Presentation on National School Lunch Act Reauthorization and Child Nutrition Act Shape Up Coalition MeetingAugust 13, 2008

Libby AlbertChild Nutrition CoordinatorSan Francisco Department of Children, Youth and Their Families

What is the National School Lunch Act?

National School Lunch Act was passed in 1946 as a result of agricultural surpluses and military recruits reporting to duty malnourished. It authorized funding for school lunch.

What is the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act

Adopted in 1966 programs covered by this act are:Child and Adult Care Food Program

(CACFP)School Breakfast Program (SBP)After-school Snack ProgramSummer Food Service Program (SFSP)Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for

Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Reauthorization occurs every 4-5 years

Improvements can be made to the programs but also cutbacks and more complicated administrative requirements can be added

Committees

Senate Agriculture Committee, Hon. Tom Harkin,

Subcommittee on Nutrition and Food Assistance, Sustainable and Organic Agriculture, and General Legislation

Sen. Patrick Leahy, Chairman

Sen. Norm Coleman, Ranking Member

(D)Blanche L. Lincoln, Debbie Stabenow, Sherrod Brown, Robert P. Casey, Amy Klobuchar 

(R)Richard G. Lugar, Mitch McConnell, Mike Crapo

Committees

House Education and Labor Committee, Hon. George Miller

Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities

Cong. Carolyn McCarthy, Chair Cong. Todd Russell Platts, Ranking Member(D) Yvette Clarke, Carol Shea-Porter, Dennis

Kucinich, Raul Grijalva, John Sarbanes, Jason Altmire, John Yarmuth 

(R)Howard buck McKeon, Kenny Marchant, Luis Fortuno, David Davis

Some improvements that were made in 2004

Schools Provided more funding for nutrition education

and school gardens Required school districts to create wellness

policies Expanded the fresh fruit and vegetable pilot to

include more states Required state agencies to create direct

certification processes

Some improvements that were made in 2004

Improvements to the meal application process

Pilot in five states to elimination of reduced price meals and make the cutoff for free meals 185% of poverty

Provided start up grants for schools in high need areas wanting to implement school breakfast

Some improvements that were made in 2004

Summer Food Service Program

Created the seamless summer optionCreated a pilot in Pennsylvania to

reduce area eligibility from 50% to 40%

Some improvements that were made in 2004

Child and Adult Care Food Program

Included for profit centers with high need population

Created a pilot in Nebraska to reduce area eligibility from 50% to 40%

Some improvements that were made in 2004

WICExpanded the definition of nutrition

education to include physical activityMandated a new WIC package to be in

line with recommendations of a study conducted by the American Academy Pediatrics

Past cuts and threats to Child Nutrition Programs

Elimination of funding for equipment purchase and maintenance by school districts

Tiering of CACFPNational Nutrition Standards

How can the Shape Up SF get involved in advocacy?

Work together to create a uniform regional message

Educate advocates regarding issues affecting federal nutrition programs in the region: participate in California Food Policy Advocates meetings

Join National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity e-mail: mwootan@cspinet.org

Take our message to the policy-makers

Possible improvements to CNA and NSLA

Indexing reimbursement rates and income eligibility in high cost of living areas

Improvements to direct certificationFind ways to eliminate stigma felt by kids

eating free mealsEliminate reduced price meals

Possible improvements to CNA and NSLA

Expand pilotsFruit and vegetable pilotLower eligibility to 40% for CACFP and

SFSPExpand the supper project for after school

snack

Possible improvements to CNA and NSLA

Revamp administrative requirements to streamline implementation

Adopt a more accurate index for determining reimbursement rates

Provide additional financial support for healthier offerings

Libby Albert

Child Nutrition Coordinator

Department of Children, Youth and Their Families

1390 Market Street, Suite 900

(415) 557-6852

libby@dcyf.org