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Resource | Policy Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA); Interpretation of “Federal Public Benefit”

This notice sets forth the interpretation that the U.S. Department of Agriculture uses for the term “Federal public benefit” as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. In doing so, this notice supersedes any prior interpretation in any notice or other document issued by any USDA agency. This notice also describes and preliminarily identifies the USDA programs that provide “Federal public benefits” within the scope of PRWORA.

07/10/2025
Resource | Policy Using Federal Funds to Purchase Local Foods

The purpose of this memorandum is to remind schools, sponsors, and institutions participating in any USDA Child Nutrition Program, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Special Milk Program for Children , Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, and the Seamless Summer Option , of the many ways they can purchase local foods to serve in program meals.

05/06/2025
Basic page FARMWISE: Farm to CACFP Institute and Learning Collaborative

In cooperation with FNS, Association of State Public Health Nutritionists will administer the first Farm to Child and Adult Care Food Program Institute and Learning Collaborative, called FARMWISE, to advance Farm to CACFP efforts.

08/02/2024
Basic page Farm to School Institute Adaptation Program

In cooperation with FNS, the Shelburne Farms Institute for Sustainable Schools is hosting the Farm to School Institute Adaptation Program. This program will teach state teams to host their own farm to school institutes. These institutes teach schools and childcare operators how to create and sustain farm to school programs. 

08/01/2024
Resource | Federal Register Notices CACFP: Payment Rates and Reimbursement Rates (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025)

This notice announces the annual adjustments to the national average payment rates for meals and snacks served in child care centers, outside-school-hours care centers, at-risk afterschool care centers, and adult day care centers; the food service payment rates for meals and snacks served in day care homes; and the administrative reimbursement rates for sponsoring organizations of day care homes, to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. 

07/10/2024
Basic page Family Style Meal Service With Children in the CACFP

Support children, train staff, and meet CACFP meal pattern requirements to successfully serve meals “family style” with these new resources.

02/28/2024
Resource | Training and Outreach Family Style Meal Service With Children in the CACFP Training Materials

Support children, train staff, and meet CACFP meal pattern requirements to successfully serve meals “family style” with these new resources.

12/06/2023
Resource | Training and Outreach It’s Breakfast Time!

Check out this easy-to-use menu planner and recipe booklet for Child and Adult Care Food Program operators who provide breakfast meals for children 3–18 years of age.

11/27/2023
Resource | Factsheets Food Safety Information and Resources for the Farm to School Community

This fact sheet outlines a number of additional resources for those seeking to directly purchase or raise food products for school nutrition programs.

08/29/2023
Resource | Training and Outreach Crediting Single-Serving Packages of Grains in the CACFP

These worksheets can be used to empower CACFP providers and operators with the knowledge, skills and expertise to implement CACFP meal pattern requirements. 

06/07/2023
Page updated: October 14, 2021