USDA funds Colorado food assistance program nutrition training

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service today awarded $6.7 million in grants during the back to school season to expand and enhance training for school nutrition and child care professionals working to support healthy environments for our nation’s youth. Fourteen state agencies were given awards – eight working toward improving school nutrition through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) and six focusing on nutrition at facilities participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

Colorado CACFP received $499,707 for training providers participating in CACFP. Earlier this year, USDA issued a final rule updating the CACFP meal patterns to better reflect the recommendations of the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and foster healthy habits early.

“I can think of no better way to celebrate students going back to school than to ensure the health and wellbeing of our children through the Child Nutrition Programs,” said Kevin Concannon, USDA Under Secretary for Food Nutrition and Consumer Services. “USDA is committed to supporting the school nutrition and child care professionals who continually raise the bar by providing children with nutritious, tasteful meals and creating an all-around healthy environment for them to learn and grow.”

The training grants are awarded as part of USDA's Team Nutrition initiative, which provides resources, training, and nutrition education resources for the child nutrition programs. Since its inception over 20 years ago, Team Nutrition has provided approximately $97 million in grant funds to state agencies that administer USDA Child Nutrition Programs. The 14 states receiving grants include: