Office of Nutrition Programs and Services
The Office of Nutrition Programs and Services provides educational leadership, program technical assistance, federal and state funding and general services that promote and fund health, nutritional daily needs of children and adults and nutrition education for all program participants through the administration of USDA Child Nutrition Services in New Hampshire schools, institutes and summer programs.
Civil Rights
The Civil Rights Division (CRD) mission is to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies for FNS customers and employees regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by US.
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) provides an alternative approach for offering school meals to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools in low income areas, instead of collecting individual applications for free and reduced price meals.
The CEP allows schools that predominantly serve low-income children to offer free, nutritious school meals to all students through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. The CEP uses information from other programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Temporary Assistance Program for Needy Families (TANF) instead of traditional paper applications.
For Parents and Students
The New Hampshire Department of Education helps local schools administer their nutrition programs, but does not determine program eligibility. To apply for Free and Reduced Price School Meals, please contact your local school.
Afterschool Snack Program
The Afterschool Snack Program is made available to serve healthy reimbursable snacks to children participating in the after school programs run by schools or child care sponsors. In New Hampshire, 1,813,557 snack meals have been reimbursed.
The Department of Agriculture also donates surplus commodity foods for lunches served under the program. These foods are distributed by the Surplus Distribution Section of the Department of Administrative Services, Surplus.distribution@nh.gov, (603) 271-2602.
Contact
Patty Carignan, Program Specialist II
(603) 271-3862
patricia.j.carignan@doe.nh.gov
Child and Adult Care Food Program
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) was established for child care centers in 1968 under Section 16 of the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act.
CACFP provides aid to child and adult care institutions and family or group day care homes for the provision of nutritious foods that contribute to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children, and the health and wellness of older adults and chronically impaired disabled persons.
Through CACFP, more than 3.3 million children and 120,000 adults receive nutritious meals and snacks each day as part of the day care they receive.
See how CACFP can make a difference in the quality of your program! Whether you are a provider in your home, at a day care center, in a afterschool program, or in an emergency shelter, you will find many useful resources for serving nutritious meals and snacks.
Patty Carignan, Program Specialist II
(603) 271-3862
patricia.j.carignan@doe.nh.gov
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides reimbursements to participating schools to serve, during the school day, fresh fruits and vegetables to students during non-meal times.
Contact
Alexis Dwyer, Program Specialist II
(603) 271-3862
alexis.m.dwyer@doe.nh.gov
National School Lunch Program
School Breakfast Program & Seamless Summer Program
The purpose of the National School Lunch Program is to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation's children, as declared in 1946 by Congress in the National School Lunch Act. The School Lunch Program makes it possible for schools to serve nutritious inexpensive lunches to students each day. Schools may also serve meals during summer months. Last school year, in NH, over 30 million meals were reimbursed. USDA provides program funding and administration.
Schools receive reimbursement for all meals which meet meal pattern requirements specified by the USDA in regulation CFR 210. Schools may qualify for higher "severe need" reimbursements if a specified percentage of their meals are served free or at a reduced price. In addition, meals must meet the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans when averaged over a week. There is one menu planning option available to schools. The Office of Nutrition Programs and Services provides technical assistance and guidance to schools to insure that the lunch program operates in accordance with the regulations of the National School Lunch Program.
The Department of Agriculture also donates surplus commodity foods for lunches served under the program. These foods are distributed by the Surplus Distribution Section of the Department of Administrative Services, Surplus.distribution@nh.gov, (603) 271-7838.
Marty Davis, Program Specialist II
(603) 271-3647
marty.b.davis@doe.nh.gov
Special Milk Program
The Special Milk Program provides participating programs whose children do not have access to a meals program, opportunities to serve and receive reimbursements for milk. $261,060.85 is provided to participating programs to support the purchase of milk to children
For more information, visit the USDA Special Milk Program.
Marty Davis, Program Specialist II
(603) 271-3647
marty.b.davis@doe.nh.gov
Summer Food Service Program
The SFSP provides reimbursements to participating programs to serve nutritious meals to children in residential camps, day camps, open site locations, closed site locations, schools.
Contact
Patty Carignan, Program Specialist II
(603) 271-3862
patricia.j.carignan@doe.nh.gov
Program Authorization Form
Waivers
NH Seeking FFVP Waiver SY 20-21 Parent Pickup
The NH Department of Education is seeking a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services. The purpose of this waiver is to support FFVP elementary schools and communities in providing fresh fruits and vegetables to children in schools experiencing remote learning in response to COVID-19. The waiver would allow for a parent/guardian pick up of fresh FFVP produce that would limit student participants’ interaction and proximity to other participants and therefore decrease the risk of COVID-19 exposure. This activity is already allowed for meals in the NSLP.
COVID-19 Waiver Request Oversight and Monitoring Plan
The NH Department of Education is seeking a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services. The purpose of this waiver is to temporarily suspend Administrative Reviews and replace them with technical assistance and guidance. This is due to the impacts of COVID-19 and the need to continue with social distancing and personal protection.
Potable Water Flexibility SY 20-21
The NH Department of Education is seeking a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services for the requirement of having potable water available in or near the cafeteria/classroom. The purpose of this waiver is to help maintain the health and safety of students and staff as water dispensers are congregate areas and school staff are not able to continually disinfect the areas.
Single Meal Pattern to be used SY 20-21
The NH Department of Education is seeking a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services. The purpose of this waiver is to support schools and communities in providing meals to children in a safe and efficient manner and in response to COVID-19 and to continue to feed children a healthful meal. The waiver would allow for a single meal pattern to be used for meal service for remote and in school learners that would limit participants’ interaction and proximity to other participants and therefore decrease the risk of COVID-19 exposure.
Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program Alternate FFVP Sites
Waiver request for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) to operate at alternate FFVP Sites
Child Nutrition Program participants- log in to MyNHDOE
Outsourcing your Program
Outsourcing the meals program to a Food Service Management Company is a major decision for a School Food Authority to make. The contracting with an outside company to provide management services and/or meals comes with great monitoring responsibilities.
Cheri White, Administrator
(603) 271-3860
Cheri.F.White@doe.nh.gov
Tamara Feener, Program Specialist II
(603) 271-0054
Tamara.j.feener@doe.nh.gov