USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service recently published a proposed rule that will help ensure the federal child nutrition programs are being operated properly. These regulatory updates will strengthen and clarify the process for correcting major mismanagement problems, also called serious deficiencies, found in FNS’ child nutrition programs.
The proposed changes will ensure that procedures in Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program, also known as CACFP and SFSP, align with current requirements under law, by:
- Providing operators a fair path to fully correct serious mismanagement problems;
- Clarifying termination and disqualification criteria for SFSP operators;
- Addressing legal requirements for obtaining records of individuals who are disqualified from the program and sponsoring organizations that operate in multiple states;
- Establishing a serious deficiency process for unaffiliated child care and adult day care centers in CACFP.
USDA is also proposing a standard definition of what it means for an operator to be in “good standing,” which currently does not exist.
This rule is one of many steps that USDA is taking to continually bolster the integrity of the federal child nutrition programs, which help millions of children across America reach their full potential.
The public is invited to comment on the proposed changes. The comment period is open until May 21, 2024.
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