CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

From conception until young adulthood (18 years old), proper nutrition is a major building block in the successful development of a child. All families want to provide their children the necessary tools to become productive adults, but not all families have ability to provide all the tools needed. In New York State, one out of five children live in poverty. The nutrition building block would not be accessible to these children if not for the federal child nutrition programs. These programs (Summer Food Service Program, National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast, Child and Adult Care Feeding Program and Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children) provide nourishment for every stage of a child’s mental and physical growth.

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federal program designed to provide free, nutritious meals to children eighteen and under in low-income neighborhoods during the months when school is not in session. For more information on SFSP.

The National School Lunch Program (SLP) is a federal child nutrition program that provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches and after-school snacks in public and private schools and residential child care institutions. Public school districts and independent schools that choose to take part in the program get reimbursements and donated commodities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for each meal served that meets federal nutritional requirements. The lunches and snacks served must meet federal guidelines, but local food service authorities make decisions about what specific foods to serve and how they are prepared. For more information on SLP.

The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federal program that reimburses schools and residential child-care institutions that provide free, reduced-price or full-price breakfast to children. For more information on SBP.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides nutritious meals and snacks for children up to 12 years of age in licensed or approved child day care programs, outside school hour care centers, homeless and domestic violence shelters, and for the elderly (age sixty or older) and functionally impaired adults in adult day care programs. Afterschool snacks and suppers are available under CACFP to children through age 18 who participate in eligible afterschool programs. For more information on CACFP.

The Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or called WIC, provides supplemental nutritious foods, nutrition education and access/referral to health care to the following populations: low-income, nutritionally at-risk, pregnant, postpartum, and breast-feeding women, infants, and children up to age five. The nutrient-rich supplemental foods provided by WIC help to prevent nutrition-related health problems and to promote optimal growth and development. For more information on WIC.

Other Nutrition Programs

Detailed summary of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 [PDF File]

The Nutrition Consortium Releases an Interim ABC Pilot Report [Read the mid-year results of the Consortium's 19 classroom breakfast pilot projects as a PDF file.]

Food Stamps

Senior Nutrition Programs

Emergency Food Assistance