REGION 9 ESC

Child Nutrition

Serving the nutritional needs of school children and children in daycare, child care centers, and Head Start programs by offering low-cost nutritious breakfasts and lunches during the school day in order to help establish good eating habits.

Child Nutrition is a federally funded program through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is administered through Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).  Programs served in the Region 9 area include:

          Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

          Food Distribution Program (FDP)

          National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

          Afterschool Care Program (ASCP)

          Seamless Summer Option (SSO)

          Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program (FFVP)

          School Breakfast Program (SBP)

          Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

More information regarding the above programs can be found at www.squaremeals.org

Region 9 Child Nutrition Specialists provide information, technical assistance, and support for program compliance, nutrition, and management.  Workshops, training and on-site contact with child nutrition directors and staff at the school districts and directors at home daycares, care centers, and Head Start programs are effective methods to ensure programs are safe, efficient and compliant with USDA and TDA regulations. 

Region 9 CACFP encompasses home daycare, care centers, and Head Start.

All Region 9 school districts have the opportunity to enter into an inter-local agreement for participation in the West Texas Food Service Coop, which grants buying power in both commercial and commodity purchases allowing schools to be fiscally responsible.

Services provided include:

• Access to multi-regional purchasing pool, resulting in cost savings
• Commodity processing assistance and training
• Nutritional information for all food bid items
• Procurement procedures in compliance with USDA regulations
• Liaison services between food vendor and district/charter to resolve any concerns/delays

Menu Planning Cooperative

The menu planning cooperative is designed to provide assistance to school district/charter personnel in menu planning for the child nutrition program.  Technical assistance is offered to assist districts/charters in meeting established nutritional requirements.   

Services provided:

• Menu design for district/charter child nutrition programs to meet established nutritional requirements as outlined in the SMIs