School Lunches for Children in Foster Care

Signed into law by the President on December 13, 2010, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 allows the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), for the first time in over 30 years, the chance to make real reforms to the school lunch and breakfast programs by improving the critical nutrition and hunger safety net for millions of children.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 provides categorical eligibility to foster children for free meals served under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. A recent memo from the USDA’s Director of Child Nutrition Division provides guidance to Regional Special Nutrition and State Child Nutrition Program Directors for implementing the new eligibility standards. It also encourages these program directors to reach out to State and local child welfare agencies to ensure timely and efficient implementation. Read the memo here.

If you would like to reach out directly to your State Child Nutrition Programs to collaborate on the implementation of the new law or to find out more information about implementation in your State, contact information can be found here.

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