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Resource | Policy Initial Implementation Memorandum: Child Nutrition Programs - Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 DGAs

On April 25, 2024, FNS published the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This rule includes minor updates to the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program to better align Child Nutrition Program requirements. These updates represent continued progress toward supporting the nutrition quality of school meals, strengthening the Child Nutrition Programs, and advancing USDA’s commitment to nutrition security. 

SP 19-2024, CACFP 07-2024, SFSP 12-2024
05/17/2024
Resource | Policy SNAP Use of Nonmerit Personnel in SNAP Administration

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).

03/21/2024
Resource | Policy SNAP Online Application Policy Clarification

This memo reiterates and clarifies existing online application policy for state agencies. 

02/20/2024
Resource | Policy Memos SNAP FY 2025 Priority Areas for State Outreach Plans

FNS is committed to increasing access to SNAP, one of the most powerful tools available to ensure low-income people have access to healthy food. Program informational activities, or SNAP outreach activities, are a critical tool to ensure vulnerable populations are aware of the availability, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and benefits of SNAP.

02/01/2024
Resource | Policy Use of Advanced Automation in SNAP

This memo provides State agencies with guidance on allowable use of advanced automation technologies. 

01/10/2024
Resource | Policy Memos Revised: Crediting Tofu and Soy Yogurt Products in the School Meal Programs, CACFP, and SFSP

This memorandum provides updated guidance on crediting tofu and soy yogurt products in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and extends previous guidance on crediting tofu and soy yogurt products to the Summer Food Service Program, as well as to the infant meal pattern in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

SP 02-2024, CACFP 02-2024, SFSP 02-2024
11/29/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Crediting Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs

This updated memorandum provides guidance to Indigenous communities on incorporating traditional Indigenous foods that meet CNP meal pattern requirements and includes an updated and expanded list of traditional Indigenous foods that credit the same as similar foods currently listed in the Food Buying Guide for child nutrition programs.

TA 01-2024
11/01/2023
Resource | Policy Best Practices for Determining Proximity of Sites in the Summer Food Service Program

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. 

SFSP 15-2023
09/28/2023
Resource | Policy Feeding Infants and Meal Pattern Requirements in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; Questions and Answers (Revised September 2023)

This memorandum provides updated guidance on feeding infants and the infant meal pattern requirements. This revision incorporates updated breastmilk storage recommendations, infant formula food safety considerations, and information on crediting grains in ounce equivalents.

CACFP 11-2023
09/20/2023
Resource | Policy WIC Policy Memorandum #2023-5: Data Sharing to Improve Outreach and Streamline Certification in WIC

This policy memorandum provides guidance on data sharing activities that support targeted outreach and streamlined certification processes aimed at increasing WIC participation and retention. It expresses USDA FNS support of data sharing, provides an overview of data sharing relevant to WIC, summarizes WIC program guidance on sharing confidential WIC participant data, and lays the groundwork for future guidance and resources to help WIC state agencies expand outreach and streamline the
certification process.

WPM 2023-5
04/25/2023
Page updated: October 14, 2021