Direct Certification: The FDPIR Connection 1 NAFDPIR June 15, 2015 Albuquerque, NM

What is Direct Certification? 2 Direct certification means direct eligibility determination for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) benefits based on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) eligibility (or through several other allowable categorically eligible designations). Eligibility documentation is obtained directly from the appropriate State or local agency or other authorized individual, without need for application or any action by the household.

Benefits of Direct Certification? 3 Free Meal Benefits for Eligible Children Application-Free Process for Households Increased Reimbursement for Local Schools Increased CEP Claiming % Improved Integrity

Community Eligibility Basics CEP allows schools, groups of schools, or entire school districts with a high percentage of high poverty students to serve healthy breakfasts and lunches to ALL children at no cost for up to four years Eliminates the use of household income applications School year (SY) was first year of nationwide availability -Eleven pilot States participated in three year phased-in testing period

Which Schools can Participate in CEP? Must participate in both the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) Eligibility is based on the number of students who would normally be certified for free school meals without an application Mostly obtained from “Direct certification” (SNAP, TANF, FDPIR.) Must represent at least 40% of student population (Identified Student Percentage or ISP) ISP multiplied by 1.6 is the percentage of meals reimbursed at the Federal “free” rate USDA CEP resource center: meals/community-eligibility-provisionhttp:// meals/community-eligibility-provision

What this means by the numbers…. 6

FDPIR Authority 7 Schools may DC students through data provided by FDPIR FDPIR Regulations allows for the disclosure of information for the purpose of NSLP direct certification FD-045: Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations(FDPIR) FNS Handbook 501: 1281 Referral

Why FDPIR? 8 Simply…There are children who participate in FDPIR who can be helped through direct certification FDPIR has readily-available data for matching FDPIR visibility to in-need households Potential Population

What this means by the numbers….FDPIR 9

The FDPIR Data Exchange? 10 ITOs have available data via AIS States have the ability to Match Statewide or District- wide to identify eligible children Minimal resources required by FDPIR staff to provide community benefit

Nevada: Promising Practices 11 Nevada Department of Agriculture (11 Tribes) & Duck Valley Shoshone-Paiute Tribe Monthly AIS-generated data files posted to secure location for school district matching 8 school districts & 2 BIE schools covering 8 counties

Nevada: Promising Practices 12 RESULTS: 162 additional children directly certified in School Year !!

Items of Consideration 13 Voluntary Involvement Data Security/Confidentiality ITO-State Data Sharing Partnership Agreements

Real-Life Scenario 14 This means Game Time!! ATTENTION: Auditioning for the following roles: School Lunch Child #1 through #15. *Must have experience with being a kid.

Contact Info 15 Sarah E. Smith-Holmes Division Director Program Monitoring and Operational Support Child Nutrition Programs USDA - Food and Nutrition Service Phone: Joseph Templin Program Analyst Operational Support Branch Child Nutrition Programs USDA- Food and Nutrition Service (312)

Questions? 16