Community Based Partnerships in Food Insecurity free?fa=view&id=4160&mc_cid=a06bc716af&mc_eid=5fd2f8f250

Combating Childhood Hunger Programs Include: Kids Weekend Backpack Feeding Program Summer Food Service Program School Pantry Program Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Children

What is Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)? Established in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 as a new option to allow low-income schools to feed more students and focus on meal quality rather than on paperwork. Low-income schools provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students without collecting applications Participating schools are guaranteed to receive the same reimbursement rate (or a higher one if more children become directly certified) for 4 years

Benefits of Community Eligibility Provision: Helps Children: be more attentive in class, have better attendance and fewer disciplinary problems Helps Parents: count on their children eating two healthy meals each day at school and help to stretch their families’ limited food budgets. Helps Schools: feed more children, reduce the administrative tasks, and improve financial viability of school nutrition programs, have access to additional funding Helps Community: Support education, healthy and productive members of society

What Qualifies a Child as Directly Eligible? All children who are living in a household receiving the following benefits: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Cash Assistance (TANF) Medicaid (only those identified on NYS Education Department’s direct certification list) This also includes children who are : in foster care in Head Start are homeless or are migrant

Partnering with School Districts Identify school districts that have high participation in free and reduced lunch.  127 school districts on Long Island Work with Hunger Solutions, FRAC, and the New York State Department of Education to learn the statistics in the school districts. Identify community organizations that have relationships with the school districts. Identify school administrators who are advocates in the area of food insecurity. Build relationships with food directors who manage the data for eligibility. Identify private schools who can apply separately.

Grass Roots vs. Grass Tops Who are the Grass Top Supporters? Examples: School Administration, School Board, Legislators, Assemblymen, Senators, Business Leaders Who are the Grass Roots Supporters? Examples: Food Pantries, Faith Based Organizations, Youth Programs, Health Clinics, Community Organizations

Successes Woodward Children’s Center exceeded the required number of children directly certified to 70% and is completing the application for enrollment in September. Freeport School District has increased the percentage of children directly certified from 48%-51% (appx. 210 children). One school is currently at 63% and is considering an application for CEP at this school. Although Wyandanch School District is below the 62.5% and will still apply to enroll in September. They will continue to work with Island Harvest to increase the enrollment in SNAP. Built an overall awareness in the community about SNAP. Expanded a partnership with the Health Centers in Suffolk County. Assisted over 25 families in Wyandanch in applying for SNAP as a result of a robo call from the school district.

Lessons Learned Get buy-in from the Superintendent. Work with communities who already have committees to revitalize the community. Be creative with SNAP outreach. Language is important Next Steps Partner with the Freeport School District for the Summer Food Service Program. Mailings from the Town about SNAP. SNAP flyers for student’s folders to bring home. Be available for new parents at Kindergarten registration. Continued outreach with community partners (7 touches) Ongoing collaboration with community partners.

Outreach Materials

Contact Information Allison Puglia Island Harvest Food Bank Vice President of Programs and Agency Relations or