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Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0109 State Guidance on Pandemic EBT

USDA is committed to providing nutrition assistance to hard-hit families across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. In support of President Biden’s call to action on hunger, USDA announced that it is increasing the Pandemic EBT benefit by approximately 15 percent, providing more money for low-income families and millions of children missing meals due to school and child care closures.

11/03/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance | FNS-GD-2018-0001 Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs

The Food Buying Guide for child nutrition programs has all of the current information in one manual to help you and your purchasing agent buy the right amount of food and the appropriate type of food for your program(s), and determine the specific contribution each food makes toward the meal pattern requirements.

07/11/2022
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0109 State Guidance on Coronavirus P-EBT in Schools

USDA is committed to providing nutrition assistance to hard-hit families across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. In support of President Biden’s call to action on hunger, USDA announced that it is increasing the Pandemic EBT benefit by approximately 15 percent, providing more money for low-income families and millions of children missing meals due to school and child care closures.

06/17/2022
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0046 Nationwide Waiver of Area Eligibility in the Afterschool Programs and for Family Day Care Home Providers in SY 2021-22

This waiver allows schools and at-risk afterschool care centers, regardless of their location, to claim all NSLP,  Afterschool Snack Service and Child and Adult Care Food Program At-risk Afterschool Program meals and snacks at the free rate. This waiver also allows day care homes participating in CACFP to claim all meals served to enrolled children at the tier 1 rate, regardless of their location.

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #93
04/20/2021
Resource | Policy FFCRA Opt-In Waiver for SY 2021-22 National School Lunch Program USDA Foods Entitlement Calculations

FNS is establishing a nationwide opt-in waiver to help minimize the impact of coronavirus related school closures on USDA Foods entitlement calculations.

01/15/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0175 Nationwide Waiver of Meal Service Time Restrictions in the SFSP and the NSLP Seamless Summer Option – EXTENSION 2

FNS waives, for all states that elect to be subject to this waiver, the meal service time requirements allowing meals served outside of the standard meal times. This waiver applies to state agencies administering and local organizations operating the: Summer Food Service Program and National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option. 

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #66
10/09/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0174 Nationwide Waiver to Waive First Week Site Visits in the SFSP - Extension 2

FNS waives, for all states, the requirement that Summer Food Service Program sponsors are required to visit each of their sites at least once during the first week of operation. This waiver applies to state agencies administering and local organizations that have operated the SFSP successfully in the previous year, and SFSP sponsors in good standing that have successfully participated in the Child and Adult Care Food Program  or the National School Lunch Program.

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #65
10/09/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0173 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Area Eligibility for Closed Enrolled Sites in the SFSP and the NSLP Seamless Summer Option – Extension 2

Under this waiver, for all states, Summer Food Service Program and National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option closed enrolled sites during the COVID-19 public health emergency may determine site eligibility through area eligibility without collecting income eligibility applications.

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #64
10/09/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0171 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children – Extension 5

Under this waiver, Summer Food Service Program and National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option operators in a state with an approved waiver allowing non-congregate meal distribution during COVID–19-related operations may distribute meals to a parent or guardian to take home to their children. State agencies must have a plan for ensuring that program operators are able to maintain accountability and program integrity.  

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #62
10/09/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0170 Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-congregate Feeding in the SFSP and the NSLP Seamless Summer Option – Extension 5

Under this waiver, Summer Food Service Program and National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option operators may provide non-congregate meals during COVID–19-related operations. This waiver extends the nationwide waiver to allow non-congregate feeding in the Summer Food Service Program granted on Aug. 31, 2020 that expires on Dec. 31, 2020. This waiver applies to state agencies administering, and local organizations operating, the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option. 

COVID–19: Child Nutrition Response #61
10/09/2020
Page updated: October 14, 2021