February 15, 2005 Food Stamp and Child Nutrition Agreements for
Direct Certification
SUBJECT: |
Food Stamp and Child Nutrition Agreements for Direct
Certification |
TO: |
All Regional Directors
Food Stamp Program |
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires that
children in food stamp households be directly certified for free school
meals. To prepare for the phased in implementation of mandatory direct
certification, which begins for the largest school districts in July 2006
and covers all school districts by July 2008, we convened a work group on
January 26–27, 2005. Meeting attendees included Federal, State and local
administrators of the school meal programs, along with Federal and State
Food Stamp Program administrators. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss
implementation issues surrounding direct certification and optional direct
verification as a result of the new provisions.
To facilitate mandatory direct certification, the law requires Food Stamp
and Child Nutrition State agencies to enter into agreements by July 1, 2005.
The affected State agencies should be working together now to discuss direct
certification and get these agreements in place. While we anticipate the
Child Nutrition State agency will initiate contact with the Food Stamp State
agency, the law makes both agencies responsible for making mandatory direct
certification a reality. The agreements must include, at a minimum, a
statement that direct certification will take place when required by law, as
well as agreement to develop detailed procedures well in advance of
implementation. Based on a recommendation from the work group, we are
developing a checklist of items for the direct certification agreements,
which we plan to provide in March 2005.
We are asking you to contact each of your States to obtain information on
the status of their actions intended to implement the direct certification
provisions, and provide a State-by-State status report to Stan Garnett by
May 2, 2005. Since direct certification of children in food stamp households
has been optional for more than a decade, States may have some form of an
agreement already in place. However, we expect that many, if not all, of
these agreements will need to be updated to reflect the new provisions of
the law and the advances in technology since they were originally signed.
Please make every effort to facilitate the cooperative relationship
between your Child Nutrition and Food Stamp State agencies in implementing
the mandatory direct certification provision in accordance with the law. Let
us know of any assistance that we can provide to you in this process. If you
have any questions, contact Stan Garnett at 703-305-2590 for Child Nutrition
issues, and Art Foley at 703-305-2490 for Food Stamp issues.
STEVEN CHRISTENSEN
Deputy Administrator
Special Nutrition Programs |
JESSICA SHAHIN
Acting Deputy Administrator
Food Stamp Program |
Last
modified:
11/21/2008
|