Implementing the National Strategy

Increasing Affordable Food Options for Military Families 

U.S. Department of Defense

On August 2024, the Defense Commissary Agency added 10 prepared food items to its private label brand, Freedom’s Choice. The Freedom’s Choice items, all under $5, are dietitian-approved to meet certain nutritional standards—such as more options low in sodium, low in added sugar, more whole grains, and unprocessed nuts and seeds—and allow patrons to save money on nutritious, convenient and easy-to-prepare meals for families at home or single service members in their barracks. 

Providing Healthy Eating Alternatives for Soldiers

U.S. Department of Defense

In 2023, the Defense Commissary Agency, in partnership with the Army Center of Excellence – Subsistence (ACES), collaborated to provide healthy menu items for eligible soldiers at 17 installations in the contiguous United States with plans to expand to an additional 12 locations by the end of 2024. In addition to dining facilities, the Army Culinary Outpost Program provides ready-to-eat alternative nutritious menu options located near barracks and troop areas. 

Offering Military Families Online Dietitian-Approved, Quick, and Economical Solutions for Home-Cooked Meals for Military Families

U.S. Department of Defense

The Defense Commissary Agency’s “Thinking Outside the Box” (TOTB) is offering recipes on its online platform for service members and their families to access dietitian-approved, quick, and economical solutions for home-cooked meals that meet certain nutritional standards such as low sodium, low in added sugar and more whole grains. Service members can save money on specially priced items listed in these recipes. These easy and economical dietitian-approved meal solutions align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and include scientifically credible health and nutrition information with tips on how to improve the nutrition quality of the diet. 

Increased Service Members’ Healthy Dining Options 

U.S. Department of Defense

In its effort to increase healthy options served in its dining facilities and vending machines, the Defense Commissary Agency is now offering Dietitian-Approved Fueling Stations. These grab-n-go stations provide alternatives to the drive-thru are a quick way to stock office and barracks fridges with ready, on-the-go snacks and meals. These stations are full of high performance, dietitian-approved snacks and meals, conveniently located near the registers in nearly 175 stores. 

Provided Guidance to Institutions of Higher Education and State Grant Agencies About Means-Tested Benefit Outreach using FAFSA Data

U.S. Department of Education 

In July 2024, the Department of Education released guidance to institutions of higher education and State grant agencies on using FAFSA data for means-tested benefits outreach. Many college students may qualify for means-tested benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) but do not currently receive them. The guidance informed institutions and state grant agencies that they can use a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data, such as Pell Grant eligibility and Student Aid Index, to identify students for outreach about means-tested benefits for which they may be potentially eligible. Institutions and state grant agencies can also develop a process to obtain student consent to share FAFSA data with state and local benefits agencies to aid in outreach and benefits application.

Helping Develop Local Food Systems to Advance Environmental Protection and Improve Public Health

Environmental Protection Agency

In June 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), announced the selection of six communities that will receive technical assistance through the Local Foods, Local Places program. This shared effort will develop local food systems to advance environmental protection, strengthen local economies and further sustainability goals. This assistance helps communities increase their capacity to protect the environment and improve public health through better access to healthy foods. Communities also integrate food-system assets into the local built environment to boost local revitalization efforts and to encourage more active lifestyles, thereby improving overall quality of life, especially within overburdened communities. 

Funded Anti-Hunger Programs through the Community Service Block Grant

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families

In September 2022, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) launched the Freedom from Hunger Initiative to highlight the impact of anti-hunger programs funded through its Community Service Block Grant (CSBG). CSBG is a federal block grant that is used to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower families and individuals with low incomes to become fully self-sufficient. As part of the initiative, ACF’s Office of Community Service released eight case studies of CSBG-funded anti-hunger projects, a one-pager on national CSBG investment in anti-hunger efforts, and spotlight videos on two innovative CSBG-funded anti-hunger programs. 

ACF also awarded $754 million to CSBG grant recipients in 2022, serving approximately 9.5 million people per year across 53 states and territories, 66 tribes and tribal organizations, and 1,007 community action agencies serving 99 percent of the country. Some CSBG funded projects advanced promising innovations in combating food insecurity by ensuring equitable access to healthy goods through grocery giveaways, nutrition education, cooking classes, meal programs, good banks and food pantries, community gardens, hydroponic farming training programs, partnerships with local farmers, and other new programs and partnerships. 

Created A Model Application and Guide to Help States Develop Improved Applications and Verification Processes for Childcare Subsidies

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families

In December 2022, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced the creation of a family-friendly child care assistance application to reduce the burden on families applying for Child Care Development and Fund (CCDF) child care assistance. The model application and guide encourage collaboration between state child care agencies and state agencies administering food and nutrition programs, highlighting state examples of leveraging information from their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) records to verify eligibility for child care subsidies. In January 2023, ACF hosted a webinar, attended by hundreds of state staff, to train them on the guide content. Following the launch and webinar, at least 13 states and territories have adopted the practices in the guide to creating a family friendly application. 

Created a Resource Guide to increase Tribal Food Security, Nutrition, and Physical Activity 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families

In December 2023, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) created a resource guide, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to increase Tribes’ knowledge of and access to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) resources for food security, food sovereignty, and physical activity. ACF’s Administration for Native Americans (ANA) launched the Ending Hunger and Improving Physical Wellness in Native Communities webpage to house the guide and highlight efforts made to address food sovereignty and nutrition security through ACF and its partners. 

Updated the Food Code to Make It Easier to Reduce Barriers to Food Donations

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration

In December 2022, the Food and Drug Administration released the 2022 Food Code to help reduce barriers to food donations by clarifying for the first time that food donations from retail food establishments are acceptable as long as proper food safety practices are followed. The Food Code is a model for safeguarding public health and ensuring food is unadulterated and honestly presented when offered to the consumer.

Provided Technical Assistance to Improve Access to Maternal Health Services, including Nutrition Assistance, for Mothers and Infants in Communities of Color 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded a Technical Assistance (TA) initiative focused on improving access to various services for mothers and infants in communities of color, which often have poor maternal and infant health outcomes.  Approximately 85 mothers have already benefited from this initiative through educational events, which highlight resources such as nutrition assistance. Participants are also able to benefit from supportive services such as work readiness, employer linkages, job placement, educational advancement technology skills, and financial literacy. Throughout FY23 and FY24, HUD has actively provided TA for HUD-designated communities to bridge community-defined gaps in maternal and infant health services for HUD-assisted housing residents.

Providing Subsidized Financing to Encourage New Grocery Stores in Areas Lacking Food Resources

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Through its Section 108 loan guaranteed financing, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing a source of subsidized financing necessary to encourage new grocery stores and other healthy food retail development in in areas where they are lacking in low- and moderate-income communities. Through FY2022, a total of $19.3 million was approved and is supporting projects that will support food access in communities in OH and CA. Community Development Block Grant Program grantees are able to leverage five times their annual grant allocation to access low-cost loans, and this will vary based on grantees' need.

Provided Funding for Food Systems in Underserved Neighborhoods

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Through its Choice Neighborhoods, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allows for funding to be used for grocery stores, neighborhood markets, farmers' markets, urban gardens, food incubators, and the re-use of buildings into food hubs at struggling neighborhoods with distressed public or HUD-assisted housing. The Choice Neighborhoods program helps communities transform neighborhoods by revitalizing severely distressed public and/or assisted housing and catalyzing critical improvements in the neighborhood, including vacant property, housing, businesses, services and schools. HUD holds webinars and issues newsletters that highlight food access as an eligible use of funds and best practices of grantees that have undertaken  efforts to improve food access. 

Convened Federal, State, and Public Stakeholders to Discuss Strategies to Tackle Benefit Cliffs

U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Employment & Training Administration

In January 2024, the U.S. Employment & Training Administration joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service and other federal agency partners at a conference hosted by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Service’s Administration for Children & Families (ACF) on addressing benefit cliffs in the context of specific benefits and services, such as income assistance, housing, food, and child care. A benefit cliff occurs when there is an increase in earnings—sometimes as low as an extra 50 cents an hour— that leads to a sudden and unexpected loss of critical supports families have relied on, putting families in an overall worse situation. The conference included recommendations from federal agencies to states, feedback from states to federal agencies, and dialogue among public and private stakeholders, including families with lived experience.

Issued Guidance on Reducing Administrative Barriers to Improve Customer Experience in Grant Programs that Support Youth, Adult, and Dislocated Workers

U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Employment & Training Administration

In February 2024, the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor, released Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 10-23, Reducing Administrative Barriers to Improve Customer Experience in ETA Programs, which eases processes for enrolling in Title I programs, allowing local areas to more easily align workforce and human services intake processes. WIOA Title I programs support youth, adult, and dislocated workers receive employment and training services, which enables them to access jobs in their communities and can lead to better financial stability and the ability to afford food and other necessities. 

Promoting Workforce and SNAP Collaboration Strategies  

U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Employment & Training Administration

In September 2024, the Department of Labor’s U.S. Employment & Training Administration’s Philadelphia regional office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, presented workforce and SNAP collaboration strategies at the Maryland Workforce Development Association’s 2024 Annual Conference. The conference reached Maryland’s 13 Local Workforce Investment Areas, the service areas designated by the Governor providing employment and training services.

Providing Funding Opportunities for Food Security and Basic Health  

Northern Border Regional Commission

The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) is making available up to $50 million in federal resources through the Catalyst Program in 2024. The Catalyst Program allows for funding to be utilized to enhance nutrition and food security as well as improving basic health care.  Key components of basic health care include the capacity to assess, evaluate, monitor, and respond to both acute (emergency) threats and chronic (ongoing) challenges to public health as well as addressing systemic inequities and incorporating preventative health practices. Selected awards include projects such as: revitalizing a distressed submarket by introducing a standalone full-service grocery store in Schenectady, NY; redevelopment and renovation of the Abenaki tribal headquarters to expand space and organizational capacity to deliver health, nutrition, and recreational programs in Maquam Bay of Missisquoi, VT; and the acquisition of a grocery store for ownership and operation as the State’s first non-profit social grocery in Richford, Vermont. 

Collaborating to Improve Nutrition Security through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Retirement and Disability Policy

In December 2022, the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its partnership to help connect Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. USDA and SSA’s new joint agreement, which is renegotiated every five years, prioritizes efficiency by piloting alternatives to outdated paper-based application processes and collecting data to inform future improvements. For example, SSA is working with the Connecticut Department of Social Services on developing an electronic process for joint processing of SNAP applications, targeting a March 2025 implementation date.

Issued Final Rule on Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

In September 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) final rule. This rule gives an estimated 3,000 more school districts in high-need areas the option to serve breakfast and lunch to all students at no cost, by expanding the availability of the Community Eligibility Provision. CEP is a simplified meal service option that allows schools to provide meals at no cost to all students without requiring families to apply for free and reduced-price meals. Before this final rule, in order for a school, group of schools, or school district to be eligible for CEP, at least 40 percent of students had to live in households participating in certain income-based federal assistance programs. This final rule lowers that threshold from 40 percent to 25 percent.

Announced Programs to Provide Children with Food Resources During the Summer

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

In May 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a host of nutrition programs to help improve children’s nutrition security during the summer months, when school meals are not available. Through USDA’s new Summer Nutrition Programs (SUN), families now have more choices and convenient ways to get summer nutrition support for their kids and teens with new SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT ($120 summer grocery benefit per eligible child for summer 2024), SUN Meals (group on-site meals), and previously launched SUN Meals To-Go (grab-and-go and delivered meals in certain rural areas). In its first year, SUN Bucks reached over 21 million children, with more expected to benefit as more states come on board in future years. 

Advancing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Modernization Strategy

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is working to advance the WIC modernization strategy by investing in community-based outreach, streamlining the participant experience, improving the in-store experience, expanding access to farmers markets, and increasing diversity and cultural competency in the WIC workforce. These advances will help connect more eligible families to WIC and strengthen service delivery to support better maternal and child health outcomes, with a focus on addressing disparities in program delivery. Nationwide, total WIC participation increased from 6.24 million participants in FY 2021 to 6.58 million in FY 2023. This positive trend has generally continued into FY 2024. WIC participation in April grew to 6.7 million, the fourth consecutive month of growth.

Providing Guidance and Technical Assistance for Online Shopping Access for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded funding for the creation of the SNAP EBT Modernization Technical Assistance Center (SEMTAC) to provide guidance and technical expertise to walk retailers — especially smaller, independent stores — through the implementation process so more SNAP participants across the country can purchase food online. This grant will use $5 million of the EBT Modernization American Rescue Plan Act funds over the next five years. Online shopping has become a vital resource for nutrition security and food access — particularly for those who live in rural and other difficult-to-reach areas and those who may be homebound or have limited transportation access.

Awarded Funding to Expand the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) Self-Determination Projects

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

The 2018 Farm Bill authorized USDA to establish a demonstration project for one or more tribal organizations administering the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) to enter into self-determination contracts to purchase USDA Foods for the FDPIR food package for their tribe. From October 2021 through April 2022 USDA has awarded $5.7 million dollars to tribal nations participating in round 1 of the demonstration project. Project implementation began in October 2021 with some contracts expected to last up to three years, through 2024. USDA awarded $4.4 million dollars to tribal nations participating in round 2 of the demonstration project. Project implementation began in August 2023 with some contracts expected to last up to three years, through 2026.

Released the National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics 

U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

In June 2024, the Administration released the National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics, which lays out a path for the United States to move towards its goal to reduce food loss and waste in half by 2030. Through this National Strategy, the Administration identifies concrete steps—and complementary actions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, and Food and Drug Administration—that will accelerate the prevention of food loss and waste where possible and practical, and the recycling of the remainder with other organic waste, across the entire U.S. supply chain. Strategies to recover food that would otherwise be lost or wasted could help deliver additional wholesome foods, especially fresh, frozen, dried, or canned vegetables and fruit, to emergency food assistance organizations, such as food banks and food pantries. This in turn could have health and economic benefits for households that use such resources when they are experiencing food insecurity. Such strategies would also contribute to feeding the growing global population with less environmental impact.

Incorporated Nutrition Information in the Veteran Affairs Benefits and Services Participant Guide – Active Duty

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

In December 2022, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) incorporated nutrition information in the Transition Assistance Program’s (TAP) “VA Benefits and Services Participant Guide – Active Duty” under Module topics related to Housing, Whole Health, Primary Care, Family Support, and Mental Health. This participant guide also covers nutrition topics such as VA dietitian services, Healthy Teaching Kitchen Program, Weight Management Program for Veterans (MOVE!), and Whole Health. 

Announced a New Partnership to Expand Agricultural Education Opportunities for Native Students

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education

In June 2024, the Bureau of Indian Education and the Native American Agriculture Fund announced a new partnership that will allow more BIE students to benefit from comprehensive, culturally relevant agricultural training and education. The lessons will teach students resiliency against hunger and poor nutrition by reintroducing traditional Tribal agriculture practices, Indigenous foods, and the nutritional benefits of traditional foods, further providing opportunities for physical activity through planting, harvesting and manually managing a school garden. The agreement and the initial implementation for this education resource will be piloted in Wingate, New Mexico. The pilot school has approximately 315 students.

Supported Indigenous Food Hubs  

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education

In May 2024, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) announced their partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create Indigenous Food Hubs. The partnership, which began in 2022, has allowed for four Indigenous Food Hubs at BIE operated schools to provide a community space for helping source Indigenous foods, encouraging culturally based nutrition education and training cook staff in food preparation. BIE hired its first national nutrition consultant to serve as a point of contact for schools, to help build nutrition programs, and improve school meals for healthy, well-balanced, culturally relevant offerings.

Incorporated School Gardens in Tribal Communities

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is fostering a deep-rooted connection with the Earth by implementing school gardens into their curriculum. This initiative highlights the importance of environmental stewardship and embraces Indigenous cultural teachings and practices. These institutions offer hands-on learning opportunities that educate students about botany, ecology and nutrition and impart knowledge about traditional Indigenous farming practices.

Prioritized Food Insecurity Screenings by Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLCs)

U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Military Community and Family Policy

Military OneSource consultants have prioritized food and economic security within their state plans and are making appropriate referrals for Service members and families to applicable resources.  Additionally, MFLCs are using the Hunger Vital Sign food insecurity screener when appropriate to assess Service member and family member needs. If a member is found to be at-risk for food insecurity, appropriate referrals to resources (both virtual and in-person, to include installation resources) are made.

Enhanced Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards in All Department of Defense Child Development Programs

U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Military Community and Family Policy

Beginning in January 2024, five additional policy and inspection standards enhancing physical activity, movement, and outdoor play were implemented into the 2024 Department of Defense (DOD) Higher Headquarters Inspection Cycle as inspection criteria.  In addition, DOD Child Development Programs (CDPs) follow all the U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition requirements.  Offered at DOD CDPs daily are balanced meals with foods from each of the food groups, no sugary drinks or juices, culturally diverse meals, and vegetarian meals.

Made It Easier for Health Care Providers to Give Coordinated, High-Quality Care to Medicare Beneficiaries

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

In November 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the creation of advance investment payments for certain new Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), effective January 1, 2024. ACOs are permitted to use these payments to address the social needs of beneficiaries, including working with local community-based organizations to address food insecurity. In 2024, 19 new ACOs are participating that are receiving $20 million in advance investment payments.

Issued a Request for Information on Essential Health Benefits

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

In November 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) solicited information from insurance plans regarding what nutrition services they already cover, with a goal of determining whether CMS could strengthen essential health benefit requirements or take other actions to expand private health coverage and better address the nutritional needs of Americans.  Comments submitted on the Request for Information will continue to inform CMS EHB policymaking.

Increased Awareness of Medicare Preventive Services

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

In March 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sent provider education through Medicare provider education channels to increase awareness of Medicare coverage of nutrition and obesity counseling services.

Announced Calendar Year 2024 Participation in the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design Model: Innovating to Meet Person-Centered Needs

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

In September 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Calendar Year (CY) 2024 participants in the Medicare Advantage (MA) Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model. Through the VBID Model, CMS is testing a broad array of MA health plan innovations designed to enhance the quality of care for MA enrollees – notably those with low incomes, such as dually eligible enrollees in Medicare and Medicaid and those qualifying for the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) Program. The innovations are also designed to reduce costs for enrollees and the overall Medicare program. As part of the Model test, participating MA plans offer additional supplemental benefits, reduced co-payments, and/or rewards and incentives that are anticipated to improve health and health equity by meeting social needs – such as food, transportation, and housing.

Announced a CMS Diabetes Strategy

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

In June 2023, a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) work group developed a CMS strategy for diabetes prevention and management. This strategy was announced at the Summer 2023 Health Equity Conference.

Finalized Changes to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) Expanded Model

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

As part of the Calendar Year 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)  finalized changes to extend the rule that allows all MDPP suppliers to use specific MDPP COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) flexibilities, including the optional virtual delivery of the MDPP set of services through distance learning.

CMS also finalized changes to simplify MDPP’s performance-based payment structure by allowing fee-for-service payments for beneficiary attendance, while keeping the payments for beneficiary weight loss. These changes went into effect on January 1, 2024.

Proposed Changes to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) Expanded Model

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

As part of the proposed Calendar Year 2025 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed conforming changes to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP)Expanded Model to align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program (DPRP) Standards, clarify delivery modes for MDPP make-up sessions, add an option for self-reporting weight for a MDPP distance learning session, add a modifier to help Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to process same-day make-up sessions in MDPP, remove the MDPP bridge payment, and align rule language with previous rulemaking.

Established New Coding and Payments for Community Health Integration, Principal Illness Navigation, and SDOH Risk Assessment under Medicare

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Starting January 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized new coding and payment for Community Health Integration, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Risk Assessment, and Principal Illness Navigation services to account for resources when clinicians involve certain types of health care support staff such as community health workers, care navigators, and peer support specialists in furnishing medically necessary care. SDOH risk assessment includes assessing for unmet social needs, such as food insecurity. Community Health Integration and Principal Illness Navigation services include facilitating access to community-based social services to address unmet social needs, including food insecurity.

Expanded Coverage of Services and Supports to Address Health-Related Social Needs in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has partnered with a range of states to create groundbreaking opportunities for states to cover clinically appropriate and evidence-based services and supports that address health-related social needs (HRSN), such as food insecurity. In November 2023, CMS published guidance on opportunities to cover clinically appropriate and evidence-based services and supports that address HRSN, and a framework of services and supports that CMS considers allowable under specific Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) authorities. This builds on previous guidance and brings together policy from recently approved section 1115 demonstrations, providing direction and encouragement for state partners to realize these opportunities. 

Released a CMS Diabetes Strategy Impact Report

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

In May 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a report highlighting actions that reduce the burden of diabetes-related illness among Medicare beneficiaries. The report was published to accompany the 2024 Health Equity Conference.

Proposed Prepaid Shared Savings in the Medicare Shared Savings Program

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

In the Calendar Year 2025 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed to establish a prepaid shared savings option for eligible Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) with a history of earning shared savings in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Eligible ACOs that apply and are approved would receive advances of earned shared savings that they can use to make investments that would aid beneficiaries, such as meal services for persons with food insecurity.

Announced Funding through the Health Resources & Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Nutrition Training Program and Nutrition Workforce Equity Enhancement

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources & Services Administration

In June 2024, the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) announced funding of over $8 million over the next 5 years to train over 4,500 future nutrition professionals and over 30,000 practicing professionals on key topics such as pediatric obesity prevention, household food security, and nutrition during pregnancy. Programs will prepare maternal and child health (MCH) nutrition trainees for leadership roles, build workforce capacity, and strengthen research and clinical care for MCH populations. HRSA also awarded a Nutrition Workforce Equity Enhancement to Pennsylvania State University to increase diversity in the nutrition workforce through partnerships with MSIs. The program aims to create new pathways for students from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to pursue careers and graduate education in MCH nutrition.

Awarded Funding through the Indian Health Service Produce Prescription Pilot Program

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service

In July 2023, the Indian Health Service (IHS) awarded $2.5 million in funding to help decrease food insecurity in Native communities. The IHS provided a Notice of Funding Opportunity welcoming Native communities to apply for a cooperative agreement to establish and implement a Produce Prescription Pilot Program (P4). Out of 60 approved applications, five were funded. Of that funding, five tribes and tribal organizations were awarded $500,000 annually to implement a 5-year produce prescription program in their communities. The aim of the IHS P4 is to demonstrate and evaluate the impact of produce prescription programs on American Indian and Alaska Native people and their families. The P4 grantees are initiating interventions and programming that will specifically meet the needs of their communities. The overarching goal of P4 is to improve healthcare outcomes by reducing food insecurity and improving overall dietary health by increasing the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and indigenous and traditional foods.

Implemented a Process to Assess for Food Insecurity in Native Communities and Provide Referrals as Needed

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is implementing system-wide screening and Electronic Health Record (EHR) data capture processes to assess for food security and other Social Drivers of Health (SDOH). Screening tools include the 2-question Hunger Vital Sign™ food insecurity assessment. The SDOH Screening Sprints, utilizing a collaborative learning network-based format, will rapidly deploy screening and referral processes across the IHS. Enhancements to the IHS EHR, projected for completion by the end of 2024, will enable data collection, aggregation, and reporting.

Launched a Food is Medicine Initiative to Advance and Unify Collective Action

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Building on the collective energy of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) developed a Food is Medicine initiative to unify and advance collective action. A primary goal of the initiative is to engage external partners to better understand challenges and opportunities to advance Food is Medicine approaches. In collaboration with federal partners, HHS launched a Food is Medicine knowledge hub, which includes a suite of online resources to help community and state implementers better understand relevant federal resources. The website also includes promising practices for broad, scalable interventions; insights from innovators across the country; and priority measurement domains and metrics to advance Food is Medicine evaluation. 

Issued a Report on The United States Grocery Supply Chain and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Federal Trade Commission

To better understand supply chain disruptions throughout the economy, in 2021, the White House launched a systematic examination of supply chains in critical sectors of our economy, including semiconductors, clean energy, freight and logistics, defense, healthcare, and agriculture. As part of that broader review, the Federal Trade Commission released a report in March 2024 on the grocery supply chain, including how pandemic-related supply chain disruptions affected competition among retailers, wholesalers, and producers, as well as the impacts on consumers and businesses.

Released a Paper on Protecting Kids from Stealth Advertising in Digital Media

Federal Trade Commission

In September 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff released a paper titled, "Protecting Kids from Stealth Advertising in Digital Media: A FTC Staff Perspective," detailing some of the main takeaways from an October 2022 workshop. The paper recommends that businesses, social media influencers and others who market or promote products online to children should avoid blurring advertising by clearly separating advertising and entertainment, educational, and other content to help limit potential harms to children. The paper further warns that for younger children in particular, disclosures are unlikely to be effective.

Sent Warning Letters to Protect Consumers from Deceptive Advertising of Foods

Federal Trade Commission

In November 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent warning letters to two trade associations (the American Beverage Association and The Canadian Sugar Institute) and 12 registered dieticians and other online health influencers warning them about the lack of adequate disclosures in their Instagram and TikTok posts promoting the safety of the artificial sweetener aspartame or the consumption of sugar-containing products. The letters expressed concerns that the organizations and individuals may have violated the FTC Act by failing to adequately disclose that the influencers were apparently hired to promote the safety of aspartame or the consumption of sugar-containing products.

Issued a Final Rule on Omitting Food from In-Kind Support and Maintenance Calculations for Supplemental Security Income payments

U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Retirement and Disability Policy

In March 2024, the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) issued a final rule that omits food from the In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) calculation, so Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will no longer need to provide information about their food expenses and SSA will no longer reduce the recipient’s SSI monthly payment based on food provided by others. ISM is a form of income that SSA uses to reduce a recipient’s monthly SSI payment. Currently, SSA does not consider food contributions from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and food banks as ISM; therefore, this final rule removes additional barriers and makes SSA policies uniform with how food is treated within the SSI program.

Issued a Final Rule to Expand the Definition of a Public Assistance Household 

U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Retirement and Disability Policy

In April 2024, the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) issued a final rule that expands the definition of a Public Assistance (PA) Household to include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as an additional public income maintenance (PIM) program. It also revises the definition from one in which every member of the household needs to receive some kind of PIM payment to one in which the SSI applicant or recipient and one other household member are receiving one of the listed PIM payments. If determined to be living in a PA household, inside in-kind support and maintenance (ISM) would no longer need to be developed. This will decrease the number of applicants and recipients charged inside ISM, which will simplify living arrangement development within the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Removing ISM may increase the monthly payment amounts for applicants and recipients, thus freeing up additional funds for purchasing food.

Issued a National Workforce Strategy for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

Through a joint agency initiative between the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded a cooperative agreement to Regents of the University of Minnesota in 2023 to support the development of the public health workforce in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, commonly known as WIC. This cooperative agreement is intended to improve the health of WIC participants by increasing the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce and promoting culturally responsive care. Regents of the University of Minnesota conducted research, including conducting discussions with key stakeholders, to develop a strategy released in May 2024 to strengthen WIC’s front-line workforce. FNS and NIFA are implementing the strategy, by awarding additional cooperative agreements to address key recommendations, leveraging each agency’s respective experience and expertise, including NIFA’s partnerships with Land-grant Universities, to better serve all WIC families. These cooperative agreements will begin in fall 2024.

Hosting a National Nutrition Security and Healthcare Summit and Working with ProMedica and The Root Cause Coalition on Hosting Seven Regional Summits 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

Only weeks after the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, USDA hosted the first National Nutrition Security and Healthcare Summit with 200+ attendees including the USDA and HHS Secretaries, Congressional Leaders and staff, and several leaders within non-government and private healthcare sectors. This Summit had meaningful media reach. Then, USDA worked with ProMedica and The Root Cause Coalition to host 7 regional summits that ended in March 2024. These regional summits included blogs, press releases, site visits, videos, and an op-ed. Altogether, USDA learned from these 8 summits the importance of using USDA's platform to discuss integrating nutrition and health and worked with an external team to develop 6 new social media tiles, a new video, a new info-graphic, and an updated website, all with expected releases in the near future. 

Revised Qualification Standard for Dietitians

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

In October 2022, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a revised Qualification Standard for Dietitians to support modernization of these positions in VA, including Informatics, Program Coordinators, and Dietetic Internship Directors. The dietitian qualification standard defined these specific dietitian roles within VA which allows VA to recruit for these positions. Informatics Dietitian is a new role within the VA to help modernize Nutrition and Food Services. New Program Coordinator standards were developed to allow for local, Regional and National expansion of programs. The Internship Director standard was broadened to allow more sites to be able to qualify for an internship director at the facility level.

Implemented and Evaluated Various Food Programs for Veterans

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and with the Rockefeller Foundation partnered to pilot to the expansion of Food is Medicine programs. Fall 2023 marked the formal start of the produce Prescription Program at the Salt Lake City and Houston VA Facilities. As of spring 2024, a total of 500 Veterans have been enrolled into the program and data collection is ongoing in support of the formal program evaluation component. Future pilots are being finalized with the Rockefeller Foundation at two additional VA healthcare facilities.

Expanded Clinical Nutrition Services for Veterans and Military Members

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) are providing an American Diabetes Association (ADA), recognized Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) program, where people with diabetes gain knowledge, self-management skills, and support needed to make changes to better manage their diabetes through ever-changing life situations. It is an interactive, ongoing process engaging the person with diabetes, the caregiver or family, and a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). All outpatient encounters between Veterans and VHA dietitians increased from fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2023; from 1.4 million to 1.7 million.

Established a New Veterans Health Administration Food Security Office

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

In September 2022, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established a new Food Security Office within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to tackle the food insecurity rate among Veterans. The Office provides strategic guidance and coordination within VHA, including VA hospitals and clinics, on best practices, research, and data to ensure Veterans’ food security.

Facilitating Hiring of Transitioning Service Members into VA Nutrition and Food Service Positions

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

To increase new Registered Dietician Nutritionist positions, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is utilizing SkillBridge to facilitate hiring of transitioning service members into VA Nutrition and Food Service Positions. SkillBridge is a Defense Department (DOD) program for transitioning Service members offering employment training, internship, and apprenticeship opportunities. From January to May 2024, VA added 119 new Registered Dietitian Nutritionist positions. 

Released U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health

The White House

 In support of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to improving the health and well-being of all Americans and to enabling every American to lead a full and healthy life within their community, the White House released the first-ever U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health. The Playbook is a policy guide aimed at integrating social services and the healthcare system to support equitable health outcomes by breaking down silos across government entities and with non-governmental organizations. The playbook details actions under three pillars: expand data gathering and sharing, support flexible funding to address social needs, and support backbone organizations. The Playbook was released in November 2023, complemented by the release of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Call to Action and Medicaid and CHIP Health-Related Social Needs Framework.  

Incorporated Gardening Programs at Federal Prisons 

Federal Bureau of Prisons

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) incorporated gardening programs across facilities where incarcerated people grow and harvest produce that is donated to local food banks. Currently, there are four programs that grow food as part of the program and donates it to the local food bank. These programs are offered at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) El Reno, Oklahoma; FCI Schuylkill, Pennsylvania; FCI Ashland, Kentucky; and FCI Leavenworth, Kansas. In FY2024, the FBOP created a Hydroponic Gardening Curriculum and Guide to expand gardening programs in the agency. Hydroponic phytotron boxes will be installed at six institutions by the end of the fiscal year. These sites include, FCI Oxford, Wisconsin; FPC Bryan, Texas; FCI Herlong, California; FCI Berlin, New Hampshire; FCI Estill, South Carolina; and FCI Hazelton, West Virginia. Once installation of phytotron boxes is completed, the FBOP will have ten gardening programs across ten different states with the intent to continue expanding the gardening programs in the upcoming fiscal years.

Providing Nutrition Programs in Federal Prisons

Federal Bureau of Prisons

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) provides a culinary arts vocational trades program which addresses dietary needs for vulnerable populations. In FY2024, there are 282 adults in custody enrolled in this agency-wide program and 168 participants have completed it as of July 22, 2024. The FBOP has also developed Life Skills Laboratories to teach balanced nutrition, healthy eating, and hands-on food preparation skills to individuals who have cognitive or physical impairments.

Offering Healthy Food Choices to Military Members through the Army & Air Force Exchange Service BE FIT 360 Program

U.S. Department of Defense 

Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) takes a holistic approach to promoting and encouraging healthy, better-for-you choices through its BE FIT 360 program. BE FIT highlights health-conscious dining, vending, grab-and-go options and wellness services. The Exchange's BE FIT 360 program empowers military shoppers, their families, and the broader military community to make healthy lifestyle choices. AAFES operated vending machines and unattended retail units offer better-for-you beverages, salads, fresh fruit, and sandwich options that fulfill National Automatic Merchandising Association Fit Pick requirements. These requirements stipulate that products contain fewer than 35 percent of calories from fat, fewer than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat, and fewer than 35 percent of total weight from sugar. 

Empowering Marines to Make Healthy Food Choices through the Fueled to Fight® Program

U.S. Department of Defense 

The Fueled to Fight (F2F) Program is designed to empower Marines with the information to make informed decisions about what they eat, with the end-state that Marines be able to maintain a diet that maintains their highest levels of performance.  All food items are color-coded within USMC mess halls either on a visual menu board or in front of the product on the line to allow the customer to make an informed choice. All green food items are front-loaded within each category on the main line to present the healthier choice first amongst other choices. For CONUS mess halls, there is an Everyday app which Marine patrons can download to view the weekly menu which includes color-coding and additional nutritional information. 

Empowering Sailors to Make Healthy Choices through the Navy Galley "Go Green" Program

U.S. Department of Defense 

Navy policy mandates all galleys to post Go for Green® promotional materials from the Uniform Services University Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP) Human Performance Resources (HPRC) site. Go for Green® is a Department of Defense (DoD)-wide, joint-service food-identification program. Galley Go Green is designed to help Sailors easily identify the nutritional value of foods when they’re standing in line at the dining facility (DFAC) deciding what to eat. Foods in DFACs are color-coded Green, Yellow, or Red to help Sailors choose foods for optimal performance.

Issued a Proposed Rule on Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims and the Definition of Term “Healthy” 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration

In September 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a proposed rule to update the definition of the nutrient content claim “healthy.” The “healthy” claim can act as a quick signal on food package labels to help empower consumers, including those with lower nutrition knowledge, with information to identify foods that will help them build healthy eating patterns.

Issued a Procedural Notice on Front of Package Labeling on Packaged Foods 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration

In January 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a 60-day procedural notice on its plans to conduct a study entitled “Quantitative Research on Front of Package Labeling on Packaged Foods.” This consumer research was designed to help explore the development of a front-of-package labeling scheme. A front-of-package labeling scheme could help consumers, particularly those with lower nutrition literacy, quickly and easily identify foods that are part of a healthy eating pattern.

Issued Draft Guidance on Dietary Guidance Statements on Food Labels

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration

In March 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued draft guidance to provide industry with the agency’s current thinking on how and when to use Dietary Guidance Statements in food labeling, and to ensure that Dietary Guidance Statements promote good nutrition and nutritious dietary practices. On June 14, 2023, FDA extended the comment period on the guidance to September 25, 2023.

Proposed to Permit Salt Substitutes to Reduce Sodium in Standardized Foods

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration

In April 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a proposed rule to amend the standards of identity (SOIs) to permit the use of salt substitutes in foods for which salt is a required or optional ingredient. This is a critical step in FDA's work to facilitate the reduction of sodium in the food supply.

Issued a Request for Information on Food Labeling in Online Grocery Shopping

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration

In April 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Request For Information (RFI) to learn more about the content, format, and accuracy of food labeling information provided through online grocery shopping platforms.

Issued a Second Procedural Notice on Consumer Research on Front-of-Package Labeling

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration

In June 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a 30-day procedural notice on its plans to conduct a study entitled "Quantitative Research on Front of Package Labeling on Packaged Foods." The study was a follow up to the focus groups conducted in 2022 to further explore consumer responses to various front-of-package labeling schemes.

Held a Virtual Public Meeting and Listening Sessions on Strategies to Reduce Added Sugars Consumption in the United States

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration

In November 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a virtual public meeting and listening sessions on strategies to reduce added sugars consumption in the United States. Almost 1,000 participants attended the public meeting, which explored what federal agencies, communities, and private industry are doing to encourage the reduced consumption of added sugars. There were also presentations to provide background on added sugars and discuss strategies for reducing added sugars used by other countries. During the listening sessions, participants provided feedback on next steps to reduce added sugars consumption in the U.S.

Issued a Draft Guidance for Industry: Voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals (Edition 2)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration

In August 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a draft guidance to establish new, Phase II voluntary targets for sodium reduction in foods. The new targets build on the Phase I targets issued in 2021, to further reduce diet-related diseases associated with consuming high levels of sodium. The draft guidance contains three-year sodium reduction targets for 163 categories of processed, packaged and prepared foods. The Phase II voluntary targets would support reducing sodium intake to about 2,750 milligrams/day (mg/day), approximately 20% lower than consumer intake levels prior to 2021. The new draft targets are part of a stepwise, iterative approach that balances the public health objective with the practicality of shifting industry practices and consumer preferences to advance public health.

Issued a Final Rule with Updates to the WIC Food Package 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a final rule with updates to the foods prescribed to participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC. The science-based revisions incorporate recommendations from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. These participant-centered changes include a permanent increase in the fruit and vegetable benefit, more whole grain options, more options and convenience within the dairy category, increased access to canned fish and beans, and more flexibility in the amount of infant formula provided to partially breastfed infants. 

Issued a Final Rule to Update School Meal Nutrition Standards

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a final rule to gradually update nutrition standards for K-12 school meals to include less sugar, less sodium, and greater flexibility with menu planning between Fall 2025 and Fall 2027. These meals serve nearly 30 million children every school day and are the main source of nutrition for more than half of these children. USDA arrived at these changes after listening closely to public feedback and considering the latest science-based recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 

Launched the Healthy Meals Incentive Initiative - Grants for Small and Rural Schools

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

The Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative is a $100 million project focused on improving the nutritional quality of school meals. In August 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded nearly $30 million in grants to 264 School Food Authorities across 44 states and the District of Columbia, reaching students in some of our nation's highest need schools. Each small and/or rural school district received up to $150,000 to support them in implementing scratch cooking, buying new equipment, acquiring local produce, and modernizing their operations. 

Launched the Healthy Meals Incentive Initiative – School Food System Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

The Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative is a $100 million project focused on improving the nutritional quality of school meals. In March 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded four cooperative agreements totaling $50 million to Boise State University, Chef Ann Foundation, Full Plates Full Potential, and Illinois Public Health Institute to support collaborative projects between school districts, food producers, suppliers, distributors, and community partners to get a wider variety of healthy, appealing foods into the school food marketplace and onto kids' lunch trays. To date, the four cooperators have awarded over $16 million to 43 individual projects.

Provided Funding to Strengthen Local and Regional Food Systems

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced more than $32 million in awards through the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP). LAMP is a competitive grant program that expands and strengthens local and regional food systems and increases the availability of locally grown agricultural products. AMS’s LAMP programs include the Farmers Market Promotion Program, the Local Food Promotion Program, and the Regional Food System Partnerships grant program. In 2024, USDA announced approximately $26 million in available funding for LAMP.  

Released New Discover MyPlate Nutrition Education Materials for Kindergarten in English and Spanish

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

In January 2023, Team Nutrition released updated and new popular assets as part of the Discover MyPlate: Nutrition Education for Kindergarten (Discover MyPlate) resource. A teacher’s guide, emergent reader mini books, food cards, kid-friendly recipe cards, student workbook, poster, parent handouts, and more were updated to reflect the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and more foods from different cultures. Discover MyPlate’s standards-based nutrition education fosters the development of healthy food choices and physically active lifestyles during a critical developmental and learning period for children. In June 2023, three videos were added to this educational kit. Many of these assets are available in Spanish.

Executed Cooperative Agreements to Strengthen Local and Regional Food Systems with Local Food Purchases

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service 

The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) used non-competitive cooperative agreements to provide almost $1 billion for state, Tribal, and territorial governments to purchase local foods for use in school meals and for distribution through food banks, pantries, and community based organizations. More than 50 percent of the food purchased was produce, grown within the state or within 400 miles of the delivery destination, keeping food dollars in the local economy and with a priority for purchases from small and historically underserved producers.

Expanded Procurement of Local Foods at Veterans Affairs Facilities

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Offered Nutrition and Physical Activity Vocational Programs at Federal Prisons

Federal Bureau of Prisons

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) has enhanced vocational training programs to teach adults in custody who are interested and eligible to develop individualized exercise and nutrition plans for those at-risk for or currently have diet-related diseases. In addition, FBOP launched a new program at all BOP facilities called "Women's Life Skills", which includes nutrition and physical activity sessions designed for women who may have limited experience with independent living or a physical or mental disability. In FY24, the Personal Trainer (PT) program was offered at ten facilities and graduated 165 students; it currently has 98 students enrolled. These programs work closely with Unit Team and Health Services employees to identify those adults at-risk and pair them with their PT students. 

Provided Guidance on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Stronger Connections Grant Program

U.S. Department of Education

Through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Stronger (BSCA) Stronger Connections Grant Program FAQ, the Department of Education provided guidance in 2023 to States and school districts on how they can use funds under the BSCA grants to support physical activity for children including supporting building programs, developing partnerships with local community-based programs that use evidence-based practices to combine physical wellness with mental and social well-being, and providing professional development on classroom physical activity or incorporating physical activity before and after school.

Promoted Strategies for Increasing Participation in Physical Fitness through Engage Every Student 

U.S. Department of Education

The Engage Every Student Champions Recognition Program is a national search focused on collecting and amplifying bright spots in physical activities and fitness taking place in afterschool and summer programs. The Engage Every Student initiative has also created an interactive map showing out of school programs happening across the country and. In addition, during the 2024-2025 school year, the Department will host a webinar highlighting examples of out of school programming which has a focus on physical activities.

Increased Physical Movement and Teaching Children about Healthy Food Choices through the I am Moving, I am Learning program

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) scaled efforts to help educators add activities tailored for children to their daily routine that increase quality physical movement and teach children about healthy food choices through the I am Moving, I am Learning (IMIL) initiative. IMIL provides training and technical assistance to Head Start participants. In June ACF’s Office of Head Start (OHS) hosted an IMIL training event in Kansas City, MO, an annual training and technical assistance service utilizing the IMIL approach to increase young children’s physical activity, improve the quality of movement activities, and promote healthy nutrition choices. OHS promotes the IMIL Movers Initiative to Head Start and Early Head Start programs to encourage their participation. Through OHS’ efforts, IMIL mentors have been identified, received training, and are now able to mentor and train staff in communities, state, and regions.

Released The Physical Activity Guidelines Midcourse Report: Implementation Strategies for Older Adults

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report: Implementation Strategies for Older Adults, which highlights strategies to increase physical activity among older adults in key settings and reinforces the amount and types of physical activity older adults need. The primary audiences for this report are policymakers; exercise and health professionals; health care providers; gerontologists; built environment professionals; and local, state, territorial, and tribal leaders. The report highlights strategies that these professionals, as well as others working with older adults, can implement wherever older adults spend their time — including in community, health care, and home settings. These strategies include policy, systems, and environmental approaches; behavior change; and physical activity programs.

Published the Federal Hypertension Control Leadership Council Physical Activity Plan

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

In July 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published the Physical Activity Action Plan (Action Plan) to prevent hypertension through increased physical activity. The Action Plan supports theHypertension Control Leadership Council (Council) efforts to inspire, coordinate, and accelerate action to improve equitable hypertension prevention, detection, and control. The Action Plan provides recommendations to each of its 12 founding member agencies as well as each member agency’s existing initiatives related to physical activity and hypertension; highlights existing resources that can be leveraged to support physical activity-related efforts; and outlines actions that members of the Council can take within their own agency, in partnership with other agencies, or collectively as a Council to advance efforts to help Americans combat and prevent hypertension through physical activity.

Updating the Indian Health Service’s Physical Activity Kit

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service

Indian Health Service (IHS) is updating its Physical Activity Kit and developing a website to post its resources and materials. The IHS has drafted supplements focusing on teens, communities, and worksites. The toolkit includes the development of a website to post its resources and materials, which include infographics, videos, and fact sheets. The anticipated completion date is September 2024.

Promoting Physical Activity Among Indian Health Service Beneficiaries

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service

In 2024, Indian Health Service (IHS) hosted various activities to increase physical activity within its beneficiaries. IHS hosted a virtual event in observance of National Physical Sports and Fitness Month. More than 100 participants participated. It also held a 4-week “All Employees Moving” challenge to encourage IHS employees to participate and track daily physical activity. As well as an “All Elders Moving” event focused on physical activity, nutrition, dementia, preventive screenings, and other topics identified by the local programs.

Awarded Grants to Establish Safe Streets and Roads

U.S. Department of Transportation

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All program provides grants to local, regional, and Tribal communities for implementation, planning, and demonstration activities as part of a systematic approach to prevent deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways. The program promotes the safety of all users, including people who walk, bike, and roll outside of a vehicle. Since the program began USDOT awarded $2.7 billion to over 1,400 communities across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Awarded communities comprise almost 75 percent of the nation's population.

Published an Analysis on the Capabilities and Best Practices for Complete Streets Safety

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration

Published Findings on How Institutions of Higher Education Used Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Grants to Support Food Assistance for Students

U.S. Department of Education

In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Education published findings on how Higher Education Institutions utilized Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) grants and its impact on basic needs assistance  for students. The U.S. Department of Education worked on a rapid timeline to distribute HEER funds to institutions, which they could use to provide direct aid to students facing financial challenges and cover institutional costs related to the pandemic.

Announced Funds to Stimulate Research to Understand and Address Hunger, Food and Nutrition Insecurity

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health

In 2022, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) the announced the Stimulating Research to Understand and Address Hunger, Food and Nutrition Insecurity funding opportunity. The funding is to encourage research on the efficacy of interventions that address nutrition security and the mechanisms of food insecurity on a variety of health outcomes.  It also calls for the development of new measures for nutrition security and assessment of food insecurity that are broadly applicable. A total of $4,262,534 million of funding has been awarded thus far.

Launched Program to Advance the Science of Health Disparities and Advance Health Equity Research 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health

In 2022, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund launched the Community Partnerships to Advance Science for Society (ComPASS) Program. The goals of ComPASS are to 1) develop, share, and evaluate community-led health equity structural interventions that leverage partnerships across multiple sectors to reduce health disparities, and 2) develop a new health equity research model for community-led, multisectoral structural intervention research across NIH and other federal agencies.

Awarded Funding in to Build a Diverse Workforce with Competencies Artificial Intelligence to Develop Solutions to Combat Diet-Related Chronic Diseases and Nutrition Disparities

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health

In October 2022, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced funding for its Advanced Training in Artificial Intelligence for Precision Nutrition Science Research (AIPrN) institutional training program.  The goal is to build a diverse workforce with competencies in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science analytics to use growing data resources to tackle complex biomedical challenges in nutrition science. It is expected that such research will lead to the development of innovative solutions to combat diet-related chronic diseases and nutrition disparities.

Creating a Food is Medicine Networks or Centers of Excellence

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is developing a Food is Medicine Networks or Centers of Excellence program to support research to develop common evaluation metrics capable of measuring the outcomes of Food is Medicine interventions on different health conditions.

Awarded Funding to Stimulate Research to Reduce Health Threats from Climate Change

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health Climate Change and Health Initiative (NIH CCHI) is an urgent, cross-cutting NIH effort to stimulate research to reduce health threats from climate change across the lifespan and build health resilience in individuals, communities, and nations around the world, especially among those at highest risk. The NIH CCHI is based on a Strategic Framework developed with input from the scientific and stakeholder communities. The Framework provides the initial planning of how the NIH community will address climate change and health.

Announced Funding Opportunity to Determining the Relationship Among Oral Health, Nutrition, and Comprehensive Health

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health

In February 2024, the National Institutes of Health National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research issued a Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to encourage research on the interplay of oral health, nutrition, and comprehensive health. The purpose of this NOSI is to support research to better understand the mechanisms of the tri-directional relationships among oral health, nutrition, and comprehensive health and the development of nutritional interventions in the dental setting. Knowledge gained could help identify preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions to improve oral health, nutritional status, and comprehensive health across the life span.

Appointed a Diverse Membership for the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion

In January 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) selected a 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee that has a diverse membership with respect to points of view, expertise, experience, education, and institutional affiliation to reflect the racial, ethnic, gender, and geographic diversity of the U.S. The Committee is tasked with reviewing the current body of nutrition science on specific topics and questions and developing a scientific report that includes its independent, science-based advice for HHS and USDA to consider and help inform the development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030. The Committee will host its two final public meetings in September and October, 2024 and expects to submit its scientific report to HHS and USDA later in the year.

Adding Nutrition and Food Insecurity Research to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Learning Agenda

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Policy Development Division (PDD) added nutrition and food insecurity research into HUD’s Learning Agenda for Fiscal Years 2022-2026. The Learning Agenda identifies research opportunities for HUD to highlight in its budget requests to Congress, drives in-house research, is used to develop research notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs), and signals to the external research community HUD’s evidence-building priorities. The research question added was, “What is the prevalence of food insecurity among HUD-assisted households, and what more can the federal government do to address food insecurity and improve nutrition among assisted households?” This research on nutrition and food security will contribute to the Policy Development Division’s understanding of health and housing and provide a basis for evidence-based policy.

Published Report Examining Best Practices for Adding Systems Approaches to the Review Process Used to Develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion

In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) published a report examining best practices for adding systems approaches to the review process used to develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to ensure they reflect the highest scientific integrity and contain information adaptable for public health and consumer use. The report leverages expertise from a diverse panel of systems science, nutrition, and health experts convened to discuss the topic. The report provides six action strategies for integrating systems science and highlights multiple opportunities across the nutrition landscape for how systems science could improve the implementation and impact of the Dietary Guidelines in achieving its public health goal of disease prevention and health promotion.

Launched a New Agricultural Science Center of Excellence for Nutrition and Diet for Better Health (ASCEND for Better Health)

U.S. Department of Agriculture

In December 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched the Agricultural Science Center of Excellence for Nutrition and Diet (ASCEND) for Better Health program. ASCEND is a virtual center that brings together scientists, partner organizations, and communities to deliver science-based solutions that promote and elevate food and nutrition security for all Americans. ASCEND researchers aim to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how we interact with food, what factors influence our food choices, and how our dietary choices, genetics, and environment lead to specific health-related outcomes. ASCEND data brings together nutrition-related research and evidence-based resources to help people make informed decisions about their food choices. Since the launch USDA has established a pilot Nutrition Hub in partnership with Southern University, a historically black 1890 Land-grant University in Louisiana. In addition, NIFA recently announced a call for proposals for an additional three more USDA Nutrition Hubs.

Provided Funding to Explore the Linkages Between Soil Health and Human Health

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture

In September 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) provided funding to National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to appoint a committee to review the state of knowledge on linkages between soil health and human health and prepare a report describing the potential to increase the human health benefits from microbial resources in the soil. In 2024, a Consensus Study Report was published and  describing key findings and knowledge gaps, identifying promising research directions, and put forth recommendations for enhancing the human health benefits of the soil microbiome.

Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture