Resource Library

This graphic shows household participation rates for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) in small towns by county in each state.

This graphic shows household participation rates for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) in rural areas by county in each state.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can be tapped to help individuals and communities recover from natural or man-made disasters. Advocates can work with federal and state partners to get temporary Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) benefits to households not already participating in SNAP, and replacement and supplemental SNAP benefits to current SNAP participants adversely affected by disaster.

The House Budget is proposing to significantly cut the number of schools eligible to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision, a federal option for high-poverty schools to offer free school meals to all students. Under the proposal, over 8,000 high-poverty schools, enrolling 3.8 million children currently participating in community eligibility, would be impacted — roughly 40 percent of the 20,000 schools currently participating.

Oklahoma’s most recent draft of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan takes a proactive approach towards increasing participation in the federal school, summer, and afterschool nutrition programs. Hunger Free Oklahoma actively engaged and provided feedback to the Oklahoma State Department of Education and are credited for advocating for language that includes best practices for increasing access to the child nutrition programs.

The Education for Homeless Children and Youths (EHCY) program, authorized under Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento Act), was created to ensure homeless students have educational rights and protections. State Education Agencies (SEA) and Local Education Agencies (LEA) must review and revise their current policies and procedures to safeguard homeless students’ access to high-quality education as part of drafting their Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plans.

The “Breakfast Blueprint” is a guide focused on breakfast after the bell programs—such as breakfast in the classroom, “grab and go” breakfast and second chance breakfast—because they are increasingly
popular, are well-researched and have successfully helped schools and districts improve students’ access to nutritious foods.

Information for sponsors and supporters on maintain momentum throughout the summer months for this year’s Summer Nutrition Programs. Part of FRAC’s Summer Nutrition Programs Implementation Calendars and Guide.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued rules updating the nutrition standards for meals served through CACFP. This resource is meant to be a roadmap for sites to understand and plan for the new meal pattern and identify nutrition enrichment activities to empower families, support staff, and engage children.

On July 12, 2017, the House Appropriations Committee voted out its Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. In addition to setting spending levels on food and nutrition programs, the Committee also weighed in on nutrition standards, lunch shaming, and more.

What’s at a summer meals site?

Free nutritious meals and snacks
Educational activities
Opportunities to play
Adult supervision
Safe environment

Quote of the Day: Hunger doesn’t take a vacation. Summer meals matter. – FRAC President Jim Weill

3M children ate summer meals in July 2016.

A report on the reach of summer breakfast and a companion piece to FRAC’s Summer Nutrition Status Report: Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation, released on June 13, which focuses on summer lunch participation.

Advocates and state Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) agencies can improve access to SNAP for people with disabilities by disseminating accurate information about the program, opting for program practices that best serve people with disabilities, and partnering with people with disabilities and the organizations that support them.