1. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
Cindy O’Brien, Program Manager

2. Goals TEFAP flow DHS role Eligible agencies
Home Consumption vs Prepared meals
Agency responsibilities

3. What is TEFAP?
Program provided through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Supplements the diets of eligible recipients by providing foods at no cost.

4. Funds DHS receives food purchasing and administrative funds
Funds are based on the number of people unemployed and the number of people below the poverty level.
DHS provides administrative funds to food banks.

5. Participant
USDA/FNS
Food Bank (FBOI)
DHS
Your
Agency

6. Eligible Recipient Agencies
Must:
Be public, private (tax exempt), but not penal
Distribute food, either as prepared meals or for household consumption exclusively to needy persons.
Have a written agreement with local food bank

7. Eligible Agencies
Food Banks – Provide donated food to other organizations like food pantries, soup kitchens and hunger relief centers
Food Pantries – Distribute food to eligible households for home consumption.
Soup Kitchens and Other Feeding Sites – Provide meals to low-income and the homeless on a regular basis.

8. Household Consumption
Self-declared eligibility
Annually sign TEFAP form (state FY)
Document subsequent distribution
No formal requirement for this documentation
Agency can determine how to capture this information

9. TEFAP Eligibility Form

10. TEFAP form Sign only once per year
Retained for 3 years (plus the current year)
Additional information not required
Example: Proof of address
Only requirement to receive USDA foods
May not be altered in any way

11. Prepared Meals No income guideline for recipients
Agency must demonstrate to food bank and/or state satisfaction serving a “predominantly needy” population.
Predominantly = at least 51%
Needy = 185% of poverty (same as on TEFAP form

12. Predominantly Needy No one way to demonstrate
Recipients may not be asked to provide income information solely for the purpose of this demonstration
Example:
The socioeconomic data of the area where the agency is located, or from which it draws its recipients

13. “Must Nots”
Discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Require recipients to be a member of any organization or participate in any religious services
Sell, exchange, use for personal gain or in any fraudulent manner any USDA commodities charge fees, nor ask recipients for donations

14. “Must Nots” continued Distribute USDA foods beyond the BIUB date
Redistribute foods to other agencies without approval
Dispose of USDA foods without approval
Repackage/repurpose USDA foods
Provide USDA foods for home consumption to recipients who do not meet TEFAP requirements
Solicit donations during TEFAP distribution

15. Must….
Civil Rights
Complete annual civil rights training
Place “And Justice for All” poster in prominent location
Include the USDA nondiscrimination statement on:
All agency resources used to inform the public
Website (either the full statement or a link)
Distribute USDA foods to HH in the same amount as recipients who provide agency required information

16. Must…. Post hours of operation Allow “proxy” distribution
Store foods within required temperature range
Maintain records relating to food receipt and distribution for three years

17. Religious Organizations
Must:
Have written notice of referral rights posted
Have a referral letter available upon request

18. Reviews Eligibility Determinations Food Distribution
Both your agency and the participant
Is the required TEFAP form used correctly? Is it on file?
How do you determine at least 51% needy?
Food Distribution
How does your agency distribute foods
Different criteria for USDA/Non USDA?

19. Reviews Continued…… Food Storage, Inventory and Warehousing
Ordering practices ~ provide to participant within 5 months?
Temperatures
Cleanliness
Civil Rights
Poster
Training
NDS

20. Question time!!