Appendix
Food Stamp Nutrition Education Policy Clarifications
This is to provide States with clarification on several Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE) policy issues that were raised during review of Federal Fiscal Year 2005 and 2006 State FSNE Plans. As always, Food and Nutrition Service’s (FNS) FSNE State Plan Guidance, issued annually, remains the primary document from which States may find information with regard to FSNE program and fiscal policies.
1. FSNE funds may not be used for local community food security and needs assessments, except where such an activity is of minimal or no cost and is integral to general FSNE nutrition education program planning.
2. FSNE funds may not be used to actively promote and conduct outreach for the Food Stamp Program (FSP), the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, and other FNS programs. Brief messages identifying these as sources of food assistance are allowable.
3. FSNE funds may not used for implementation of initiatives and other resources which have the primary purpose of improving nutrition systems, environments, or policies. Although there may be some minor relevant purposes that are mutually shared between TN and FSNE in the Changing the Scene kit, its key purpose is for local use in promoting systems and environmental changes, the costs of which are to be born locally. Use of FSNE funds for this purpose is inappropriate. Examples of materials that promote systems and environmental changes that are inappropriate for FSNE including Changing the Scene, the Healthier US School Challenge, and the School Health Index.
4. FSNE funds may not apply for staff to participate in the development or implementation of school wellness policies. This is the case even if the State’s Child Nutrition Program has taken the lead and this is a component of a State’s Nutrition Action Plan.
5. FSNE funds may be used to promote, but not implement, systems, environmental or policy change, if and only if such promotion is directly linked to, supportive of, and proportionate to direct nutrition education efforts for FSNE clients. FSNE staff may encourage clients to pursue nutrition systems, environment, and policy changes, and provide them with a list of strategies to assist with this effort.
6. Within the context of a nutrition education intervention, FSNE staff may promote ideas for improving access to healthier foods in low-income communities, but may not use FSNE funds to actively increase food security.
Please Note: Food Stamp Nutrition Education Policy Clarifications are taken from USDA Administrative Notice 05-28, September 21, 2005
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