BACK TO SCHOOL
BACK TO SCHOOL
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR SNAP-Ed Resources BY CASSONDRA CASWELL , SNAP-ED NEW YORK
reimbursements (compared to NSLP/SBP) through the SSO Waivers. These factors make this a strategic time tomaximize participation. Often school breakfast is a promising area of potential growth. Breakfast After the Bell models offer evidence-based best practices to increase student access to breakfast, expand participation, and further boost your bottom line. 4. Make free meals for all beyond COVID-19 Offering free meals for all is a powerful strategy to build a financially viable school nutrition program. Prior to COVID-19, CEP schools throughout NYS shifted their school meal programs from operating in the red to ending the year with a surplus. Nearly 550 of those CEP schools operate the program with direct certification rates, also known as ISPs (identified student percentages), below 60%. Contrary to popular belief, this shows that CEP can work in schools that do not qualify for 100% free reimbursement under CEP. Free meals for all boosts participation, lowers costs, eliminates meal debt, and positively impacts finances in the majority of CEP schools. 5. Provide meals beyond the school day Afterschool programs area critical part of COVID-19recovery, and providing healthy afterschool meals helpsmake themost of them. If your school currently serves afterschool snacks, consider switching to complete meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to ensure kids are fully nourished and ready to learn. Serving complete meals bolsters your nutrition programs, too; CACFP’s afterschool component reimburses $3.66/meal or $1.00/snack served to youth in eligible programs. We can help you learn more and get started. 6. Connect families with SNAP and WIC Hunger remains a persistent reality for many New Yorkers, especially families with children. As trusted messengers, schools can share information about SNAP and WIC to help ensure students and their families have consistent access to healthy food. Schools also benefit from increased SNAP participation, as a higher ISP can improve a school’s ability to adopt CEP. Use the resources below to share information about SNAP and WIC with families in your district: • SNAP Outreach for Schools Toolkit • WIC Help NY Resource Center Need help with bouncing back this school year? We are here to help! Reach out to our team of experts to help transform your school meal program from surviving to thriving. • Emily Gartenberg with No Kid Hungry New York • Krista Hesdorfer with Hunger Solutions New York • Jessica Pino-Goodspeed withHunger SolutionsNewYork
SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Education Program-Education) New York is a free, confidential nutrition program that educates people about the benefits of shopping, preparing, and eating a healthy variety of foods while on a limited budget. Our team is comprised of knowledgeable nutrition educators that provide skill-based nutrition education classes to give families the tools, tips, and tricks that help people make nutritious food choices and choose physically active lifestyles for themselves and their families. SNAP-Ed works with individuals, families, community agencies, schools, policy makers, and many more to educate, empower and support change to help make the healthy choice an easy choice for our communities. What does this mean for NYS Nutrition Association members? SNAP-Ed promotes, supports and influences community-level health where we work, live, learn and play. SNAP-Ed educators across the state are eager and ready to be a resource and partner for your school nutrition initiatives! We offer a variety of nutrition education classes specifically designed and tailored to youth, adults, and seniors on a variety of topics such as: eating more nutrient dense foods, drinking fewer sugar-sweetened beverages, basic cooking and food safety skills, and physical activity. Our team members will come right to your local schools to offer programs. The programs can last between 20 minutes to 90 minutes and can offer food demonstrations and hands on learning. Classes can range from a one-time session or a series of classes. Some other initiatives we can partner with your school to implement are Community Obesity Prevention Programs, Farm to Worksite or Community Site, School Wellness and Smarter Lunchrooms, and Peer-led Obesity Programs. Learn More about SNAP-Ed To learn more about how SNAP-Ed can work with you or your community schools in any of these programs, visit our SNAP-Ed NY page at SNAP-Ed New York Partnerships (snapedny.org) . Our website also offers recipes, videos, tools, and tips, and how to find local programming based on your region or zip code, which also includes an interactive calendar of upcoming classes that are being offered. On our website under the tools and tips tab, you can download informative tip sheets or print them out to keep on hand.
SNAP- Ed Educators provide quality nutrition education for youth
FreshBites models Many schools are planning to offer free meals to all, have simplified counting and claiming, and are getting higher As we enter the third school year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, school nutrition departments have faced new challenges and an environment of constant change. While this school year may look different than in years past, school meals remain a steady source of nutrition that kids and families can rely on. To help your nutrition program bounce back in the 2021-2022 school year, check out these 6 tips from Hunger Solutions New York and No Kid Hungry New York. 1. Market your program Marketing school meal programs is one of the most effective tools for increasing participation in school meals. Given that school food service may look different this year than in the past, providing clear information on school meals can help families understand and access meal programs. Check out this school meal marketing toolkit for flyers, website text, and social media posts to help advertise your meal programs. 2. Celebrate your school nutrition staff Staffing school meal programs is hard but rewarding work in typical years, but after serving meals through COVID-19, many school nutrition professionals are facing burnout and fatigue. Celebrating the contributions of school nutrition staff can go a long way in helping staff feel appreciated and ready for the next school year. A few ways to recognize staff are • : Providing small tokens of appreciate like surprise donuts, snacks, and lunch • Having leadership formally recognize staff ’s hard work • Giving staff fun team shirts or jackets to wear onsite 3. Boost participation with Breakfast After the Bell BY JESSICA PINO-GOODSPEED, KRISTA HESDORFER, AND EMILY GARTENBERG
SNAP-Ed provides
resources for many school and cafeteria projects
We have a plethora of educational and food demonstration videos to choose from on
our SNAP-ED youtube channel and website (https://www.snapedny.org/category/videos/)
CLICK HERE to view a list of New York State Implementing Agencies in your area
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FreshBites
FALL 2021
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