Updated: 2012 SFSP Sponsor Training Info

The New York State Education Department has released the following information about the Summer Food Service Program for 2012:

Updated mandatory training dates for new and existing sponsors

Additional training for sponsors that operate camp sites

2012 Per-meal reimbursement rates 

Income eligibility determinations

President Obama's Budget Preserves Safety Net

From the Food Research and Action Center:

President Obama’s FY2013 budget protects and proposes to strengthen the nation’s nutrition safety net for the many Americans who continue to struggle with hunger, lost jobs, and reduced wages. Chief among his proposals are: restoration of cuts to SNAP (food stamps) benefits made in the 2010 child nutrition bill and scheduled to take place in FY 2013; and the suspension for a fiscal year of time limits on benefits for certain unemployed, working-age, low-income adults without dependents.

“As the nation recovers from the recession, tens of millions still struggle with hunger. In 2010 alone, nearly one in four households with children said there were times they were unable afford enough food for their households,” said FRAC President Jim Weill. “The President’s budget makes important investments in our nation’s nutrition safety net, and FRAC is committed to working with the Administration and with Congress to ensure that the programs are protected and improved.”

Click here for the details.

Letter from USDA Under Secretary Kevin Conconcannon: Summertime Shouldn't Be a Hungry Time

Summer Time Shouldn’t be Hungry Time

Help Feed Hungry Kids through USDA’s Summer Food Service Program

By Kevin Concannon, USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services

In the midst of winter, it can be easy to forget those long, hot days of June, July and August. But it’s not too soon to start applying and planning for sponsorship to feed hungry children when schools close their doors for the summer.

More than 21 million children in the country receive free and reduced price meals during the school year, but when summer rolls around, only about 1 in 10 of those kids ( 2.3 million) get free meals through federal summer feeding programs. Clearly, there is a gap that needs filling.

Enter USDA’s Summer Food Service Program. The federal government understands that kids are at higher risk of going hungry during the summer months, and we are working to fill that void. The important work of feeding our low-income kids, however, can’t be accomplished by government alone. You or your organizations have an important role to play.

Faith-based, community and private non-profit organizations are pivotal in the lives of needy children. And schools, churches, recreation centers, playgrounds, parks, and camps are all eligible and encouraged to serve SFSP meals in neighborhoods with a high percentage of low-income families. These locations, by their very nature, offer safe and familiar environments and are places children gather during months when school is closed.

But feeding hungry young people requires commitment. Sponsors must be able to provide a capable staff, managerial skills and food service capabilities.   Sponsors may provide their own meals, purchase meals through an agreement with an area school, or contract for meals with a food vendor. And don’t forget to register your summer feeding sites for the National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-Hungry or  1-877-8-HAMBRE.

It’s also important to note that the most successful summer programs offer activities for kids. Children are much more likely to come out for a meal when there is an activity to keep them there. These can include anything from sports, tutoring and arts and crafts, to more creative activities with community partners. Developing partnerships with other community organizations is often the key to being able to offer great activities.

Last June, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack launched the first-ever National Summer Food Service Program Week: “Food That's In When School Is Out.” This year’s campaign is set for June 11-15 and will continue to promote federal and non-government initiatives across the country designed to feed low-income children during the summer.

To learn more about the Summer Food Service Program or to participate in one of USDA’s free webinar sessions on opportunities to provide summer meals, please visit www.summerfood.usda.gov. These helpful webinars will highlight the program, offer an understanding of how SFSP works, detail sponsor roles and responsibilities, and provide outreach tips and other resources to get started.

Together we can continue to tackle childhood hunger and ensure kids receive the nutritious meals they need in summer, and throughout the year. We look forward to working with you to meet that goal.

FRAC SFSP Conference Call: Site Recruitment

From the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC): 

FRAC announces the next conference call focusing on summer meals. Register now for...

Site Recruitment -- Tuesday, March 6, at 1:00 pm EST

Click here to register.

Summer meal sites must be available and conveniently located to ensure that children are able to attend and eat summer meals. Schools, parks and churches are just a few examples of places that can operate as summer sites. Presenters will share strategies to recruit sites and speak about how they work with the community and existing sponsors to increase the number of sites serving summer meals.

March 8: Western NY Breakfast in the Classroom Event

YOU’RE INVITED

Western New York Breakfast Tour and Info Session
Thursday, March 8, 2012
7:30 – 9:00 am
Fyle Elementary School, Rush-Henrietta CSD
133 Vollmer Parkway
Rochester, NY 14623

Please join us for this informative event!
- Tour a breakfast in the classroom program
- Interact with a panel of school professionals
- Learn about different strategies to increase your school breakfast participation and reimbursement dollars

Event is free and breakfast will be served.

View the invitation for more information and RSVP details.  

2012 SFSP Sponsor Training and Reimbursement Rates

The New York State Education Department has released the following information about the Summer Food Service Program for 2012:

Updated mandatory training dates for new and existing sponsors

Additional training for sponsors that operate camp sites

2012 Per-meal reimbursement rates

Webinar: New Healthier School Meal Standards: What You Need to Know

From the Food Research and Action Center:

New Healthier School Meal Standards: What You Need to Know
February 2, 1:00 p.m. EST
Register here.

Now that the school meal standards are out, learn what you need to know about the new rule, implementation timeline, and process.  

  

Join FRAC and USDA for a webinar to learn more about this important opportunity for our nation’s children and how you can play a part in making the new standards a success.

New Standards for School Meals Released

From the USDA: 

USDA Unveils Historic Improvements to Meals Served in America’s Schools

New Standards Will Improve the Health and Wellbeing of 32 Million Kids Nationwide

First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled new standards for school meals that will result in healthier meals for kids across the nation. The new meal requirements will raise standards for the first time in more than fifteen years and improve the health and nutrition of nearly 32 million kids that participate in school meal programs every school day. The healthier meal requirements are a key component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was championed by the First Lady as part of her Let’s Move! campaign and signed into law by President Obama. 

Read more from the USDA press release

Read a preview of the Federal Register's Final Rule

Learn more on at our Child Nutrition Center/Related Tools and Resources page

 

USDA: Online WIC Pre-screening Tool

Launched online this fall from the USDA:

WIC provides supplemental foods, healthcare referrals, nutrition education, and breastfeeding promotion and support to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.
The WIC Prescreening Tool can be used to determine if you may be eligible for WIC benefits. This Prescreening Tool is not an application for WIC. To apply for WIC benefits, you must make an appointment at your WIC local agency.
This Prescreening Tool might ask you to enter the amounts of your household’s earned (wages, tips, etc.) and unearned income (child support, unemployment benefits, SSI, etc.). Before you begin, you may want to gather this information.
The WIC Prescreening Tool usually takes less than 15 minutes to complete.

AASA's New Webpage About 4 School Districts + Breakfast in the Classroom

Superintendent Leadership to Enhance and Expand the School Breakfast Program in Urban Districts

AASA has received a grant from the Walmart Foundation to significantly increase the participation of needy children in the national school breakfast program using alternative breakfast strategies, as well as to increase interest, commitment and involvement of school system leaders in the program. The grant allows AASA to work with four urban school districts to enhance school breakfast programming.

Through a competitive process, AASA chose four districts to work with on the project. They are: 

Brentwood Union Free School District; Brentwood, N.Y. 

Cincinnati Public Schools; Cincinnati, Ohio 

Riverside Unified School District; Riverside, Calif. 

Syracuse City School District; Syracuse, N. Y.

Read more about each school district's breakfast in the classroom efforts on the AASA website.  

New York State Council on Food Policy Recommends Ending Childhood Hunger by 2015, Passing a Strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill

Today, Governor David A. Paterson received the New York State Council on Food Policy’s annual report and recommendations titled, “Making Connections: Developing a Food System for a Healthier New York State.” Authorized by Executive Order #13, the Council on Food Policy works to preserve and enhance agricultural food production in New York and to ensure that all New Yorkers have adequate access to safe, affordable, fresh and nutritious foods. Some of the significant steps the Council recommends New York State take in 2010 include:

1. Join the campaign to end Childhood Hunger by 2015
2. Support a strong Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act
3. Maximize federal funding for nutrition and food programs operating in New York.

Click here for the full press release on the Council's report.

For a copy of the Council on Food Policy’s annual report and all of its recommendations, please visit http://www.nyscfp.org and click on “Report to Governor”.

To learn more about the Council on Food Policy, visit http://www.nyscfp.org or contact the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets at 518-485-7728.

Nutrition Consortium Press Release Commends Congressman Tonko for Universal Classroom Breakfast Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Casey Dinkin, Manager of Advocacy and Communications
Nutrition Consortium of NYS
(518)229-8845
www.nutritionconsortium.org

Anti-Hunger Advocates Commend Congressman Paul Tonko for Bill to Expand Universal Classroom Breakfast

Albany, NY, 12/23/09—Anti-hunger advocates commended Congressman Paul Tonko for introducing a bill to expand Universal Classroom Breakfast programs by offering startup grants to schools. The Universal Classroom Breakfast Expansion Act (H.R. 4325) is aimed at replicating the successful model of universal breakfast in the classroom. Studies show that universal breakfast in the classroom is the most effective way to deliver morning nutrition to students, and a wide body of research documents the many positive academic, health, and social benefits of school breakfast consumption on children.

“The Nutrition Consortium of NYS applauds Congressman Paul Tonko for introducing this well-timed legislation, which will have a positive impact on children’s health, education, and well-being,” said Linda Bopp, Executive Director of the Nutrition Consortium of NYS, a statewide anti-hunger organization. “73% of New York’s low-income children miss out on school breakfast, despite rising numbers of children in New York who struggle with hunger.”

Bopp continued, “Research shows that moving breakfast from the cafeteria to the classroom more than doubles the number of children who participate. Congressman Tonko’s legislation is based on the well-documented link between increased school breakfast consumption and improved academic performance, including higher test scores, fewer nurse visits and disciplinary office referrals, and less absenteeism and tardiness. Making sure that children have nutritious breakfast to start their day is good for New York’s children, schools, and future.”
For more resources on School Breakfast, and Universal Classroom Breakfast see the following:

http://www.frac.org/pdf/breakfastforlearning.PDF
http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/documents/abcfinal.pdf
http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/documents/2007-2008ShinewithSBReport.pdf
http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/documents/BreakfastAftertheBellSlideshow.pdf

-END-

Congressman Paul Tonko Introduces Bill to Expand Universal Classroom Breakfast for Low-Income Children

From Representative Tonko's website (http://tonko.house.gov/2009/12/rep-tonko-introduces-bill-to-expand-univeral-school-breakfast-program.shtml):

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Paul Tonko introduced a bill today in the U.S. House of Representatives that will help thousands of low-income children receive a free, nutritious breakfast at school. The Universal Classroom Breakfast Expansion Act will create a competitive grant program that will assist schools serving low-income children to establish a universal classroom breakfast program.

"Every child deserves a healthy breakfast to start their day, but the current school breakfast program misses too many students," said Congressman Tonko. "That is why I am proud to introduce the Universal Classroom Breakfast Expansion Act, to help our schools ensure that every child has access to a good breakfast every day. Especially in these difficult economic times, for our municipalities, schools and families, it is important that we give our nation’s children the opportunity to succeed and enhance their mind, body and soul. Daily breakfast does just that."

The Nutrition Consortium's Executive Director, Linda Bopp, is quoted in the press release:

Linda Bopp, Executive Director of the Nutrition Consortium of NYS, said, "We commend Congressman Paul Tonko for introducing the ‘Universal Classroom Breakfast Expansion Act’, and urge all members of the New York State Congressional delegation to co-sponsor this legislation that allows for universal classroom breakfast start-up grants. At a time when so many families across the state are struggling to make ends meet, the School Breakfast Program offers a healthy and affordable option to ensure children begin their school day without hunger. Research shows that schools with universal breakfast in the classroom programs have double and triple the breakfast participation rates of those who serve in the cafeteria."


For the full press release, go to: http://tonko.house.gov/2009/12/rep-tonko-introduces-bill-to-expand-univeral-school-breakfast-program.shtml