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Resource | Research and Data | Payment Accuracy and Program Integrity Direct Certification in the NSLP: State Implementation Progress - Report to Congress

This report responds to the legislative requirement of PL 110-246 to assess the effectiveness of state and local efforts to directly certify children for free school meals. Under direct certification, children are determined eligible for free school meals without the need for household applications by using data from other means-tested programs. 

10/01/2009
Resource | Research Reports Child Care Assessment Project Final Report

This report summarizes the results of the Child Care Assessment Project (CCAP), which was undertaken by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) during the period 2004-2007.

07/29/2009
Resource | Research and Data | Payment Accuracy and Program Integrity Direct Certification in the NSLP: State Implementation Progress

This report responds to a requirement of PL 110-246 to assess the effectiveness of state and local efforts to conduct direct certification of children for free school meals. Under direct certification, children are determined eligible for free meals without the need for household applications by using data from other means-tested programs.

12/30/2008
Resource | Research and Data History of the National School Lunch Program

School food service programs such as we have in 1971 did not just happen over-night nor even during the past decade. Preceding today's programs is a long history of more than a hundred years of development, of testing and evaluating, and of constant research to provide the best in nutrition, nutrition education, and food service for the nation's millions of children in school. 

01/17/2008
Resource | Research Plans Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption through the USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs

This report summarizes the actions and initiatives implemented since 2002 to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among participants in the nutrition assistance programs. The following areas addressed are policy, guidance, and initiatives, programs, nutrition education and promotion, collaboration and coordination, grants, reports, and emerging initiatives and resources.

01/01/2008
Resource | Research and Data | Nutrition Education Nutrition Education: Principles of Sound Impact Evaluation

FNS is frequently asked, by a variety of nutrition education partners, how it defines a sound impact evaluation. The principles introduced here describe the characteristics of strong impact assessments of nutrition education. They are also consistent with the Government and Performance Results Act and the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance for clear demonstration of program effects.

09/13/2005
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Making America Stronger: A Profile of the Food Stamp Program

A summary of past research on program operations and outcomes related to the Food Stamp Program.

09/01/2005
Resource | Research and Data | Nutrition Education Fit WIC: Programs to Prevent Childhood Overweight in Your Community

Fit WIC can help the nation’s premier early childhood food and nutrition program work more effectively to reduce and prevent unhealthy weight among our children.

05/01/2005
Resource | Research and Data | Food Security Obesity, Poverty, and Participation in Nutrition Assistance Programs

The national nutrition safety net consists of 15 programs that provide millions of low-income Americans access to a healthy and nutritious diet. It has been observed that many low-income individuals are both overweight and participants in one or more nutrition assistance programs. This has led some to question whether participation in the nutrition assistance programs contributes to the growing problem of overweight and obesity. This report presents the conclusions of an expert panel convened by the Food and Nutrition Service to determine if there is scientific evidence of a relationship between program participation and excess weight.

02/01/2005
Resource | Research and Data | Demonstrations Team Nutrition Demonstration Project 1999-2002

The FNS goal was to document the process (steps, time, and resources) for fully implementing Team Nutrition  by communicating the four messages to students using the classroom and cafeteria as delivery channels, as well as other places in their environment such as the school, home, community and local media.

12/10/2004
Page updated: September 16, 2025