Skip to main content

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

Office of P-20 Education Policy
Child Nutrition Program Administration
89 Washington Avenue, Room 375 EBA, Albany, NY 12234
Phone: (518) 473-8781 Fax: (518) 473-0018
To: 
School Food Service Directors/Managers
From: 
Child Nutrition Program Administration
Date: 
Friday, August 23, 2024
Subject: 
Partnerships With Faith-Based and Neighborhood Organizations

**This message is to inform you that USDA’s Notice to Beneficiaries and Prospective Beneficiaries guidance/material is hereby retracted as to religious schools and institutions. As appropriate, we will send you USDA’s forthcoming clarification of this guidance/material. 

 

The original memo posted on July 26, 2024 is below.

A recently published final rule entitled, Partnerships With Faith-Based and Neighborhood Organizations at 89 FR 15671, has amended USDA regulations at 7 CFR part 16. Effective July 2, 2024, these changes require Child Nutrition Program operators to take specific actions to ensure compliance.

Key Requirements:

  1. Non-Discrimination Notice:
    • Provide written notice to beneficiaries of their right to be free from discrimination on the basis of religion.
    • Provide written notice to beneficiaries on how to report violations of these regulatory protections.
  2. Information on Other Service Providers:
    • Optionally, provide written notice to beneficiaries on how to obtain information about other federally funded service providers available in their area.

Action Steps:

To comply with these new requirements, please follow the steps below:

  1. Utilize the Template:
  2. Distribute the Notice:
    • Post at service locations (e.g., schools, childcare centers, community organization sites).
    • Post on the local program operator website.
    • Provide flyers or handouts at food distribution sites (e.g., congregate meal sites, non-congregate meal pick-up locations).
    • Add the written notification to the program application.

Additional Information:

For more details, please visit the USDA website.

Thank you for your prompt attention to these new requirements.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, 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 USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

  1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
  2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
  3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Top