Frequently Asked Questions
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1. |
What is the CSFP? |
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2. |
How does the program operate? |
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3. |
How much does CSFP cost? |
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4.
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Is this program available in every
State? |
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5. |
What are the requirements to get food
through CSFP? |
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6. |
What foods are provided to participants? |
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7. |
Who should I contact for more
information about CSFP?
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ANSWERS |
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1. What is the CSFP?
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The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) works to improve the
health of low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women, other new
mothers up to one year postpartum, infants, children up to age six,
and elderly people at least 60 years of age by supplementing their
diets with nutritious USDA commodity foods. It provides food and
administrative funds to States to supplement the diets of these
groups.
The population served by CSFP is similar to that served by USDA's
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC), but CSFP also serves elderly people, and provides
food rather than the food vouchers that WIC participants receive.
Eligible people cannot participate in both programs at the same
time.
CSFP food packages do not provide a complete diet, but rather are
good sources of the nutrients typically lacking in the diets of the
target population.
CSFP is administered at the Federal level by the Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The program is authorized under Section 4(a) of the Agriculture and
Consumer Protection Act of 1973. Federal regulations covering CFSP
can be found in 7 CFR,
Parts 247 and
250.
An average of more than 462,000 people each month participated in
the program in fiscal year
(FY) 2006, including more than 422,000 elderly people and more than
40,000 women, infants, and children.
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2. How does the program operate?
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USDA purchases food and makes it available to State agencies and
Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs), along with funds for
administrative costs. State agencies that administer CSFP are
typically departments of health, social services, education, or
agriculture. State agencies store the food and distribute it to
public and non-profit private local agencies.
Local agencies determine the eligibility of applicants, distribute
the foods, and provide nutrition education. Local agencies also
provide referrals to other welfare, nutrition, and health care
programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, and Medicare.
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3. How much does CSFP cost?
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For FY 2007, Congress appropriated $107.202 million for CSFP. Annual
appropriations may be supplemented by unspent funds carried over
from the previous FY, if available.
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4. Is this program available in
every State?
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No. The CSFP is authorized to operate only in the following States:
For the address and telephone number of the State
Distributing Agency that administers the program in any of the
States listed above, click on the applicable State above.
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5. What are the requirements to
get food through CSFP?
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Women, infants, children, and the elderly must reside in one of the
States or on one of the Indian reservations that participate in CSFP.
States establish an income limit for the elderly that is at or below
130 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. States also
establish income limits for women, infants, and children that are at
or below 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines, but
not below 100 percent of these guidelines.
Women, infants and children who receive SNAP benefits, Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (TANF), or Medicaid are considered automatically
eligible for CSFP. Women, infants and children who participate in
certain other public assistance programs may also be considered
eligible for CSFP.
States may establish local residency requirements based on
designated service areas (but may not require a minimum period of
residency). States may also require that participants be at
nutritional risk. Risk assessment can be based on a variety of
measures, including height and weight measurements and blood tests.
Examples of nutritional risk conditions include anemia and
inappropriate weight for height.
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6. What foods are provided to
participants?
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Food packages include a variety of foods, such as infant formula and
cereal, non-fat dry and evaporated milk, juice, farina, oats,
ready-to-eat cereal, rice, pasta, egg mix, peanut butter, dry beans
or peas, canned meat or poultry or tuna, and canned fruits and
vegetables.
For a list of foods available for CSFP for FY 2008, visit
the FD web site at:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/foods/fy08-csfpfoods.pdf.
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7. Who should I contact for more
information about CSFP?
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For more information about this program, we suggest that you contact
your CSFP State Distributing Agency. A list of State Contacts may be
found on the FD web site at:
www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/contacts/sdacontacts.htm.
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Last Modified:
11/30/2008
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