Hunger!

There you will find helpful resources like:

Stakeholders’ Guide to Ending Childhood Hunger, a guide that presents nearly 50 ideas to reduce hunger.

Become a Champion to End Hunger, a commitment campaign that enables the public to share ideas to reduce hunger.

Ending Hunger Volunteerism Portal, a custom portal to foster volunteerism in support of reducing hunger.

Hunger in America

FNS programs serve 1 in 4 Americans

Nearly half of those served by SNAP each month—21 million--are children

Over 21 million kids receive free or reduced priced lunch at school every day

Half of all babies in this country are born onto the WIC program


Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP is the new name for the Food Stamp Program.


SNAP helps low-income families & individuals supplement their food budget by providing an

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card which is used like a debit card to purchase food at authorized retail stores.

Local SNAP offices can provide information about eligibility, and USDA operates a toll-free number (800-221-5689) for people to receive information about SNAP.


Outreach Nutrition Education

If your organization works with families

or individuals that may be eligible for

SNAP benefits, consider partnering with

FNS & distributing free program materials.

http://snap.ntis.gov

Nutrition Education materials targeted for SNAP recipients of all ages areavailable online.

www.myplate.gov

SNAP Resources


http://snap.ntis.gov/

http://www.myplate.gov/

Children whose families are enrolled in some Federal assistance

programs or who are residents of emergency

shelters are automatically eligible

for free meals.

Adults enrolled in day care & who receive SNAP benefits, or

Medicaid benefits are automatically eligible

for free meals.


Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

CACFP reimburses providers for nutritious meals & snacks served

to eligible children & adults who attend daycare and at-risk programs.

CACFP Providers can Include:o Family or Group Homeso Child Care Centerso Outside School Hours Care

Centerso Adult Day Care Centers o “At-Risk” Afterschool Programso Emergency Shelters

Your organization may be able to serve as a sponsor to CACFP sites and help FNS to improve access to nutrition

assistance.

School Meals


(NSLP)

School Breakfast

Program (SBP)


Breakfasts and lunches are designed to meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).

Visit the “Expanding Your School Breakfast Program” website at: www.fns.usda.gov/CND/Breakfast/expansion/default.htm for resources to increase participation in school

breakfast.

Meals are available at free and reduced price for children

who need them. Those families that receive SNAP benefits

are automatically eligible for free school meals.

USDA provides cash and commodity assistance for eacheligible meal served.

Snacks are also available to children in afterschool care programs in schools.


Your organization can support school meal programs by handing out free and reduced price meal applications to parents and

explaining why it is important to return the completed form.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/CND/Breakfast/expansion/default.htm

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

Any child, age 18 or younger, may receive a free, nutritious

meal at an open site.

SFSP provides nutritious meals to youth & teens during the

summer & other extended school breaks at feeding sites in

areas of economic need.

SFSP draws children to supervised activities that are safe, fun,

healthy & educational.

Download the Summer Food Service Program Toolkit & other

helpful resources at: www.summerfood.usda.gov.


Summer feeding sites can be sponsored by: o Schools o Campso Private nonprofit organizations o Faith-Based Organizationso Local governments

USDA has reduced the paperwork for the National School Lunch Program for schools that want to provide food to children during the summer.

This simplified option is called Seamless Summer.

Your organization can help by:

o Finding meals for childreno Becoming a sponsoro Opening a feeding siteo Volunteering at a siteo Sharing promising practices

http://www.summerfood.usda.gov/

WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)

Provides WIC participants with coupons to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, & herbs from farmers, at farmers markets, or roadside stands that have been approved by the state agency.

Provides low-income seniors with coupons that can be used to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, & honey from farmers at authorized farmers markets or roadside stands, or with shares in Community Supported Agriculture programs.

Farmers Market Nutrition Programs


Many farmers

markets also accept SNAP

benefits.

Food Assistance for Disaster Relief (FADR)

FNS provides food assistance to those in need in areas affected by a disaster. This Federal assistance is in addition to that provided by State & Local governments.

FNS provides food assistance to those in need in areas affected by a disaster. This federal assistance is in addition to that provided by state and local governments.

FNS provides disaster food assistance in three ways:

Provides USDA foods to State Agencies for distribution to shelters & other mass feeding sites;

Provides USDA foods to State Agencies for distribution directly to households in need on a limited basis; and

Authorizes State Agencies to issue Disaster SNAP benefits.


For disaster assistance resources & information on FNS disaster response visit: http://www.fns.usda.gov/disasters/disaster.htm

http://www.fns.usda.gov/disasters/disaster.htm

http://www.fns.usda.gov/disasters/disaster.htm


The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

TEFAP provides emergency food & nutrition assistance to

low-income Americans, including the elderly & homeless. TEFAP ships food to individual States & provides

administrative funds to store and distribute the food.

The amount of USDA Foods received depends on the

population of unemployed persons & persons with incomes below the poverty level.

States distribute USDA Foods to local agencies directly

serving the public such as food banks, shelters & soup kitchens.


If your agency operates a food bank, distributes food packages or serves

congregate meals to low-income populations, you may be eligible to receive USDA Foods from your State.

Other Programs

Commodity Supplemental FoodProgram (CSFP) Provides food and administrative funds

to States to improve the diets of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women; their infants and children up to 6 years of age; and persons 60 years of age

and older.

Food Distribution Program onIndian Reservations (FDPIR) Provides monthly food packages to low-

income households living on or near Indian reservations.

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)

Provides elementary school children in the neediest schools with a variety of produce that they otherwise might not have the opportunity to sample.

Special Milk Program (SMP) Provides milk to children in schools,

childcare institutions and eligible camps that do not participate in other federal child nutrition meal service programs.

Special Supplemental NutritionProgram for Women, Infants andChildren (WIC) Provides nutritious foods, nutrition

education, breastfeeding support, and health and social services referrals to low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women; and infants and children up to the age of 5 years.


Food and Nutrition Service

General Resources

All FNS informational brochures, handbooks, toolkits & outreach materials are available for order or download FREE of charge.

http://snap.ntis.gov

www.choosemyplate.gov

www.fns.usda.gov/tn/


FREE materials include:

MyPlate Food Guide

Menu Planners

Team Nutrition materials for schools & educators

Eat Smart. Play Hard.

My Foodapedia

http://snap.ntis.gov/

http://www.mypyramid.gov/

http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/

Thank you for your interest in

USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs

For additional information visit: www.fns.usda.gov/fns/outreach.htm

OR email: [email protected]

USDA Food and Nutrition Service Office of Strategic Initiatives, Partnerships and Outreach

looks forward to partnering with you to increase access to nutrition assistance programs.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/outreach.htm

partner with the food and nutrition service tough times require new solutions june 2011

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