FNS Documents & Resources

This report responds to the requirement found in section 141 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) and summarizes hunger, obesity, and Type II diabetes among American Indian (AI) and Alaska Native (AN) children living on or near reservations or other tribal lands (often referred to as Indian Country).

To ensure program integrity, school districts must sample household applications certified for free or reduced-price meals, contact the households, and verify eligibility. This process (known as household verification) can be burdensome for both school officials and households. Direct verification uses information from certain other means-tested programs to verify eligibility without contacting applicants. Potential benefits include: less burden for households, less work for school officials, and fewer students with school meal benefits terminated because of nonresponse to verification requests.