Breaking News: USDA Offers $8 Million to Schools and Child Care Centers
This just in: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will give over 8 million dollars to help school and child care nutrition professionals offer healthful meals to their students.This money will come in the form of grants. Here's how it's going to be divided...
- 2.6 million dollars to offer support to organizations as they implement the new standards set forth for programs like National School Lunch and School Breakfast.
- 5.6 million dollars will go to states that are looking to "expand and enhance" nutrition education and food service programs.
According to the press release from the USDA, "The grants announced today add to the large number of resources that USDA provides to help schools serve healthier food options that meet updated nutrition standards, including technical assistance, educational materials, and additional reimbursements."So why this help? Why now?Well, the answer lies in the new national professional standards for school nutrition employees. These went into effect this July, and now that school is in full swing, the USDA wants to offer additional support to help implement these standards.To be eligible for a grant, the activities outlined must be "sustainable and achieve measurable outcomes." For examples of what that entails, take a look at the press release from the USDA.If you're looking for resources to help promote healthful choices in your own school or child care center, we're here to help. Don't miss the latest materials from the Nutrition Education Store! Here are some of the most fun interactive resources for children and their educators... Nutrition Workbooks
