Data & Research
USDA’s approach to tackling food and nutrition insecurity emphasizes equity to ensure our efforts serve all populations.
This memo seeks to clarify existing policy and flexibilities regarding the use of nonmerit personnel in the administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
This memo reiterates and clarifies existing online application policy for state agencies.
Farm to School Census Partner Resources
2023 Farm to School Census Resources
In fall 2023, FNS will field the 2023 Farm to School Census to request information from school food authorities (SFAs) regarding their use of local food in school meals and other participation in farm to school activities in school year 2022-23. This nationwide survey is the largest of its kind, collecting information from more than 18,000 public, private, and charter SFAs who participate in the National School Lunch Program.
This page offers resources to help state agencies, SFAs, and their partners prepare for and complete the 2023 Census. Make sure to bookmark this page and come back for updates!
Thanks to all state agency staff, SFA staff, and their partners, who will help make the upcoming 2023 Census a success!
- 2023 Farm to School Census Quick Facts
- 2023 Farm to School Census State Agency Briefing (recording and presentation slides)
- 2023 Farm to School Census Checklist for Success
- 2023 Farm to School Census Preparation Worksheet
- 2023 Farm to School Census Sample Survey
- 2023 Farm to School Census FAQs
- 2023 Farm to School Census Awareness Resources for State Agencies
- 2023 Farm to School Census Art Resources
- 2023 Farm to School Census School Food Authority Briefing (recording, presentation slides, and question and answers)
This page offers resources to help state agencies, school food authorities, and their partners, prepare for and complete the Farm to School Census.
This dashboard displays state-reported data provided to FNS in accordance with the January 2023 guidance
on the replacement of stolen EBT benefits with federal funds. All data provided to FNS will be posted here
quarterly, as soon as possible following receipt.
At this time, only certain states are operating with online purchasing capabilities. FNS is working with other states interested in expanding online purchasing.
This memorandum provides information to assist state agencies in preventing approval of multiple sites offering meal services at the same time to the same population of children in the Summer Food Service Program.
Supporting the WIC Workforce
FNS has invested $31.5 million into a 5-year Inter-Agency Agreement (IAA) with USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to develop and support the WIC workforce. This multi-year WIC workforce project will invest in research, education, and extension to address issues in the WIC workforce, with the ultimate goal of improving the WIC participant experience.
Supporting the WIC workforce will ensure that families receive timely, culturally relevant care from skilled WIC staff. In July 2023, USDA awarded a cooperative agreement to the University of Minnesota to develop a National WIC Workforce Strategy that will inform the remainder of this project. The strategy is expected to be released in spring 2024. USDA expects to release additional funding opportunities to support implementation of the strategy.
Key Activities
WIC Workforce Development Initiative
Key Partners
Related resources
- Press Release: FNS, NIFA Partner to Invest in a Strong and Diverse WIC Workforce (07/27/23)
- Request for Applications: WIC National Workforce Strategy Development (02/16/23)
- Press Release: FNS, NIFA Partner to Improve WIC Participant Outcomes by Investing in a Strong and Diverse Workforce (02/16/23)
- WIC Learning Online
- Value Enhance Nutrition Assessment in WIC
- WIC Works Resource System
WIC staff should reflect the diversity and rich cultural experiences of WIC families. FNS has invested $31.5 million into a 5-year Inter-Agency Agreement with USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to support the WIC workforce.
Since FY 2022, FNS has awarded over $9 million in grants to 37 State agencies to support WIC FMNP eSolutions.
Modernizing Technology and Service Delivery
Participating in WIC should be easy. FNS is working with state and federal partners to make the WIC journey, from start to finish, a smoother, more fulfilling experience for all participants by modernizing technology and service delivery. We are supporting our state and local agencies as they use technology to make applying for the program, scheduling appointments, receiving nutrition services, and interacting with WIC between appointments simple and convenient.
Key Activities
Grant Funding to Provide a Modern WIC ExperienceTo support state agencies as they work to modernize WIC, FNS awarded a total of $23,100,000 in FY 22 Technology/Service Delivery Improvement grants to 66 WIC state agencies. In FY 23, FNS awarded an additional ~$100M in WIC Modernization grants. State agencies can use these grants to improve technology and service delivery in a variety of ways, including implementing or expanding text messaging, improving websites and apps, developing online WIC applications, improving support to families with limited English language skills, and implementing data sharing or data matching projects to streamline enrollment. Related Resources
|
Streamlining Enrollment in WICWe want to make it easier for eligible families to enroll in WIC. WIC-eligible families that already participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid are already income-eligible for WIC. But many don’t know and/or don’t participant. At the federal level, USDA is working with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help state agencies streamline WIC enrollment through state-level referrals. In 2023, USDA released a policy memo outlining how state agencies can reduce the burden on WIC applicants and participants by sharing data and referrals with other benefit programs with similar income eligibility (e.g., SNAP and Medicaid) and with other entities, including doctors. In September, USDA awarded a grant of approximately $10 million to Johns Hopkins University to support data matching and referral efforts at the state agency level. Key PartnersRelated Resources
|
Enrolling in and sticking with WIC helps families get the nutrition and healthcare they need to build a healthier future. FNS is working with state and federal partners to make the WIC journey, from start to finish, a smoother, more fulfilling experience for all participants by modernizing technology and service delivery.